What goes around comes around is a common phrase scorned people bent on revenge use when plotting ways to settle the score with those who wronged them. In the new David E. Talbert play of the same, which the critically acclaimed NAACP award-winning playwright penned, directed and produced, ladies’ man Tyree Jackson (played by Wesley Jonathan) is determined to slyly slip women in and out of his apartment. While his live-in girlfriend, Desirae Baxter (portrayed by Reagan Gomez), is at work, she becomes aware of his philandering ways, and sets out to give Tyree a taste of his own medicine.
Gomez, who has previously appeared in plays, films and sitcoms, spoke with us over the phone about what attracted her to take on the part of Desirae in ‘What Goes Around Comes Around.’ Among other things, she also discussed what it was like working with Talbert and Jonathan, and the hectic four day rehearsal period they had before they began performing the play for the public.
ShockYa (SY): You starred as Desirae Baxter in David E. Talbert’s play, ‘What Goes Around Comes Around.’ What was it about the character and the script that convinced you to take on the role?
Reagan Gomez (RG): I was attracted to Desirae and her whole story because she definitely had a forgiving heart. She wasn’t really a nagging girlfriend. She loved her man, and understood and realized that he was going through some hard times. But like R. Kelly said, when a woman’s fed up, there’s nothing you can do about it. She got to her breaking point, and she was totally done, with everything that he had put her through.
But she knew that she was going to be okay, whether she was with him or not. **SPOILER ALERT** I think that’s why they were able to get back together at the end. He did realize that he loves her, and he made mistakes. He had to win her heart all over again. **END SPOILER ALERT** It was really realistic.
SY: David is an award-winning playwright who has had 13 critically acclaimed plays. How much knowledge did you have of his theater work before you accepted the role of Desirae?
RG: I hadn’t really seen any of his work, but I knew who he was. I know people who have worked with him before, and they said he’s great to work with. My mother-in-law, grandmother, they knew who he was, so they were definitely excited for me to work with him. I had a great time.
SY: David wrote and directed ‘What Goes Around Comes Around.’ Did the fact that he wrote the script help in his directorial duties once you began rehearsing, and performing, the play?
RG: Possibly, because obviously he knew the beats and emotions that he wanted. But we had to learn the script in I think it was four days. We only had four days to rehearse. Some of the cast wasn’t even there the first day, so we really didn’t get into it until the second day. So the schedule was very, very draining. But I had a great time doing it, and I would love to work with David again.
SY: Did the fact that you had such a short rehearsal time hinder your rehearsal and performance?
RG: Well, I started out in theater, but I know for Wesley, this was his first play. No, we were ready to go. We started rehearsal on Monday, and we did two performances on Thursday. We did one where we pre-taped everything, and one we did for an audience. So by Thursday, we were ready.
SY: Speaking of Wesley, what was your working relationship with him like?
RG: Oh, that was maybe the third or fourth time that Wesley and I worked together. We worked on a film called ‘Dysfunctional Friends,’ which is actually out now. I believe he did an episode of ‘The Parent ‘Hood’ back in the day. I just wrote and produced a web series that he’s also in, so I’ve worked with him a bunch of times. It’s always a good time.
SY: Would you be interested in working with Wesley again in the future, whether it be a play or a film?
RG: Oh sure, I had a great time working with everybody in the cast. It was my first time working with Tony Rock and Lavell Crawford. I think I worked with Bebe Drake before, on ‘The Parent ‘Hood,’ way back in the day. It was my first time working with Tico Wells. But I had a great time working with everybody.
SY: ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’ follows Desirae as she conspires to give Tyree a taste of his own medicine after she discovers he’s cheating on her. Do you think Desirae’s decision to use Tyree’s actions to get back at him is reflective of what many would do, or want to do, if they found out their boyfriend was cheating on them?
RG: I do, and I think it uncovers a double standard. Like how it’s okay for certain people to do things, but when it happens to them, it’s wrong, and they don’t like it, and it’s not fair. But what’s good for the goose is good for the candor. That’s kind of what this play is about.
During the live performance for BET, it was so funny, the women were so mad at me during intermission. When Tyree walked out on Desirae, they were so mad at me. But when she flips the script on him, they love it.
SY: So what has the overall public reaction to the play been like? Has everyone liked it?
RG: People love it. It aired on BET on March 4, and I’m still getting numerous tweets about it every day. People are getting the DVD, and they really love it.
SY: You have appeared in films, including ‘Love Don’t Cost a Thing,’ and on television series, such as ‘The Cleveland Show.’ Why did you decide to appear in this play?
RG: Well, I do it all, and I started out in theater. I decided to go back to my roots, so to speak. I hadn’t done theater in a long time. It’s good to keep your chops sharp. The thing about theater that you don’t really have on TV or in film, is that you can’t say cut if you mess up, and do it over again.
It really is a team effort, and is really about a group, as opposed to one person. So I was excited about that. Also, I was excited about being in front of a live audience again, there’s nothing like it.
SY: Since you do only have one chance for a scene in a play, does that make you work harder to make everything perfect?
RG: Well, we were at that place anyway, because like I said, we only had four days to rehearse. Obviously, you want to make it a good play. David definitely set the tone, because he does plays all the time. He knew we were going to be prepared and ready, even if we didn’t necessarily think so. He was calm and cool. He said, “I can’t wait to see you guys rock it.” We said, “He has to know what he’s talking about. Maybe we are going to rock it,” and we did. We were on point, we’re professionals.
SY: Do you have a preference of films and television over plays, or vice versa, or do you just like acting in general?
RG: As an actor, I think you have to be willing to do it all. In my career, I have done it all, but still have things I want to do. I’ve done films, TV shows and theater, and I love it all equally. They each offer different challenges for you to learn from, and be able to tweak your craft.
SY: Do you have any upcoming projects lined up that you can discuss? Are you considering appearing in any more plays?
RG: Well, obviously ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’ is out on DVD now. I have another play that I did for the CMT Network with Mel Jackson and Anthony Evans, Jr., who is actually on ‘The Voice’ right now. The name of that play is ‘If You Really Love Me,’ and that comes on March 17, at 7, 9 and 11 pm, I think.
I did ‘Dysfunctional Friends,’ which is open in New York and L.A., and opens in Washington, D.C. on March 23, at the AMC Magic Johnson Capital Center 12 movie theater. Like I said before, I wrote, produced and starred in a web series with Wesley, my husband (DeWayne Turrentine) and brother-in-law and sister.
You can also see me every Sunday on ‘The Cleveland Show’ on FOX. I voice Roberta, the teenage daughter. The show is a ‘Family Guy’ spin-off. I have two kids, so that’s my everyday job.
SY: Do you take a different approach while preparing for a play over a film or television, or do you generally take the same approach?
RG: Well, I think the difference with theater is that you have so much more time to rehearse. It’s kind of the same with a sitcom, to be honest. I don’t really do sitcoms anymore. But back in the day, when I was on my sitcom, ‘The Parent ‘Hood,’ or any other sitcom that I guest-starred on, you typically had a whole week to rehearse. You don’t really have that with films. So sitcoms are similar to plays in that respect. You do have more rehearsal time, which is always good.
Written by: Karen Benardello
