Erik was an "Insane Priest" in the High School Play

My first big role was "Snidely Whiplash"  in 4th grade.

I don't have any pictures of me with my mustache and the money they told me to pound in my hand. The traveling drama teacher didn't explain to me why one of my female classmates was going to be tied up on the ground, or that an image of a train coming towards the screen was going to be projected behind us. I was just happy to do as I was told. I had no idea that the screen was going to encourage the whole school to scream "Boo!" and "Hiss!" at me until they were booing and hissing me. I was mortified.

My next big break came when I was a Freshman at Gill/St. Bernard's High School.  I have some pictures of that to show you.

*******

Starring The Prince of Funny Faces as the "Insane Priest" who, in Act 1/Scene 14, interrupted the Marquis De Sade's Performance with Satan's Prayer and then is Crucified, unsuccessfully, and then proceeds to wreak mayhem throughout the remainder of the production:

Directed by Gene D'Onofrio

From the Yearbook:

Another new member of the faculty is Mr. D'Onofrio. He is a graduate of of the Parsons School of Design in New York. Before coming to GSB he taught actor workshops for many years. He found Gill through his sister-in-law, Ms. June Julian, who is a member of Gill's Fine Arts department. Mr. D'Onofrio will be teaching drama and theater arts and will also serve as the advisor/director of the Video Club.

Outside of school, Mr. D'Onofrio particularly enjoys working with community theaters as he has done for the Westport Community Theater in Westport, Connecticut. When asked about his favorite play he said, "There are so many," but soon added, "The Miracle Worker." Mr. D'Onofrio is particularly proud of his son, Vincent D'Onofrio who is a movie star and has performed supporting roles in Adventures in Baby-Sitting, Full Metal Jacket, and Mystic Pizza. His son is currently filming his first starring role in Naked Tango directed by Leonard Sheldon who directed Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Mr. D'Onofrio's first impression of GSB was its rural setting. "There is a big difference between this and the business world," he observed. "But I definitely prefer teaching!"

The Prince of Funny Faces, Age 14

 

I didn't  win any awards, but I know I did a good job. I definitely had a very great effect on my audience. I got locked in a locker and the shit was beaten out of me by thirteen older jocks lead on the last day of class that year. Fists to my face. It was Mr. D'Onofrio's son who advised me to attempt to sexually assault his character's daughter before I got crucified. It's not written that way in the play.

The name of my scene was A Regrettable Interruption. I used to have a lot of regrets. The day after my assault, instead of calling the police, I was apologizing to my attackers because they were suspended from school; but, aspiring actors take note: I can now honestly say that I know how Vincent D'Onofrio learned how to play Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket, arguably the most disturbed character in cinematic history, and Pooh Bear in The Salton Sea (Don't forget Moriarty and Carl Stargher)....

You have to really live in a world of shit.

FIN

Scripture of the Month - January 2010

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My son, if you accept My words and store up My commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth (His words) come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is protection to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair —every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways ... Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Proverbs 2:1-20

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Stay tuned for Blasphemy of the Month - January 2010 - Also brought to you by Our Town Magazine - Spreading Duplicitous, Loudmouth Hate For Free All Over Northern New Jersey -  Remember, we don't pay the store owners to disseminate our filth. They do not get compensated for the loss of their common decency. Now In Warren County!