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No matter his mission, be it instructing children at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, engaging in daring storytelling for Tribe of Fools or engendering jovial occasions through Enchantment Theatre Co., Peter Smith loves experimentation, deeming it a foolproof friend in strengthening his love of play. Through Sunday, the 27-year-old is reveling courtesy of the third entity in that triumvirate, playing the Crow and Shaman Lady for its production of “The Snow Queen.”
“I’m fortunate to be working for Enchantment again,” the ex-inhabitant of 20th Street and Snyder Avenue said from the Arts Bank Theater, 601 S. Broad St., where he is handling his fifth company assignment. “I find the people appealing and consider this a special, charming work.”
The former West Passyunk resident landed his roles in August, gaining an opportunity to join performers such as Queen Village-situated Scott McPheeters, who is portraying Kai, in staging the Hans Christian Andersen piece, the basis for the film “Frozen.” Loving his multi-role identity with Enchantment, which is uniting him with West Philly-based housemate Alison Liney as Gerda, Smith finds his present task an affirmation of his admiration for his overseers’ ingenuity, apparent through masks and puppets, among other helpers, and a boon to his infatuation with fluidity.
“I’ve always been very active and make movement my primary means for telling stories and conveying emotion,” he said of a passion that he honed studying commedia dell’arte in Italy while a Muhlenberg College registrant. “I’ve taught theater, gymnastics and swimming and have done summer camps, too, so there’s definitely that pull toward helping children to be healthy through physical activity.”
Aside from being able to team with individuals with similar mindsets regarding youngsters’ edification, Smith appreciates that Enchantment’s decision to host its winter touring show allows his nieces and nephews to visit the Hawthorne-set venue, uniting his familial and professional broods. Having found Enchantment enchanting since it tabbed him to join the 2010-’11 “Harold and the Purple Crayon” tour, he anticipates enhancing its quest “to create original theater for young audiences and families that inspires, challenges and enriches our audience, onstage and in the classroom” while also calling on the company as a colleague in keeping his imagination constantly compelled.
“I love to create art,” he said, “and I consider Enchantment extremely collaborative in helping me to bring that to fruition. If you take great work and committed people, you can expect some pretty fruitful results.”
The Broomall native can credit older brother Michael, a professional actor in Chicago, for initiating his interest in performance. Thinking everything his sibling attempted held intrigue, Smith decided to emulate his example and performed in high school plays and musicals.
“That came from wanting to be the center of attention,” he said with a laugh. “Really, though, my enthusiasm derived from a desire to exchange positive energy.”
Believing he would feel safer navigating through that course than he would participating in “the rat race” that is often an actor’s chore, he still attempted to be a stage presence, with his three-month stint in Tuscany easing his performance anxiety.
“It was pretty glorious there,” Smith said of his Mediterranean matriculation. “I knew it would be a great opportunity, and when I returned, I knew I just could not forget about the merits of performance, too.”
He graduated in ’10, which would prove a pivotal year, as it commenced his connections with Enchantment, which became aware of him through a Muhlenberg-held audition, and Tribe of Fools, the latter union coming through his inaugural Enchantment tour.
“I’m very happy to call myself a very happy company member,” Smith said of aiding the troupe, which West Passyunk’s Terry Brennan, another Enchantment veteran, helms as artistic director. “It’s another highly collaborative group where I can witness a free progression of ideas.”
The thorough thinker has established an endearing three-year relationship with Tribe of Fools, which also includes South Philadelphians Zachary Chiero and Tim Popp, notably nabbing the lead in ’13’s FringeArts entry “Antihero” and appearing as Ty in last year’s “Two Street: A Tale of Star Crossed Mummers.” Offering an adult-centric outlet for his creative juices, his Tribe of Fools tenure has also yielded a more intense yearning for presenting poignant works.
“That is not to say we don’t enjoy playing on stage and making jokes,” Smith said, with the company’s annual holiday burlesque, in which he plays Dirty Santa, as evidence. “We work together very well and always strive to mix movement and traditional acting. That yields a combination of comedic and dramatic elements that can bring about some pretty powerful stuff.”
Having experienced a busy December, he looks forward to an ambitious new year, with Tribe of Fools pondering the creation of one-person shows to complement its FringeArts involvement, which Smith finds especially exciting since the foursome’s September show might include one of his “idea babies,” and with his becoming more adept at using a Cyr wheel for his Circus Arts employment.
“I’m interested in seeing what can come of so many ideas,” Smith confessed, adding he recently became the assistant technical director for the Hammonton, N.J.-based Eagle Theatre, for whom he has already assisted with two productions. “For now, I see that unfolding in Philadelphia, and I’m looking to bring a bunch of plans to fulfillment.”
As he prepares for the last three performances of “The Snow Queen,” which Enchantment first mounted a decade ago, he respects both the show’s enduring themes, such as friendship and bravery, and the company’s trust in enlisting him to contribute to its cause.
“You can’t go wrong when working here,” Smith said. “Five shows in, and I’m hooked.” For tickets, call 215-496-9160, or visit enchantmenttheatre.org.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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