David Rowley, former ad-man and eternal Beatle-maniac, is making his acting debut in “LOVE’S NOT TIME’S FOOL”, Ron Danko’s adaptation of the sonnets of William Shakespeare, opening Friday, May 14, at Rogue Community College in Medford. I met David, who sports a slight Yorkshire accent, in the lobby of the Higher Education Center on the Riverside Campus for “a few giggles”. We were joined by director, Ron Danko.

EH: How is it that you’re here acting?

DR: I’ve always been interested in acting, but I owned an advertising agency, and my working life took so much of my energy and time. It’s just that I throw myself into whatever I do, and give it my all. I just knew that there was nothing left. Having been involved in this production for the last month, I see how much time and energy it takes, I was right-on about that. I’m really enjoying it a lot. And it’s a big-time challenge for me. It’s a challenge to learn the lines. But the fun begins once the lines are learned.

My background is advertising and marketing; I’m used to the creative process. And what I love about this is that things change. You go in the moment, something either works or it doesn’t. You have to be in the moment.

Doing the sonnets certainly brings to life how fantastic Shakespeare is, on a whole different level. Just WOW, this guy’s good. I think it’s going to be a great show. There’s a lot to pull together.

RD: There’s enough. There are all of these group numbers:  The spa; the card game; the monk’s chant; the music.

EH: Gina Scaccia’s music is exquisite, the variety of ways her music sets-off the sonnets is amazing.

DR: I looked at the modern translation of the last sonnet. It’s all about sex.

RD: Don’t tell anybody.

DR: I’ll keep the modern translation to myself.

EH: The modern translation? It’s in English.

DR: There’s this great web site. For each sonnet, it has the modern translation; just Google, “No fear Shakespeare.”

RD: This was just supposed to be a simple little thing, but once you start something, it sort of takes over. I’m concerned how the audience will understand it. We understand it, after we work on it; but it’s coming at them all of a sudden, so it has to be really clear. We have to have so much subtext, that if they don’t understand the text, they at least grasp the feelings and emotions of what’s happening in the scene.

EH: David, you’ve never done any acting before?

DR: Twenty-five years ago, I took an improvisation class. That’s the only thing that I’ve done. Improvisation is a big stretch, and this is a big stretch for me. Obviously not having done it before, this is beyond my comfort role.

EH: But you sort of like it there?

DR: So far. I’ve always been outgoing and humorous. My goal is to do the very best I can, improve as we’re going through it, and hopefully not make a fool of myself. It would be great to have the audience like what we’re doing. Certainly I feel a sense that we’re all a team here. Everyone is so supportive. The camaraderie between everyone is wonderful. This has been great.

“LOVE’S NOT TIME’S FOOL”, 48 Sonnets in music, song and drama, plays Friday – Sunday, May – 16 & 21 – 23, Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. $10 for Adults, $5 for students. For tickets and information call 245-7637.