In Parts One and Two of the WE LOVE SOAPS TV interview with Kevin Spirtas, the actor discussed he role in the new play, "Loaded," reflections on his past roles on DAYS OF OUR LIVES and ONE LIFE TO LIVE, as well as insights into his successful career. In the final part below, Spirtas shares more about hopes for "Loaded" and his own future. WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Were you ever concerned when you were on DAYS that you would be outed?
Kevin Spirtas: No. I wasn’t leading with that. I still don’t lead with that. I think there were times when I was nervous about the industry’s point of view about it. I had a lot of people on the set who knew without asking me anything, without pointing out anything. If you’re smart, you’re going to figure out who your co-workers are. I never walked on the set and said, “Boy I had a great date with my girlfriend last night!” I never did any of that stuff. There was no withholding, I just never overcompensated.
We all got along great. I loved working on that set, I really, really did. There were storylines that were outrageously over the top and crazy, but we had a great family. I can only speak for myself, but I think Patrika [Darbo] and my being there was a very important ingredient for the success of the show at that time. I know that we were breaking through to a non-conventional form of relationship being seen in that venue of soap opera. We had fun. And I knew if we were having fun, then everyone else had to be having fun.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Is Patrika going to come see “Loaded”?
Kevin Spirtas: I just talked to her on the phone. She said, “Honey, I’m Mrs. Santa Claus something!” She’s going to try to come out here.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: What would you like to see happen for you after the play’s scheduled run ends?
Kevin Spirtas: Let’s move this thing to Broadway!
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Would you go?
Kevin Spirtas: Absolutely! This my first Off-Broadway show. And the really great thing about this is that I have never appeared in New York in a “straight” play, pun intended. It’s a straight piece. I’ve always been recognized by someone who is an entertainer. I sing, I dance, I perform, I’m a soap actor. They throw these things into a pot and say, “That’s who Kevin Spirtas is.” But the great thing about this role and this challenge is that it’s a test for me, and for people to see me in a different light.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Straight play? You mean a one-act drama piece?
Kevin Spirtas: Yes, that there are no musical breaks, no tap dancing, no singing a ballad and showing off with my high notes. This is straight acting from the get-go. I love this. I’m very proud of this piece.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Would you go back to a soap?
Kevin Spirtas: Listen, I love to work.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Jonas was arrested right? He could always come back.
Kevin Spirtas: Wait, wait, if you recall correctly, Jonas was sent off to be...BEHEADED!
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Oh, I forgot that part.
Kevin Spirtas: He was being beheaded not because he was gay, but because he was lying about being gay. And he wasn’t gay in the first place!
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: But we never saw him beheaded on screen?
Kevin Spirtas: No, I’m sure he got away.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: There are seven soaps left on the air. But many people such as Crystal Chappell and Martha Byrne are taking this form of story telling to the internet and proactively working with that. Would you ever consider working on a continuing series on the web?
Kevin Spirtas: Well, yeah. I haven’t seen VENICE. I’m not sure what that’s about. But I enjoy having my computer and catching an episode of something I missed online. However, I still find it to be very, very new in its arrival of webisodes. To be able to be paid in a residual situation, the web is still wonky with that. Anyone can see it at anytime. I’m old fashioned. I like turning on the TV. If our monitor is becoming our screen, that’s great. But I’m not yet completely surrendered to making the web a place of viewing.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: How about if you could go on the monitor and have it appear on your TV?Kevin Spirtas: That’s all happening. I still have a cell phone where I don’t have the full keypad, I’m still doing three clicks for a “C” or two clicks for a “B.” At the same time I’m excited about the newness of it all.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: We’re hoping it will open up a lot of creative freedom for the writers, without having to deal with network censorship.
Kevin Spirtas: Listen, this has been an argument since I was a kid. You can show violence on television, but you can’t show people kissing or making love or a little bit of butt. We’re all so uptight. It’s so stupid.
WE LOVE SOAPS TV: As I was watching “Loaded,” I was thinking this would make a really interesting webseries. A lot of readers won’t be able to come to New York to see this but it deserves to be seen.
Kevin Spirtas: I believe they want to grow this project to either film, or Broadway. I think it has a lot of life ahead of it. Hopefully it will stay “loaded.” This is a very educational piece. It has a niche audience. But people are also coming to see it to see who they are in life. At the same time, I’ve had straight people come up and tell me, “I had an education tonight.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: Press here for the WE LOVE SOAPS TV review of "Loaded." Then click here for to get your tickets for "Loaded"! [Please note: Kevin will NOT be appearing in the show Dec 21, 2009 – Jan 2, 2010, Jan 12, 2010, and Jan 19 – 22, 2010]
Damon L. Jacobs is a Marriage Family Therapist practicing in New York City, and the author of "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve". He has started blogging again at www.shouldless.com..
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