Matthew Lawler, who plays Robert in MST’s production of Harold Pinter’s BETRAYAL, talks about the show.

How is the show going?

It’s going quite well. It has been really wonderful to get such a strong response from audiences. The people that I`ve talked to remark how funny the play is, and how much fun they are having piecing the story together and rooting for/against certain characters. And certainly being onstage we can feel how engaged people are, and that is really exciting. The show is getting funnier, deeper, and more brutal as we get a stronger command of the text, so I am really looking forward to these last 2 weeks. I am sure it will be a blast for the cast and audience alike.

You’ve played a lot of roles for MST. How does playing Robert stack up?

All of the roles are different, of course, but many of the characters that I have played for MST have been pretty sincere, heart-on-their-sleeve kinds of guys–certainly Shultz in “Circle Mirror Transformation,” Bottom in “Midsummer,” and even Malvolio in “Twelfth Night” and Alan in “God of Carnage.” Those guys all pretty much let you know what they were really thinking, and where you stood with them. Not so much with Robert. Aside from a moment here and there, he doesn`t really share what he is honestly feeling. It has been a great joy and challenge plumbing the depths of Robert. It has also been exhausting because he holds on to so much pain, and anger and doesn`t really have a release for it –except for squash but since nobody will play him anymore he`s wound pretty tight. So, it is pretty freeing to let him go after the show.

Last year you were a regular on ABC’s “The Family” and you’ve been doing a lot of on-camera work. Has that had an effect on your work as an actor overall?

Thanks for the upgrade, but I was just a recurring character on “The Family. “I was in 9 of the 12 episodes though and they gave me a lot to do, so I did get a lot of screen time and that did have an effect on my work as an actor. The camera really does pick up so much, so for the work to be really good, you have to be so specific with all the relationships your character has to everything and everyone around you. That kind of exploration is certainly something you have to do for the stage too, but I think the tv work pushed me to go deeper in my work.

You’ve played a big role for Mile Square Theatre since 2009. What has changed since you became involved and how do you see the organization’s future?

Yes, thanks. I’ve enjoyed helping the company grow. The biggest thing I see is that more people are actively involved and that is essential. The Board is enthusiastic and growing in number. The MST educational outreach program with a number of city schools is a wonderful development. And, of course, the beautiful new theater space is a game-changer. I think the great space and location will attract more artists and patrons beyond the Hoboken city limits. In fact, I think the theater will become a vital place for artists and patrons from many of the surrounding counties in New Jersey. And I think the theater will start to feel even more accessible to all Hoboken residents through MST outreach and program diversity.

It is really wonderful. I feel very lucky and so does my family.