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'Eleanor' speaks to today's audiences Cynthia Tank as Eleanor Roosevelt. [Photo by William Babishoff] Friday Feb 10, 2017 at 2:00 AM By Jeffrey Gillespie For the Tidings After decades in community theater, Cynthia Tank is currently holding forth as Eleanor Roosevelt in Jeannine Grizzard's new production of Rhoda Lerman's "Eleanor." I caught up with Tank to ask her about her thought and feelings on the theater, and on playing such an icon of the American political landscape. JG: What drew you to participate in community theater? CT: Well, I’d have to think back many decades, because it’s been about 35 years since I first dipped my toe in the water. I would say what has kept me coming back again and again is the thrill. Putting yourself before a live audience can be scary. It can be risky. It can be powerful. It’s always fun. And there’s no people like show-biz people; they’re the best. JG: How did you come to be involved with Jeannine Grizzard and ACT? CT: “Eleanor Roosevelt: Her Secret Journey” is my third show with ACT. In the fall of 2015, I auditioned for ACT’s production of “Lovers” by Brian Friel. I was new to the Rogue Valley. I didn’t know anyone at ACT and they knew nothing of my work. But the director of “Lovers,” Susan Aversa-Orrego, cast me after my audition. The next summer Artistic Director Jeannine Grizzard asked me to be part of the ensemble cast for “Chatting with the Tea Party.” JG: What particularly made you want to play Eleanor Roosevelt? CT: First of all, Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my heroes. And that’s without getting into any debate about partisan politics. What strikes me the most about her is that she went through so much personal (and public) turmoil and yet remained optimistic about her life and about the world. The people in my own life whom I most respect and admire have that same attitude, and it’s an attitude I strive for every day. And yes, sometimes it’s really hard. But I think the daily effort to expect goodness makes you a happier person. The other reason I was drawn to the play was the challenge of a 90-minute, one-person show. I mean, I’m 68 years old! Everyone that age knows how hard it can be to remember where you left your keys! I’m not ashamed to say that I was really scared until about 10 days before opening, when I finally felt, “Hey, I can do this.” JG: How do you feel the play is contributing to the current political dialogue? CT: The audience reaction has been so wonderful. I have had people come up to me after the show in tears, asking if they could please hug me. And I can tell they aren’t hugging me, Cynthia; they’re hugging Eleanor. Last night a friend who saw the show almost two weeks earlier came up to me shaking her head slowly and saying, “I’m still thinking about it.” Presenting ACT audiences with the inspirational and often comforting words of Eleanor Roosevelt has been one of the great privileges of my theater career. — Ashland resident Jeffrey Gillespie is a Daily Tidings columnist, arts reviewer and freelance writer. Email him at [email protected].