Theater community suffers loss with death of outstanding actress

The theater community received a jolt just before Christmas with the suicide of Barbara Ann Rollins.

The 31-year-old actress had been one of our most outstanding performers -- beginning with a four-year stint at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and continuing through her last production ("7 Blowjobs") for Cockroach Theatre (of which she was a founding member). She was also in the cast of "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" at the Rio, and, for a short while, worked in New York.

Rollins had an uncanny knack for getting to the heart of a role. She overflowed with energy in life and on the stage. You could never not watch her.

At a memorial service, a packed house of friends from Los Angeles, New York and Vegas gave evidence of her ability to touch lives. I remember well the tough side of her -- no one ever accused her of having no opinions -- but what impressed me was her ability and willingness to compromise.

In my pre-Review-Journal days, I directed her in Cockroach's premiere production. There was a bit of business that I felt strongly she should do. She wanted to do something else. I insisted she do it my way. She said something like, "OK, I'll do it. But I want you to know I don't like it." Of course, my conscience was immediately awakened. What she had said in essence was that she would respect my authority as director, but that my instructions went against her instincts. I reminded myself that I had a gifted actress on my hands, and I should respect her gut feelings. I stopped rehearsal and told her if she could up with business that would ease my stated objections, then she could do whatever she wanted. We figured something out. Rehearsal ended. She jumped off the stage, came up to me and said, "I hope I didn't annoy you." I told her she had just given me an important directing lesson about collaboration, and that I appreciated her tact. I went home vowing to never be dictatorial again.

For me, that experience summed up Barbara. If you wanted to be around a "yes" person, she would make you miserable. But if you wanted to be challenged and explore the work, then she was a godsend.

I was sometimes envious of her beauty, youth, wisdom and talents (in art and acting). I thought it only logical that she would be incredibly happy in life. Her death reminded me that it's dangerous to make judgments about other people's gardens.

I'll miss you, kid.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.