MEET THE CAST: Eric Thompson

What a day! What a day! We ran the show 3 times today - twice just straight run-throughs and once with costumes. It was our first go-round with the costumes, and it went aaaaight. Not great - but not terrible, by any means.

BUT we're not here to talk about rehearsal. It's time for another MEET THE CAST segment on our blog tonight. And tonight you are in for a treat. Why, you ask? Because what would the story of Willy Wonka be with out Charlie Bucket, the kid with a heart of gold who (SPOILER ALERT! Stop reading now if you don't know the ending...) wins the factory at the end. And what would our cast be without the character playing the character, Eric Thompson!?!?

Eric comes to us from The City of Brotherly Love - or the suburbs of the CoBL. He comes from a good, big Irish Catholic family...and at last count, Eric said that he has 37 brothers and sisters. Or something like that. (He started talking about family RIGHT about the time that I opened my Chinese food...so I may be sketchy on a few details. Nothing gets in the way of my lo mein.) No matter what the number of siblings, the one important thing I learned is that he is a TWIN!
He is a recent graduate of Catholic University - and has spent time in the D.C. area waiting tables at Mimi's American Bistro - and maybe somehwere else, too. (mmmm....lo mein......)

I've always liked Eric, but today, he VAULTED to the head of the class when he proclaimed his dislike for onions when we were all eating lunch. A guy that isn't afraid to make a statement like that is worth all the respect I can throw his way. And being a fellow non-onion-eater, I can understand the importance of making your stance on them know. And don't even think about offering him dried/sweetened ginger chips.

When he isn't busy teaching bad school kids good lessons in this show or planning parties for half the cast, Eric enjoys catching up on the seasons of Survivor that he missed - since they are all being re-run on Outdoor Life Network - or Oxygen - or Herndon Cable Access or something like that. And although he might play it down, there is a modern dance genius hiding inside Eric - just waiting to make his mark on the world. (And he does it in this show...during the black-light segment. Just remember - you read it here first!)

Eric is a peace-maker (thanks for not letting me rip that girls head off in the restaurant, Eric!) - and has a voice that soars! Seriously, I love listening to Eric in the show. He has a quick wit - a great laugh - and has made Charlie a character with the biggest of hearts. You can't HELP but love both Charlie and Eric! Plus, he has a collection of t-shirts with pithy comments that should NOT be missed.

So here he is...our favorite DoubleMint Twin...Eric Thompson!