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Coonce reprises role for ‘Vincent’
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
Leonard Nimoy will forever by synonymous with Mr. Spock, the iconic character he created for the “Star Trek” franchise.
But the actor — who died last week — also wrote plays, including “Vincent,” a chronicle of the life of Vincent Van Gogh.
Youngstown actor Rodd Coonce has made the one-man play his specialty. He has performed it a handful of times in the past two decades — most recently in 2013 — and always gets asked to bring it back.
Coonce will stage “Vincent” once again this weekend at his Music at Madison cabaret showcase venue at Dorian Books on the North Side. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee brunch show Sunday.
Coonce plays several characters: the artist, his brother Theo and several minor roles. As always, the play will be augmented by a multimedia presentation that projects more than 200 of the artist’s works.
“Vincent” is based on the letters that Vincent and Theo sent each other. It is an engrossing historical drama that reveals the tormented artist’s life and troubles.
“It is beautiful, funny and interesting, and one of the finest things that Nimoy ever did,” said Coonce.
His interest in the play was piqued after a friend told him he looks like Van Gogh, and was cemented when the first time he read the script. “I was drawn into the story as soon as I read the opening line,” said Coonce. The play begins with Theo saying, “Last week, when we buried my brother ...”
Coonce lived in Los Angeles for 16 years where he studied at the Actor’s Studio and did film, television and stage work.
Upon returning to the area, he continued acting at the Youngstown Playhouse and the Oakland Center for the Arts.
He co-founded the Music at Madison cabaret with Jack Peterson 13 years ago at their Dorian Books store.