Wayne Actor Takes To Stage For Arthur Miller Drama

Robert Barwick doesn’t act for the paycheck. He doesn’t act for the recognition. Like so many other people, Barwick acts purely for the love of the art form.

Barwick, a 10-year  resident, is starring in a production of “All My Sons” at the later on this month and in early March. Set during World War II, the Arthur Miller drama is about a two men, Joe Keller and Steve Deever, who run a machine shop that made defective airplane parts, causing the death of many pilots. Barwick plays Frank Lubey, Keller’s neighbor, who manages to avoid getting drafted into the war.

“So much of great acting is in the writing and the dialogue in this play is riveting,” said Barwick. “If as an actor, you are moved by the dialogue, it makes your job a lot easier because you can relate to what’s on the page and that’s my job really, to make what’s written come to life.”

Barwick took a few acting classes in college. He started his career as a 21-year-old extra on the set of “Lean on Me,” the story about Joe Clarke becoming the principal of Eastside High School in Paterson. Barwick remembers one story about Morgan Freeman, who played Clark in the movie.

The school was open and students attended classes during the film’s production and Freeman was speaking to a group of real Eastside students about their future one day. Barwick said it was amazing to see Freeman talk with such eloquence and in such a caring way to the students.

“Most people could never dream of something like that happening and here I was a kid listening to Morgan Freeman have this great conversation with these kids,” Barwick said. ”That’s something I’ll never forget and I’ll take with me forever.”

Barwick is an event coordinator and announcer by trade. A veteran of 14 community theater productions since 2006, he does not earn a living for being an actor so the money isn’t what drives him to keep going back on stage.

“The quality of writing and the performances that happen in community theater productions is simply amazing,” Barwick said. “There are so many actors and directors out there are extremely great at what they do and they love doing it and that’s why I love doing it.”

But desire is only part of the equation. It takes discipline too. Memorizing lines and attending rehearsals can take up a lot of an actor’s time, and may seem particulary daunting, especially if it takes up a lot of time. But that’s where the magic can happen too.

“There’s something about discovering something new about a character you’re playing that’s riveting,” Barwick said. “You might have played that character on stage before, but when you find something new about them, you may also find out something about yourself as well and find something that helps you relate to that character better.”

“All My Sons” will be on stage at the Summit Playhouse Feb. 24 and 25 and March 1- 4 and 9 and 10. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for children 18-years-old and younger. The playhouse asks patrons to bring non-perishable food when they attend a performance. The food is donated to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. To purchase tickets call 908-273-2192.