THIS SHOW’S GOT HEIR IN THE TIRES!

 Mammoth Lakes Repertory’s production of The Heiress opens this Friday and runs for two weekends. 

It’s gonna be a good show – and I don’t just say that because I’m in it. 

I say this for two reasons. 

Director Shira Dubrovner knows how to put on a spectacle and this Victorian-era piece has all the dresses and finery to pull you back in time. 

And the romantic leads played by Abbs Stoiber and Michael Seitz are very convincing and talented and they’re worth the price of admission. 

Stoiber in particular gives one of the finest acting performances I’ve ever seen on a local stage. 

The play is based on the Henry James novel “Washington Square.” 

Stoiber plays Catherine Sloper, a shy, socially awkward heiress who becomes the target of a fortune hunter (Morris Townsend), played by Seitz, who plots to marry her for her money. 

The only thing standing in the way is Catherine’s father Dr. Sloper, played by moi, who sees through Townsend and tries to prevent the match. 

Other cast members include Dr. Sloper’s sisters, played by Abbs’ mother Kim Stoiber and Michelle Raust. 

The housemaid Maria who somehow keeps everything on track is played by Gina Joy Van Hest – when you see how many exits and entrances she has and all the tasks she performs you’ll wonder how she can always seemingly be two places at once. 

Sloper’s niece is played by Sydney Schultz, who is married to Townsend’s banker cousin played by Chris Cotter. 

And Jenn Davis makes a key cameo as Townsend’s widowed sister. 

Stoiber the younger and Seitz were both 2023 graduates of a selective UC-Santa Barbara fine arts program. The program required an audition process and there were just 18 accepted in their class. 

Seitz applied for the program from his local community college, College of the Sequoias, and transferred to UCSB upon acceptance. 

It was Stoiber who recommended Seitz for the part of Morris Townsend. Seitz has been commuting from Visalia, his hometown, to do the role. 

His professional goal: Simple. To make a living as an actor. Which as we all know is pretty damn hard. 

I asked him how it works these days. 

“Everything is self-tape,” said Seitz, which is how he’s able to live in Visalia and try to make it in an L.A.-based industry. 

So he can look up audition postings, tape a reading of a part, and send it in. The days of in-person only auditions are ancient history. 

Although if he gets a call back, then there are days he’ll wake up at 4 a.m., commute into L.A., and either drive home that evening or crash with friends. 

Sheet: So what sold you on the part? 

Seitz: I read the play. Well-written. Great role, Knew I wanted to do it. 

Sheet: In the play, your character is constantly referred to as being very handsome. Is it uncomfortable being so objectified?!? 

Seitz: It’s certainly unfamiliar (chuckle). Not a role that I’m used to. 

The Heiress is running for six shows Nov. 8-10 and Nov. 15-17 at the Mammoth High School MPR. For your comfort, bring a small pillow for your butt! And though it’s a Victorian drama, the cast promises to keep it snappy and moving along so … forget about all the election nonsense for a few hours and come see a show!