May Check Out

Patrick Basquill a fresh-faced, twenty-one-year-old, grew up on the stages of Wilmington. For someone so young, he’s been very busy doing what he loves. And if it means working a day job and driving a car with one working window to get him on his way, it’s all worth it for that feeling of performing for an audience and knowing what a memorable character can do.

“I think it’s about making other people feel something, you know? In my personal life, I like helping people. So, if I can do that in acting – if I can know that I got to them in some way – it’s very rewarding.”

W: How did acting start for you?

PB: I was in The Wizard of Oz at nine as the mayor of Munchkin City, a flying monkey, and an Emeraldian. As much as I wanted to be on stage, after I said my lines and sometimes during them, I would burst into tears. It’s never happened since, but I think it was a combination of the lights and all the people listening to me. I guess it was frightening. But I love (acting), and I have been doing it ever since.

W: What other productions have you been in?

PB: My first dramatic role was at City Stage. I was Macduff’s son in Macbeth at age twelve. Later that same year, I played Puck. Linda Lavin helped me out and made me cry, but she probably doesn’t remember it. Skip ahead several years – I was Romeo for Shakespeare in the Park and I did Spring Awakening and Next to Normal.

W: You got your start at a pretty young age. How did your family encourage your dream?

PB: Both of my parents have been very supportive – driving me to things, cooking me meals, and coming to the shows as often as they can. My younger brother also acts. He’s in (The Who’s) Tommy with me (The production ran in March at City Stage).

W: What role would you like to play one day?

PB: I don’t know what this says about my personality, but I’d really like to play a character like the Joker from Batman or Alex DeLarge from Clockwork Orange. I know that’s a dangerous place to go because underneath there’s such a great undercurrent of psychosis, but it’s captivating to watch, and I would like to do something captivating.  I’ve always been drawn to the people who are more psychological than anything else.