A Soldier鈥檚 Play鈥檚 Blair Underwood plays Captain Davenport eight times a week at the American Airlines Theatre and, just like his character鈥檚 calm demeanor, the performer was thrown off only once in the first preview when the audience cheered wildly during a shirtless scene. Underwood told the ladies of The View about it above鈥攁nd how it probably wasn鈥檛 a surprise to director Kenny Leon, whose idea it was to undo a few more buttons during rehearsals.
The stage alum was joined on the talk show by co-stars David Alan Grier and Jerry O'Connell, who play Sergeant Waters and Captain Taylor, respectively.
Grier talked about how it鈥檚 a rare opportunity to see nearly a dozen men of color on stage. 鈥淚 describe it as an interracial whodunnit,鈥� said the Tony nominee from The Gerswhin鈥檚 Porgy & Bess. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all of this stuff that鈥檚 within our race. To see all these men with different shades and hues arguing amongst themselves...it鈥檚 a rich roux of ideas and emotions.鈥�
As for O鈥機onnell鈥檚 take on a racist character (Captain Taylor actively tries to prevent Captain Davenport from investigating Sergeant Waters鈥� muder), the performer said it was the most important and difficult thing he ever worked on. 鈥淚 have to give a shout-out to our director. Usually, I鈥檓 pushing a dopey TV show or something.鈥�
