10 Questions with Slab Slabinski

It’s A Wonderful Life – 2016 – (left to right) Ben Ruderman and Slab Slabinski

Slab is a man of many faces and characters around the Coaster Theatre. He has worked on stage, backstage, as light & sound operator, stage manager and helped tear down and build sets. This holiday season he takes on the classic role of Clarence Odbody (A-S-2 or Angel, Second Class) in It’s A Wonderful Life. 

A retired Coastie, Slab is know to regular theatre attendees from Astoria to Cannon Beach having been a part of several performances in Astoria at the former River Theatre and the Performing Arts Center in Astoria in addition to the Coaster Theatre. A few of his recent Coaster Theatre roles include Ralph in Mixed Emotions (Spring – 2015), many roles in Twelfth Night (Fall – 2014), Arnold Wiggins in The Boys Next Door (Spring – 2014), Morris Dixon in Present Laughter (Spring – 2014) and many others.

1. What is your present state of mind?
Imagine a handful of loose coins in a barrel. Picture that barrel being rolled down a hill. Now picture someone running next to that barrel, trying to pick a 1997 D Quarter out of that barrel. I’m eating a sandwich and watching Netflix.  That’s my state of mind.

Mixed Emotions – 2015 – (left to right) Slab Slabinski, Sheila Shaffer, Donald Conner, Cedar Braasch

2. Who are your favorite playwrights?
I don’t really have a favorite, per se.  I tend to gravitate towards farces and comedies of all types.  So…any of the ones that write those kind, I’m liking!

3. Your favorite musician?
Pink Floyd is my go to band, but I listen to anything and everything. That’s why my radio show, on KMUN, is called “Short Attention Span Radio”.

4. Who are your favorite characters?
Arnold Wiggins from The Boys Next Door; Dr Einstein from Arsenic and Old Lace; Rick Steadman from The Nerd; Borrachio from Much Ado About Nothing; The Ghost of Christmas Present from Scrooge: The Musical; The many roles I played in Around the World in 80 Days, and finally, the one I’m playing now- Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life.  I’d have to say playing Estragon in Waiting For Godot was the hardest character ever and I never want to be on stage that long, ever again!

Arsenic and Old Lace – 2012 – (left to right) Margaret Hammitt-McDonald, Slab Slabinski, Pia Shepherd and Stewart Martin

5. Who are your heroes in real life?
My dad and mom. There are too many things that I can say about them and none of them will be adequate.

6. What natural gift would you most like to possess? 
Patience.

7. What is your most marked characteristic?
My sense of humor. Nuff said.

The Boys Next Door – 2014 – (left to right) Slab Slabinski and Eric Bredleau

8. What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty, loyalty, and more so, the ability to make me laugh.

9. If you could be anyone throughout history, who would you have been?
I have a hard enough time being me, so trying to think of someone I’d like to be is impossible.

10. What is your motto?
If you can’t laugh at yourself, why laugh at all…