There are less then three weeks until the opening of Dead Man’s Cell Phone. It’s time to start meeting the cast and those involved. Here is a quick interview with Poly Adkins, who plays Mrs. G, the overly opinionated and domineering mother of our dead man and his brow beaten brother.

Q: What is the first show you ever acted in? What part did you play?

A: The first show I ever acted in was at Winthrop University’s summer children’s drama program, led by Mary and William Long, parents of multiple Tony-award-winner William Ivey Long, whom I went to school with back then.  I think I was about 9 or 10. The show was SNOW WHITE, and I played a lady-in-waiting to the Queen.

Q: What drew you to audition for Dead Man’s Cell?

A:  I have great respect for Anne Marie, the Director, and I love the mission of ATC.  The show is bizarre, unsettling and funny, and besides, it had an old-lady role that suited my age range, which is hard to find these days!

Q: What is the main similarity/difference between you and your character?

A:  I am not at all like the character I play, hopefully.  She is vain, a terrible mother, unpredictable and totally demanding.  She does, however, love her son, which I also do.

Q: Would you answer a dead person’s cell phone?

A:  If the cell phone were to keep ringing, over and over, disturbing my peace, I might consider it.

Q: What is heaven like?

A:  Heaven is a place where factory and office workers, teachers and nurses, custodians and road workers are paid huge salaries, while bosses, CEOs, administrators, doctors and supervisors get less.  The ones who do the actual work get the most praise, wealth and acclaim.  Heaven is a place where we look like we did when we were 25 but know what we knew at 85.  Heaven is a place where race, sexual preference, or religion don’t matter. Heaven is a place where there are no cell phones.