Eddie Yaroch as Andy Fastow in Enron

I’m asking veteran local actors to name five dream roles and say why. The answers not only reveal aspirations, they may put an idea in the minds of artistic directors and producers — even choices that seem outside the box.

Craig Noel Award-winning actor: Eddie Yaroch

Eddie Yaroch

“Being a non-violent man, I’m not sure I would KILL for these roles, but I would definitely consider raising a ruckus or possibly threaten a bit of mayhem in order to play them. Here they are, by genre:

1.) Drama: Paul Sheldon, Misery, by William Goldman, adapted from the Stephen King novel. “I am King’s number one fan, just like this story’s Annie Wilkes, though I don’t really see why this needed to be adapted for the stage. But since William Goldman wrote it, and if my wife, Linda Libby, played Annie, I couldn’t think of a better play to be in. Bonus: my character spends the whole play in bed, so blocking is a breeze!”

2.) Comedy: Lloyd Dallas, the director in Noises Off, by Michael Frayn. Watching Noises makes my stomach hurt from laughter. Performing it must make your legs hurt from all that running around. I’d love to find out. If there’s chaos brought on by a fantastic comic ensemble with one guy trying to ‘herd the cats,’ I want to be that guy.”

Eddie Yaroch as Carney in Biloxi Blues

3.) Shakespeare: Iago, Othello. “On two separate occasions in college, I tried performing monologues of Iago and could not crack them. There are so many layers to him and I was stuck on one: the villainy. I remember thinking, “Hmmm, how do I play an evil villain? I probably shouldn’t rub my hands together.” Ah, youth. Now I might finally bring some experience and possibly wisdom to the role that eluded me all those years ago.”

4.) Musical: The Child Catcher, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, music and lyrics by Richard and Robert Sherman, book by Jeremy Sams. “Before Adrian Noble directed this musical in London’s West End in 2002, I thought my favorite childhood movie would make a ‘fantasmagorical’ musical! The villain that haunted my dreams as a child was the Child Catcher: ‘Ice creeeeam! Lol-li-pops!’ He’s like Richard III crossed with the Wicked Witch of the West, charismatic and deformed, with a penchant for imprisoning children. To play him would be truly scrumptious!”

5.) Classic novel adaptation: Maheu, Germinal, by Emile Zola. “I would love to see it on the stage. In fact, adapting Germinal is my next big writing project. Maheu is a loving father, struggling to provide for his family as a 19th century French coal miner under brutal conditions. The decision to strike brings harrowing consequences to the village and tests his conviction to bring justice or die trying.