The stage moves him

Last night the Wilma Theater began previews of its third play of the season, a romantic, edgy comedy titled Wintertime. A Philadelphia premiere, it’s also the Wilma debut for local actor Seth Reichgott.

"What I love about this play is that it’s so theatrical," says the 36-year-old Southwark resident. "It couldn’t be a movie or a TV show. It can only work on the stage."

The play features a young couple at a summerhouse for a weekend of romantic solitude in winter. But then the young man’s parents show up — each one with a lover — and neighbors barge in, all setting the stage for a witty examination of love and its complications.

It’s a play especially suited to an actor skilled in what’s called "physical theater." Reichgott trained at the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre in northern California, where the focus is on all types of movement — from dance to yoga — to help actors put more energy into their performances.

Reichgott puts this into practice in the Wilma play — in which, during a favorite scene, he gets to kick in a door. "Anyone who’s ever had an argument with a spouse or a lover will recognize this scene, but we do it in a surprising way," he says.

The actor’s involvement in Wintertime began in December, when he was invited to audition. He did well and was called back to read again. That very afternoon, he was offered a role.

Whatever the challenges, they came easily to Reichgott.

An Ardmore native, he’s been involved in theater ever since he took roles in school plays at Penn Valley Elementary and Welsh Valley Middle School. Then, at Lower Merion High, he was a member of the Lower Merion Players, an afterschool theater program.

"I always knew I wanted to be an actor," says Reichgott, who majored in theater and religion at Wesleyan University. He’s had a varied theater career ever since he graduated.

For instance, he moved to Bloomsburg, where he was a member of the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble for six years. "We did professional theater full-time, and it was great," he says. "I had lots of roles and worked with many different directors."

There he met Daniel Stein, a well-known physical-theater artist who introduced him to the concept. "I was absolutely taken with it," Reichgott recalls.

So he took a year off to attend a training program of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, Calif., and perfected his skills in movement, dance, yoga, mask performance, clowning and other movement-related techniques. He later returned to California for an additional six weeks to study clowning exclusively.

This led Reichgott to develop his own slapstick clown show, "Man Plans." He performed the one-man show at Fringe Festivals throughout the United States and Canada, winning an award for best clown show in Winnipeg.

Always looking for new challenges, he then spent two years writing and directing educational plays for a theater company in Connecticut. The plays were geared to middle-school students, and Reichgott made good use of his training by incorporating comedy and slapstick.

The next chapter of his acting life started in 2000, when he arrived in Philadelphia. He worked in plays produced by the Arden Theatre Company, InterAct Theatre, Lantern Theatre and Cape May Stage.

"I loved it here," he says. "The Philadelphia theater community is close-knit; it’s like one big ensemble."

One of his most unusual opportunities to practice physical theater came when the Mum Puppettheatre presented Equus. Reichgott was one of five actors who played horses.

"We had our heads shaved, we were naked from the waist up — and we tried to portray the power, the sleekness, the special strength of horses," he explains.

It was an award-winning production. The entire group shared a 2002 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Ensemble. And the five actors who played horses also won the 2002 Rocky Award for Dance Excellence. All five actors are graduates of the Dell’Arte School.

"It helps me in every show," says Reichgott, who is trim, fit and full of energy. "It doesn’t necessarily mean jumping all around. It’s about being fully physically engaged in every play."

He says the Phila-delphia theater community gives actors a good opportunity to develop this skill. "It’s a place that really supports physically based theater."

One year ago, Reichgott and three colleagues from Dell’Arte founded their own theater company, Belligerent Muse. They’ve already produced several shows in Philadelphia.

The busy actor also has developed a solo show — a play about Greek mythology geared to young people — that he’s taken on tour to elementary and middle schools in New Jersey and New England, as well as the Philadelphia area.

"I love having lots of balls in the air, working on different projects at the same time," he says.

Despite his nonstop schedule, Reichgott makes time for an important volunteer activity. For the past year, he’s been a participant in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. His little brother, Kadeem, is now 12, and Reichgott has become very attached to him.

"He’s a good kid, he’s smart, and we do lots of stuff together." He and Kadeem attend sporting events, go to the movies and play ball in the park near Reichgott’s house. He’s taken Kadeem to museums and to children’s concerts at the Kimmel Center.

Last week, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their match-up, Reichgott took Kadeem to a neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant — a first for the actor’s Little Brother.

When Reichgott is performing, as he is now, it’s especially difficult to schedule time for Kadeem. But the actor makes it a point to see him at least once every two weeks, and he speaks to him often.

"It’s a great thing to do, very rewarding," says Reichgott of the mentoring program.

He also uses his rare leisure time to enjoy life in South Philly, where he’s now a proud homeowner. He shares the house with his girlfriend, Meredith Methlie, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. A group of close friends all live within four blocks, and they have their favorite hangouts, such as the Triangle and the Royal Tavern in Bella Vista.

But with his role in the new Wilma play, Reichgott won’t have much time for the neighborhood gatherings. He’s onstage every evening except Mondays, in addition to matinees, until the play closes April 18.

He doesn’t mind the hectic schedule at all. In fact, he’s thrilled to be making his Wilma Theater debut in Wintertime.

"I love the play; it’s fun and challenging," he says. "And it’s very exciting to be on the stage of the Wilma. Their goal is to do good theater, and they do great stuff."

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The Wilma Theater’s production of Wintertime, now in previews, opens Wednesday and closes April 18 at the Wilma Theater, Broad and Spruce streets. Tickets ($9-$50) are available by calling 215-546-7824.