ALDEN FIELD TAKES ACTING SERIOUSLY

Alden Field, a name meant to act, is in Sikeston this week, taking a break from his portrayals in "Julius Caesar," "Henry V" "As You Like It" and "Comedy of Errors."

He is that rarest breed of thespian. "I make a living as an actor," he says.

For the past eight months, Field has been Field a member of the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express. The acting troupe wowed audiences here in the spring of 1995 and will return next month for a week of workshops and performances.

SSE is scheduled to present the four plays Sept. 18-21 at Academic Auditorium.

The 1989 Sikeston High School graduate was a theater student at Southeast two years ago. Then, hungry for more real-world acting experiences, he auditioned for the Burt Reynolds Theatre in Florida. Burt Reynolds beckoned and Field went.

A year in Florida brought credits for four plays, including "The Heidi Chronicles" and "The Fantasticks."

Field said his parents weren't happy at first about the prospect of their son living the itinerant life of an actor. "But they're supportive now," he says. "It's a risky business."

He joined SSE in January. The Harrisonburg, Va.-based troupe is known for its no-frills approach to Shakespeare, mounting traveling productions with minimal sets and costumes and a small cast playing multiple parts.

Field plays eight different characters in "Henry V."

"It's a very pleasurable way to work," the 25-year-old Field says. "It frees you up as an actor to work more on your character."

SSE productions also are fun for the actors and actresses, he says. "Especially Shakespeare because it's usually so loaded up with costumes and expectations."

The 11-member company travels in two vans and a car, sometimes staying with host families, sometimes staying in motels. "It's like a family," Field says. "It's like brothers and sisters. You love and hate each other."

Field especially likes the workshops SSE presents for elementary school children. "That's what acting is anyway," he says. "You're a kid on a playground."

At Southeast, he appeared in "The Beaux Stratagem," "Macbeth," "Zoo Story," "Stonewater Rapture" and "Romeo and Juliet." He recalls his experience here "was wonderful. All that stage time and the faculty and theater department are fantastic."

Field is taking a break because SSE just finished it's three-month home season at James Madison University, which is about 130 miles from Washington, D.C. He leaves Saturday to begin another tour which will bring him back to Southeast Missouri quickly.

The tour will conclude in England at the end of the year. He plans to stay there another month. "After that I'm not really sure," he said. "I'm looking at Chicago."