How We're Putting 2&2 Together: Anthony

The second in a series of interview segments with the stars of Putting 2&2 Together. Join Chris Rose and Peter Cosmas Sofronas as they talk about the ins and outs of putting Anthony together. Theme Music by Valerie Forgione.

Transcript

Peter Sofronas  0:04 
Hello, and welcome back to "How We're Putting Two and Two Together," a series of conversations with the cast of the audio drama "Putting Two and Two Together." My name is Peter Cosmas Sofronas and I am the writer and director of the series. Joining me today is Chris Rose, who played the part of Anthony Wallace. Welcome, Chris.

Chris Rose  0:25 
Thank you, Peter, for having me. It was... It's a real pleasure to be here.

Peter Sofronas  0:29 
Well, we've got lots to talk about. So let's get right into it.

Chris Rose  0:31 
Great.

Peter Sofronas  0:32 
So tell me about Anthony

Chris Rose  0:33 
Anthony. Well, Anthony was a love interest to Rachel from the start of Season One. He is a divorcee. He is a father. And he is basically Rachel's boss. He is one of the partners at the law firm that she is working at. So it was almost doomed from the start. Because those who work together that are in a relationship together after what Rachel had been through in Season Zero from the play, "Two and Two Together," I'm not even sure if she was quite ready for this relationship. I would like to see maybe the Season 0.5 where we we find out what it was that attracted Rachel to Anthony. 'Cause he's, uh he's a very nice guy. He's a loving dad. I'm assuming he pays his alimony on time. But he's that guy that was the transition guy for Rachel. And from what I read from it, they were very cute together, but it just wasn't meant to be. And I was not expecting to see Anthony in Season Two because he, uh, he seemed like such a side character. He was out of the friendship group and I was not expecting him to be a part of Season Two. So thank you so much for including him and actually getting him more into that that group.

Peter Sofronas  1:56 
You weren't expecting Anthony to be in Season Two. I wasn't expecting Anthony to be in Season Two either. It was more of a case of, we set the character in motion and by the time we hit mid Season One, I realized, okay, I want Anthony to carry over, which also meant that I had to figure out what the hell Anthony is going to be doing in Season Two.

Chris Rose  2:15 
Well, I appreciate you giving him another shot. I know it's been a lot of fun. It truly has even with and I heard your your interview with Dan. 2020 was a very unusual time for all of us. So it was for the the Season Two recordings. It was basically you and I going over the script and you were feeding me the lines for Anthony to respond to and even that part I actually enjoyed thoroughly.

Peter Sofronas  2:43 
So you liked me playing every single character opposite you, including my own.

Chris Rose  2:47 
We did get to do some Jason/Anthony scenes, which is great. But yeah, it was it was definitely a challenge. I am somebody in the theater world that doesn't technically get on stage a lot. Or typically, I don't typically get on stage a lot. So this is, this is a whole new experience for me. I, I've never had that experience of having to read the lines. We did several different takes which we — you know wasn't because we all sucked. Okay, maybe for me —

Peter Sofronas  3:17 
No, I'm the one that sucked.

Chris Rose  3:18 
You did not suck. Stop it. We all did this, this different readings, the line readings of our dialogue. And it was a good experience. It was a great acting experience. And Anthony is somebody who's very different than me. He's, he's much more assertive than I am. He is much more serious character than I am. I always have to crack a joke. Anthony knows when to be serious and knows how to stay serious in a situation and I'm just not that type of person. I would always have to crack a joke just to break the tension.

Peter Sofronas  3:54 
I mean, Anthony, Anthony can get silly at times.

Chris Rose  3:57 
Oh, yeah.

Peter Sofronas  3:58 
It just depends on with, with whom he's being silly.

Chris Rose  4:01 
Exactly. And he can also punch a guy when he feels like it, so...

Peter Sofronas  4:05 
Well, there is that. So we've, we've touched upon Anthony's relationship with Rachel. But is there anything more you want to add?

Chris Rose  4:13 
No, I would just say, and this is, this is Chris Rose the person speaking. You cast me opposite somebody who I had been looking for any opportunity to work with. Jenny Fielding is an amazing human being. She's an amazing actor. Somebody who is just wonderful to work opposite. That I think was the most intimidating aspect of Anthony having to read opposite this this wonderful, phenomenal actor. And I, I can't thank you and thank her enough for, for letting Anthony grow opposite this powerhouse of a performer, so thank you for that. Working with her was amazing. And I don't think Anthony would have been Anthony unless there was a Rachel obviously. That's how he's brought into the story. And I just hope that as we go into the second half of Season Two, and in Season Three, that he can continue to grow outside of this relationship and as part of the now, the friends group — in the poker game and all that stuff — that he can be an integral part of this story going forward. Obviously not part of the Tommy/David/Rachel story going forward, but that B-story group, the those of us in the after-the-title-card, those of us who were not top-billed, but we're still thrilled to be part of it.

Peter Sofronas  5:41 
Even though you aren't part of the triangle or quadrangle relationship that started in Season One, you do spend a lot more time with both David and Tommy. Well, let's say Season Two, and we'll, we'll, we won't talk about Season Three just yet.

Chris Rose  5:59 
My lips are sealed by penalty of lawsuits. My lips are sealed.

Peter Sofronas  6:05 
But um, first off, tell me about Anthony's history with David. What came before where it is now? Or where where you think it's going?

Chris Rose  6:14 
I mean, I am sure that pillow talk Rachel had mentioned David in the past to Anthony, I don't know if there was a whole lot of meetings between the two of them. As Rachel and Anthony were involved. I do get the sense that there had been a meeting at least once once before.

Peter Sofronas  6:36 
They've met, they met on a professional level anyway you know.

Chris Rose  6:39 
Right.

Peter Sofronas  6:40 
Rachel's date at the office party was David obviously,

Chris Rose  6:45 
Exactly.

Peter Sofronas  6:46 
And stuff of that nature.

Chris Rose  6:46 
And I got that sense, because at one point, when David shows up at the law firm, Anthony knows exactly who he is. So there there's been, and I'm just going on a limb here out on a limb saying there might be a little bit of tension between the two of them, despite the fact that David made his choice. But human beings, we tend to still want the things that we let go of. So I'm sure that David has some resentment that Rachel was able to move on so quickly after the events of Season Zero,

Peter Sofronas  7:19 
Even though David himself moved on rather quickly.

Chris Rose  7:22 
Right, exactly. So there's always there's always going to be friction there until something either is said or there's a resolution. I think they're in a much better place now. But it wasn't always going to be that and I feel like there could be a powder keg situation in the future where it might not always be as cordial as they are right now.

Peter Sofronas  7:43 
The very fact that uh, that David went to Anthony's apartment when he was upset after speaking with Rachel and didn't want to talk with Tommy and he proceeded to get drunk on Anthony's couch.

Chris Rose  7:58 
On his very expensive liquor. How dare he? Yes, there's camaraderie there. Of course, when you're, you're now both in the same situation where neither one of you are dating this woman. So there's that ex boyfriend bond that exists between the two of them. I don't think it would be as comfortable if the relationship between Rachel and Anthony continued.

Peter Sofronas  8:19 
Sure.

Chris Rose  8:19 
I don't believe David would be would be showing up on anybody's stoop, especially the man who is currently in love with his most recent ex partner. So there's a lot. I have to give you credit, you have developed this world, and the story is not impossible. It's a little implausible. It's almost like a story that you hear when you're sitting in a bar, and a guy says, "You know, I know this guy. He was dating this woman. And he's bi and it turns out, he dumped her for her brother. Can you believe that shit?" Like, that's the kind of story that you've created. And it's not too far fetched.

Peter Sofronas  8:59 
And yet, there it is.

Chris Rose  9:01 
You build a world around it, too. I have so much admiration for you for doing that. My brain could not spit out something like that. So sorry, going back to to just that quadrangle is that what we called it?

Peter Sofronas  9:16 
Quadrangle is what I said

Chris Rose  9:17 
Quadrangle.

Peter Sofronas  9:18 
You can call it whatever you want.

Chris Rose  9:19 
It's, it was fun in Season One to be sort of part of that tension, knowing that you're the next guy after this atomic bomb detonated in Rachel's life. To be the carer, to be the person who's there, the sympathizer, the empathizer. And then I think it was a mutual decision that maybe this isn't the best time for these two. Anthony still has a daughter in his life that he has to, to focus on. He has a lot to learn about himself. And if you were to ask me what was my favorite thing about Anthony, it wasn't the punch, although I had a lot of fun recording that session. It was the fact that he told everyone while simultaneously telling them, "Don't tell anyone." Right?

Peter Sofronas  10:07 
Exactly.

Chris Rose  10:08 
This is what I did.

Peter Sofronas  10:08 
Anthony is not necessarily the smartest bulb.

Chris Rose  10:11 
He is not. He's, he wants the credit for something stupid. He knows it's stupid. He left his job because he punches one of his partners. But he's going around telling people, "Well, don't tell Rachel, I did this for her. But I did this for her." And it's like, "Come on, you know what you're doing, Anthony."

Peter Sofronas  10:28 
So we've covered his relationship with David. Then there's the other half of the pair, Tommy, who he befriends very quickly.

Chris Rose  10:36 
Very quickly, despite the history of his — what was his — very recent girlfriend. He knows Tommy. He knows what that situation was. That it wasn't just David. There were two to tango in this scenario to end Rachel's relationship with David. Tommy is the other catalyst of this atomic energy that that happened. There was a scene written in which Tommy and Anthony are having a conversation in Tommy's apartment, where Anthony is basically pressed to his limit on uncomfortableness.

Peter Sofronas  11:16 
Oh, the shower scene.

Chris Rose  11:19 
If any of those words make sense in the series that I said that sentence. Yeah, he was he was extremely uncomfortable. I think when you get to that point where you're in a highly uncomfortable situation, but you're still able to walk away unscathed. And maybe even with a little humor about it, where you can joke, then yeah, you're building a friendship at that point. But prior to the shower scene, I think again, he was cordial towards Tommy. And Tommy and Anthony had have had... It wasn't a heated relationship. It wasn't a heated frenemy situation.

Peter Sofronas  11:53 
Their whole conversation at the amusement park...

Chris Rose  11:56 
There was that too. Yes. Again, a situation that even though it was a public space, they could have maybe shouted each other.

Peter Sofronas  12:04 
Things could have gone another way.

Chris Rose  12:05 
Exactly. And I think Anthony would have been the catalyst for that. Like, "This is the woman I love how the hell could you do that to her?" He doesn't take it that way. He takes it as, "I see you forgotten that we've met before. But I'm Anthony, I am the person who is currently dating your sister. And hello. By the way, there's your boyfriend about to get soaked a hundred yards away. You might want to warn him or not. I think both of us at this point want to see him soaked." So that's how that happened.

Peter Sofronas  12:35 
Yeah, I don't think, I don't think David is ever gonna let Tommy live that one down.

Chris Rose  12:40 
I hope not. I hope not. I, there's and you again, credit to the writer. Credit to the creator of this. You are developing these jokes, these inside jokes that are going to continue on that if somebody starts —

Peter Sofronas  12:54 
The whole shower towel scene. Season Three, it's even still mentioned there.

Chris Rose  12:59 
Fantastic. I look forward to reading that.

Peter Sofronas  13:01 
One relationship that's starting to come together, and it becomes more and more noticeable as, as the Season Two goes on. But there's a bit of a bromance going on with Anthony and Max.

Chris Rose  13:19 
I'm trying to think of how that would have come about because it's Max and Hayley. So Anthony at this point, being unemployed and kind of being that lost soul finds his solace in Hot Off the Press. He finds solace in that — much like Cheers. Much like any sitcom where there's one central location. Central Park is another one. I feel like just by being that sad sack that's sitting alone, drinking his espresso, drinking his coffee, whatever it is that Anthony orders on a daily basis. I think it was at that point that he started to become part of this group. Rachel was certainly the person who brought him into it. But I think Anthony is the type of person that is the lost soul, but is a lost soul that can negotiate his way into friendships. And these are not people that he typically would associate with himself with. I see him more of a, he's got a really nice apartment. It's a very expensive apartment. He probably likes higher things, higher fashion. But he's in a spot where he's lost. He's a lost puppy. These people have been so kind to him throughout his relationship with Rachel and even after that, it makes sense that he'll be making male friendships, he'll be making female friendships. He and Max come from two very opposite ends of the spectrum.

Peter Sofronas  14:51 
Across the board.

Chris Rose  14:52 
Across the board on several aspects. I don't feel like Anthony would ever be in a situation where he'd be comfortable in a relationship with more than one person. He's just, he's a traditionalist, kinda. "I'm with somebody, I'm going home with the person that that I came with." You know that that type, whereas Max has this freedom in his life This, this —

Peter Sofronas  15:14 
Polyamory.

Chris Rose  15:15 
Polyamory. Thank you.

Peter Sofronas  15:16 
Yes, it's an understanding that he has with Hayley and his other partners

Chris Rose  15:20 
Right.

Peter Sofronas  15:20 
That as long as they're honest with one another.

Chris Rose  15:22 
Yeah. And I feel like the little bit that I would bring to Anthony as a backstory to this where it may not be written on the page, but I feel like Anthony is very open minded, and would actually have questions for Max. He's not judging Max, but he's probably just genuinely curious. "How does this work? Because my brain works in a way that I feel like I should be with somebody and with the one person. How does it work for you? What are what are the rules? Are there rules? Do you have to set rules?" And that's his legal brain to like, "Do you have to draft up a contract with the person that you are with 51% of the time and then do the same for others?" So I think it's a fun friendship. I feel like they could do some exploring between that that that friendship there. I think it's a fun pairing. I think it's a very fun pairing.

Peter Sofronas  16:14 
Speaking of fun pairings, then there's Maureen

Chris Rose  16:17 
Maureen. Yes, she was an associate at the law firm. She was the —

Peter Sofronas  16:25 
The office manager —

Chris Rose  16:25 
She was the office manager. And she was very close with Rachel, I think closer with Rachel than with with Anthony. But...

Peter Sofronas  16:34 
I don't know. I think that I think before Rachel came into the picture, she was pretty close to Anthony, to some, you know, to some degree, and I think Rachel came in and there's a more of a sisterhood between the two of them. But I think —

Chris Rose  17:13 
Right,

Peter Sofronas  16:45 
It's... there's definitely a long-term friendship. I think Anthony knew Maureen's late husband. So you know. So there was there was a friendship there. And obviously, after Ed passed, the friendship still continued. And I think we're starting to see on Season Two, that now that they're out of the confines of the law office, that there's no longer the hierarchy. So Maureen can pick on Anthony, a little more.

Chris Rose  17:14 
And she does.

Peter Sofronas  17:15 
And she does.

Chris Rose  17:18 
Certainly before the the blow up at the law firm. I think anybody who had any sense of decency within themselves within that law firm had a very soft spot in their heart for Maureen, particularly Anthony, because he's a divorcee. She's a widow. They're both without somebody to raise their children because she has a child, he has a child. So I think he he sees a lot in himself doing that single parent struggle type thing. But she does have a nasty side to her. And

Peter Sofronas  17:50 
Yes, she does.

Chris Rose  17:52
I must say you cast the most appropriate person for that role, because I have known this actress since I was a teenager. And...

Peter Sofronas  18:02
And was she mean too?

Chris Rose  18:03 
She was... we... it's a give and take relationship between Chrissy and I. I love her to death. She is one of my favorite people. And I think you cast it very appropriately.

Peter Sofronas  18:16 
Interestingly enough, much like Anthony, Maureen was intended to be in one episode. And she branched out, it was literally someone to get on the intercom and say that a call is ready.

Chris Rose  18:26 
Yeah, it's funny how these things work out a lot of guest stars, a lot of one-liners usually end up going much further. Because the people that you've cast in this, the people that you've associated with, turned out to be so fantastic to work with that you think oh, my God, I need to give this person so much more I need to give this story to grow. And as somebody who was only a Season One person who was fortunate enough to be brought into Season Two, I can't thank you enough for that opportunity. It's, it's remarkable. It's it, it is not a one way street. We are very, very fortunate to be working with you. As much as I feel like you're fortunate to be working with such a talented group of actors, myself not included. Because...

Peter Sofronas  18:32 
There's definitely a case where in Season One I was writing in my head without necessarily having an actor associated with it. Now that I have actors associated with it. I tend to cater a lot of what I'm planning around that particular actor. I know their delivery, I know their style, so I'm going to work on it plus, I'm also going to get the input of "Okay, you know, the character almost as well as I do. How does this sound to you? Does this sound completely wrong? Or is this right on target? Oh, here's a new surprise, guess where you're going?"

Chris Rose  19:47 
And it's that collaboration that you have with many of us. Some of us are fortunate enough to be able to read some of the things in the future before other actors. You look for input, but you also speak to us and ask where where do you think we're going? It's not often in any industry, be it theater, podcasting, movies, TV. It's not often you get to work with someone who's creating and writing this and reaches out to us. And that's an amazing thing, Peter. That's an amazing thing to do. You're an amazing person. And I'm sorry, if I'm making you blush right now. However, this is a fantastic opportunity. And I'm sorry, I can't say thank you enough.

Peter Sofronas  20:30 
You're welcome. You're welcome.

Chris Rose  20:31 
I feel like, I feel like every time I say that, I'm ending the interview like thank you. Thank you. Oh, you've got four more questions. I'm sorry.

Peter Sofronas  20:37 
I got a few more questions. Yeah. So I think we've touched upon this. But is there anything in particular you want to see happen with Anthony, and you obviously know, some of what is going to happen with him. But still...

Chris Rose  20:51 
I do know a few things that are on track for Anthony's life. I would like to see in Season Three, how that plays out even further, that one thing that we can't talk about right now, because it hasn't been — it has not been released to the public. However, moving forward, it seems like a very simple thing. But I think I would like Anthony to tip his toe back into the legal waters, where perhaps there's a conflict that can be resolved by litigation. And they reach out to Anthony for assistance. He has this knowledge, perhaps it's a situation where Rachel is unavailable, because she also has legal knowledge. And perhaps it's a situation for somebody who needs pro bono work.

Peter Sofronas  21:41 
You know, obviously, at this point in time, Anthony is still trying to figure out what to do next —

Chris Rose  21:46 
Right.

Peter Sofronas  21:46 
With his life. You know, you and I both know what he chooses. But, but at this point in time, anything's game.

Chris Rose  21:55 
Exactly. Yeah, I would maybe like to see him settle down at some point, but it doesn't have to be rushed. I think he still needs his time to to heal a little bit.

Peter Sofronas  22:00 
As he still has feelings for Rachel right now.

Chris Rose  22:09 
Yeah. Where we where we left off in this mid season, I believe you're absolutely correct about that. He's, he's got his sights set on perhaps a reconciliation? But if not, perhaps there's an opportunity for him to socialize with somebody else.

Peter Sofronas  22:25 
Which do you like better? Recording Season One with everybody there? Or, or Season Two, where it's individual? Or am I comparing apples to oranges?

Chris Rose  22:35 
You might be comparing apples to oranges. But if I had to say, based on this year of seclusion, I absolutely miss being able to record with others in a space and being able to talk with him that way, talk with talk with those people that way. I think what you did for Season Two, you did exactly what needed to be done in order for Season Two to get up off the ground. And it was a brilliant move on your part to be able to record via online platform so that it was you feeding us lines, you were fortunate enough to be playing Jason so that when we got to the parts where we're reading against Jason, we were actually reading against Jason.

Peter Sofronas  23:22 
Although in Season [Two], there was one scene with Dan and I were we actually did record live together. But when you and I recorded our scenes together, it was me feeding you lines, but then I would re-record my own lines.

Chris Rose  23:35 
Right.

Peter Sofronas  23:36 
At another point. I think going ahead in Season Three, while I still want to keep the individual approach, I do think in some cases, particularly one-off scenes in which I'm the other character in the scene, I might do more in the actual live recording side of it. Since we've already got the setup. We might as well do that. And depending on who's available, and in some cases, I might add in the third party, and have us all do that. But again, that's really speculative. And it really depends on who's in the scene,

Chris Rose  24:11 
Right.

Peter Sofronas  24:12 
But definitely, I think the the Season Two model is probably closer to where we're going for the rest of the series. But I would love if by the time Season Three is ready to record, I would love to have another table read.

Chris Rose  24:27 
That would be —

Peter Sofronas  24:28 
You know, even if we record separately to just read through the season together and then branch off and do that.

Chris Rose  24:35 
It would be fantastic. Just to bring us all together again.

Peter Sofronas  24:39 
Yeah,

Chris Rose  24:39 
So much we've missed from from all of 2020 and, and part of 2021. It's it's it's been difficult. It's been a struggle for many of us. Now I've throughout most of my life been an extrovert. Now I get older, I'm leaning more towards the introvert lifestyle. But when it comes to this group of friends, to this, this cast that you have, we're all theater people, we all have these experiences of being on stage or being backstage, but some form or another, we have been involved with the production. Not having that for a year is draining. It's emotionally draining, in some cases physically draining. So that is probably why I lean towards the Season One model more. You did a great job with that basement studio. But yeah, it was a little cramped.

Peter Sofronas  25:28 
It was a lot cramped

Chris Rose  25:29 
I'm in a cramped basement studio. And I'm I'm one person right now in this tiny little, little podcast studio. But that Season One model and to be able to read off of people is is where I would put my preference.

Peter Sofronas  25:44 
And final question. What was your favorite behind the scenes moment?

Chris Rose  25:49 
Oh, goodness. And I heard Dan talk about this too. I I'm hard pressed to think of what the line or the situation was that had us laughing. I think going back all the way to the read through party noise?

Peter Sofronas  26:06
Party horn.

Chris Rose  26:06 
Party horn. Thank you. That's what it was. Party horn. Going all the way back to that. And...

Peter Sofronas  26:12 
For those in the audience not in the know, that was the episode where it was Tommy's birthday. And David was running around the apartment blowing a party horn. And on the script, is the sound effect is just party horn. So Amy McCorkle, who later goes on to play Barbara Wagner in Season Two was there to read the sound effects. And so we would just hear this dead pan party horn.

Chris Rose  26:42 
Party horn.

Peter Sofronas  26:43 
Party horn.

Chris Rose  26:43 
Party horn.

Peter Sofronas  26:44 
And it just became a mantra going forward.

Chris Rose  26:47 
We need the party horn t-shirts soon.

Peter Sofronas  26:49 
Yeah, well, I'll add that to the Teespring list.

Chris Rose  26:53 
I love that. I know that reference.

Peter Sofronas  26:55 
And on that note... Thank you, Chris, for joining me.

Chris Rose  26:59 
Well, thank you, Peter for having me. I won't say it again. But thank you so much for for including all of us in this world that you've you've created. Okay, that's it. That's enough of my gratitude. But thank you.

Peter Sofronas  27:12 
Okay, you've earned your part in Season Three. You're good.

Chris Rose  27:17 
Woo hoo!

Peter Sofronas  27:15 
Woo hoo! Thank you.

Chris Rose  27:18  
Thank you.