On a warm spring day in Forest Park on Friday, Jarrett Harkless was rehearsing a scene that he enters by opening a door.
Over and over, as the director interrupted the scene with new ideas for the actors, the young man – age 12 – would wait his cue to open a door and enter the action.
It was an appropriate first glimpse of this young actor, a 7th grader at St. Patrick Catholic School in Wentzville, who is making his debut at Shakespeare Festival St. Louis playing Robin in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
The show opened May 20 (under the direction of Jesse Berger) and plays nightly through June 14 at 8 p.m. except on Tuesdays.
At age 12 Jarrett Harkless, is busily engaged in opening doors to what he intends to be his future profession.
Indeed, it is already his profession. He has an agent (April Schroeder with Now Talent Management), a major stage role under his belt (Percy in The Miracle Worker with Repertory Theatre of St. Louis) and a growing list of commercial credits.
Unlike many professionals in these uncertain times, he even knows what his next job will be: he has a role in A Christmas Story with The Rep.
For the moment, though, he has to play the page boy to John Falstaff in one of Shakespeare’s least performed plays.
“I thought it would be a nice experience, and it has turned out to be a nice experience,” Harkless said of his role in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
“It’s fun. There aren’t too many lines, so it’s not too bad.”
His relief at the number of lines is an indication, not of his interest in a small role, but rather his recognition of the difficulty of Shakespeare’s ornate, at times archaic language.
“Sometimes I have to go back and look it up to see what we are saying,” he admitted.
Since the show started rehearsals before Harkless had finished his spring term, he has depended upon flexibility from the production and school administrators.
“They have been good about scheduling around my school,” Harkless said of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis.
His teachers at St. Patrick Catholic School have been requiring extra-credit work to make up for what he misses in class, and his parents, Dennis and Stephanie Harkless, have made sure he does his homework at night.
Dad also provides the daily shuttle between Wentzville and Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park.
The boy noted proudly that his principal, Dee Kelly, came to see him perform in The Miracle Worker – and she said she plans to see him in the new show.
“I love theater, and when I heard Jarrett was performing at The Rep I thought, ‘This is a great opportunity to see him perform,’” Kelly told The American.
“He was fantastic. He was really cool on stage. He has a lot of talent and confidence. One day I’ll be standing there and Jarrett will walk by on a red carpet and I will say, ‘Remember me? Remember me?’”
In The Merry Wives of Windsor, he plays the page boy to the lead character, John Falstaff (played by another African-American actor, John Rolle from new York).
“Robin delivers letters for Falstaff – he’s Falstaff’s page,” Harkless said.
“I am more of a happy, upbeat kid in the show.”
That seems to be typecasting for this focussed, positive, poised young man.
In addition to the local talent in Harkless and the lead actor in Rolle, three other actors in The Merry Wives of Windsor are African-American: Rachel Leslie (from New York), Trisha McCall (from New York) and Khnemu Menu Ra (from St. Louis).
Leslie said joining the production resulted in her first trip to St. Louis.
“It’s a beautiful city, and this park is stunning,” said the veteran actor, whose face will be familiar to observant fans of Law & Order.
“I am looking forward to my days free.”
St. Louis should be looking forward to her days on the job, with the rest of the talented cast and crew, putting on a show for us.
The Merry Wives of Windsor plays nightly at 8 p.m. (except Tuesdays) through June 14 in Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, across from the Saint Louis Art Museum.
Festival activities include a nightly Green Show at 6:30 p.m., featuring side performances, children’s events and lectures by local scholars.
Seating is on the open lawn. Rental chairs are available for $7 and $10. Audience is encouraged to bring blankets or low-back chairs. Picnic dinners, beer, wine, soda, water and souvenirs are available for purchase – or bring your own.
For more information, call 314-531-9800 or visit www.shakespearefestivalstlouis.org.
