Actresses Have Special Place in Lovey’s Will

Natalie Schafer may not have been the most familiar name to the public, but she carved her niche in entertainment history as Lovey Howell, Jim Backus’ wife on the cult classic TV series “Gilligan’s Island.”

Originally a stage actress, she met and married actor Louis Calhern while they were appearing on Broadway in “The Rhapsody.” Her first film, 1943’s “Marriage Is a Private Affair,” began her long sojourn in Hollywood, which lasted until her death at 90 in 1991.

Schafer never forgot her own struggles during her early years as a character comedian, and she made sure, upon her death, to help struggling female thespians.

A clause in her will set up the Natalie Schafer Annual Award Trust, which is presented each year “to an actress who has proven to be outstanding in the field of comedy in the legitimate theatre.” In the will, Schafer added: “This award is to bring further attention to the talents of the individuals chosen, to enhance their careers and allow temporary financial security in this unique profession.” Schafer also asked that the recipients be chosen by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. The first Schafer Award will be presented Monday night at LADCC’s awards ceremony to Burbank resident Bonita Friedericy. Carol Channing and others will be cheering her on.

Friedericy has been a familiar face at theaters in Los Angeles and in the Valley since the early ‘80s. While still in college, she got the part of the secretary Prossie in Shaw’s “Candida” at Pasadena’s Bank Playhouse, and since then has rarely been absent from local stages and venues as diverse as the Grove Shakespeare Festival and Portland Repertory.

Much of her time has been spent as a company member at the Colony Theatre, in productions such as “17 Days” and “Could I Have This Dance?” Friedericy is currently directing a workshop production of “Picnic” at the Colony.

She was quite stunned when told of the award.

“It’s remarkable,” she said. “I think of the people this will continually be given to, that someone like Natalie Schafer would say, ‘I would like to help you feel supported, to give you a little boost.’ Particularly to women, because it is difficult. It’s not easy to do character comedy roles as a woman. There are a lot more of those roles around for men. It’s wonderful that a woman would turn around and say, ‘I would like to support other women,’ because it was hard for her.”

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Friedericy says the award means a lot to her at a time when she has reaffirmed her dedication to the theater. “I’ve realized that I do what I do, and I’m not going to stop doing it,” she said. “I do it for me, and for what I get out of it. It’s not about awards. Awards get you confused about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. But, boy, you get an award and you like it. This feels really good.”

Like Schafer, Friedericy knows that acting is not easy, and that comedic acting is probably the most difficult area of the profession. The very serious plotting of comic moments on stage is time-consuming and requires detailed analysis.

“Between the acting choices you can have for any given moment,” she explained, “you have to pick the one that will affect people the way you want them to respond, and what you want them to think about in terms of human behavior, or how the world works, or what you want to guide them to feel and think. That’s very exciting to me.”

Schafer’s gracious gesture, which, incidentally, includes a $5,000 check, comes from an actress who built a long and notable career. It was her way of offering a helping hand. Friedericy knows why it was on Schafer’s mind.

“I can’t stop acting,” she said, “I’m kind of addicted to it.”

* Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award Ceremony, Sportsmen’s Lodge, 4234 Coldwater Canyon, Studio City. For reservations, (213) 466-1767.

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Divorce is on the minds of a group of writers in Interact Theatre’s Play Development Lab. Their current midweek production of eight (approximately) 10-minute plays are all concerned with divorcing couples being called into the judge’s chambers for a talk. The idea for “The Last Gasp” was writer Jaime Klein’s, and the evening is being produced by Lab director Anita Khanzadian and company member Tony Rissoli.

One of the seven directors, Marilyn McIntyre, who is also appearing in a play she is not directing, says her other name for the company is “Everybodyact.” Their hit production of “Counselor-at-Law” used most members of the company, and this evening continues that tradition.

“It involves so many writers,” McIntyre said, “so many directors and so many actors that it’s perfect for our company. We’re always looking for projects that are big and diverse--’The Last Gasp’ certainly provides it. It’s definitely a snappy, adult evening.”

* “The Last Gasp,” Interact Theatre Company, 11855 Hart St., North Hollywood. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Ends April 11. $12. (213) 466-1767.