Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE/ARTS
Friday 22 September 2017
Anthony Rapp embarks,

thrilled, on ‘Star Trek: Discovery’

By FRAZIER MOORE some very bitter lemons!” that the new series, an-
AP Television Writer The new series, which be- nounced in late 2015 and
NEW YORK (AP) — gins a few years before the promised a bit more than
The original “Star Trek” 23rd century time frame a year later, has been
was born into a world of of the original Captain repeatedly postponed
hurt. The United States Kirk-led “Star Trek,” boasts thanks to unforeseen
was embroiled in a war a large cast including Ja- complexities of produc-
that wouldn’t end. The son Isaacs, James Frain tion and casting.
president was increasing- and Rainn Wilson, as well “I can totally understand
In this Sept. 19, 2017 file photo, Anthony Rapp, cast member in ly embattled. Americans as fan-favorite Sonequa that it can be frustrat-
“Star Trek: Discovery,” poses at the premiere of the new televi- were polarized. Martin-Green, late of “The ing and mysterious to
sion series in Los Angeles. Walking Dead” and now people who aren’t inside
Associated Press Now, a half-century lat-
er, “Star Trek: Discovery” the first black woman in the process,” says Rapp.
lands in a nation that command of a “Star Trek” “But I can assure you the
seems no less burdened, starship. delays have resulted in
while the new show’s mis- Always on the vanguard something that is incred-
sion is unchanged from in promoting diversity ibly well-conceived and
the series that spawned and tolerance, “Star Trek” brought to life.”
it: to enter the future with takes another step for- For the first time, this “Star
hope and face the pres- ward on “Discovery” by Trek” will be serialized, with
ent with courage. It is an including in its crew an its narrative flowing from
upbeat tone as much as openly gay character the premiere through epi-
a taste for adventure that played by an openly gay sode 15, which concludes
has propelled the “Star actor, Anthony Rapp. its second season.
Trek” franchise through Lt. Paul Stamets is an as- “It’s about culture clash,”
so many TV and film it- tromicologist (studying Rapp says. “I think that’s
erations. Now comes the mushrooms and other a theme that’s pretty rele-
eagerly awaited “Star fungi in outer space). With vant these days. But ‘Star
Trek: Discovery,” which his scientific bent and sky- Trek’ has always been
premieres on CBS on Sun- high IQ, he can be a little grounded in philosophi-
day at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. prickly, Rapp says, which cal and ethical questions,
After the broadcast pre- only adds to the fun of exploring what it means
miere, the series launches playing him. to be human and what
Sunday night on the CBS The 45-year-old Rapp, do you do when you en-
All Access subscription who landed his first pro- counter another culture.”
streaming channel, the fessional job at age 9, It’s the sort of positive mes-
exclusive home for the won fame 20 years ago sage Rapp has always
rest of the series. for originating the role of sought to put forward, as
“Even though this first sea- Mark Cohen in the Broad- both an actor and a hu-
son is set against the back- way hit musical “Rent,” man.
drop of a Klingon-Feder- a role he reprised in the It prompted him to come
ation conflict, it’s really 2005 film. He also played out a quarter-century
about finding the Starfleet Charlie Brown in the ago.
way to get OUT of the 1999 Broadway revival “Visibility matters,” he ex-
conflict,” says Gretchen of “You’re a Good Man, plains. “It’s so easy to den-
J. Berg, an executive pro- Charlie Brown,” and origi- igrate or ignore someone
ducer and co-showrunner nated the role of Lucas in you don’t see and you
with Aaron Harberts. “How the musical “If/Then” in feel different from. If there
do you end the war and 2014. was any chance that
still maintain the ideals “I’ve always been a nerd whatever visibility I have
the Starfleet confederacy and fan of ‘Star Trek’ and could make a difference,
is all about? To that end, all sorts of science fiction,” I’d want to be on the right
there will be hope, there he says, “but I never con- side of that.”
will be optimism, there will ceived of myself as being Then Rapp reaches for
be people trying to be inside of it as an actor. This his phone to share a mes-
the best version of them- is like a childhood fantasy sage he had gotten min-
selves, which is something gone wild, actually doing utes earlier, en route to this
I think we really need to it in real life.” interview, which in three
be focused on in this day On his first day at the short sentences maybe
and age.” vast Toronto soundstage, says it all: “I’m Muslim but
Real-life current events Rapp says he found that doesn’t mean I have
on planet Earth “cre- himself on-set “walking a problem with you be-
ate a lot of story for us,” through these corridors ing gay,” it reads. “In fact,
she acknowledges, “and in my Starfleet uniform you’ve helped me open
through our storytelling with my badge— like I’m my mind up. And I love
we’re trying to help figure in space! It’s really, really science fiction and I love
out a pathway to a bright- thrilling.” ‘Star Trek’ and I can’t wait
er tomorrow. Talk about Devout Trekkers have to see the show.”q
making lemonade out of been less than thrilled ___