'Two old farts and we've never worked together': Mary Martello and Johnnie Hobbs Jr. on 'The Shoplifters'

Mary Martello and Johnnie Hobbs Jr. are veterans of the Philadelphia theater scene, yet they've never had a chance to work together before. But thanks to 1812 Productions, Philadelphia's premier comedy company, the two stalwarts of the city's stages come together this week for The Shoplifters.

Martello plays Alma, a klepto who sees stealing as her Robin Hood-like duty. Corporations have everything, she has nothing, so she deserves to take what they have. Hobbs is Otto, a security guard who has one more day on the job, and the last thing he needs is to deal with the sticky-fingered Alma.

The duo, along with Marla Burkholder and Daniel Frederick, is on the Arcadia Stage at the Arden Theatre through Sept. 20.

Johnnie, it was just announced you're receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Barrymores. Congrats!

Johnnie Hobbs Jr.:

I am quite moved by the whole thing. I'll just continue to work and do positive things.

So be honest, Mary - how "method" did you go with this part?

Mary Martello:

I'll tell you, I'm a human being, and there was a time. I was in junior high with my next-door neighbor. She and I acquired a small wardrobe. This was a long time ago, before those tags. There was more of an honor system, and we were horrible at it. It was a phase, and I have not continued to do it. [Unlike Alma], I've never shoplifted from a grocery store. I wondered if I should try it, but I didn't want to get caught and not actually be able to do the play.

Johnnie, I don't usually think of you in terms of comedic roles.

JH:

This is the first time I've worked with 1812, but not the first time I've known about [Shoplifters director/1812 cofounder] Jen Childs. She was a student at UArts when I was a teacher there. I love their exploration of comedy. Comedy can be intimidating - you want to think you can be funny, and you're not necessarily.

Mary, as a veteran of comedy yourself, how's Johnnie doing?

MM:

I don't know how that happened - that I became a veteran. I always have a mental problem when people try to separate drama and comedy. In drama, if you aren't mining the comedic pathos, or in comedy if you're not finding the dramatic pathos, you aren't exploring it to the fullest. Whether it's a drama or comedy or a musical, the most important thing is to always find the truth in every single word and every single line. And Johnnie's doing that.

You two never worked together before.

MM:

Two old farts and we've never worked together.

JH: I always heard of Mary and knew who she was.

MM: When I heard that Johnnie was opposite me, there's a comfort level. You're relieved - you know he has chops, weight, that gives you so much more freedom to explore and jump into areas you wouldn't normally jump into because the other person is grounding you, matching you.

JH: Because of that connection, you can risk things to discover, to open up the possibilities. That's what I'm experiencing working with 1812. It's a wonderful experience. There's always trepidation: You want to do well, but you're your own worst enemy. But you go to rehearsal and fall on your face. That's what rehearsal is for.

MM: It is true that you never get over that sort of self-fear. Perhaps the only thing we have going for us is we've fought that fear many, many times and we've lived through it. And it does pass. We trust our director and other actors and it becomes a real exploration and a team sport.

Does that fear help to drive you?

JH:

Absolutely, part of this is testing yourself in deeper waters. The rehearsal process, especially how Jen does it, she comes with a clear vision and provocative thoughts. You continue to go forward and move on.

MM: Fear perhaps can be turned into a driving force if you keep the energy of it. Fear is blocking, it closes you down. The first rehearsal day you make sure you wash your hair and put makeup on, but that's the last day you do it.

It's more about 'What is this going to bring? I can't wait to jump into it. I don't know what I'm doing but I'm going to jump in.' When you work with someone of Johnnie's stature, you know you can jump. Working with Marla and Daniel is great as well. They're young but they're not green.

It's an intergenerational show with both of you playing mentors of sorts. Has that extended beyond the stage?

JH:

It's a natural, positive nurturing thing. I learn as much from Daniel as he does from me. The fact that they're younger, and I'm older - it creates a supportive atmosphere.

MM: I think we forget how old we are because we work with young people all the time. We don't think of ourselves that way until we have to fall 14 times and you think, 'Perhaps I shouldn't do that or I will break a hip.' It's more young people who see our wrinkles and think, 'We aren't them!'

meichel@phillynews.com

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