It’s Mr. Critchfield’s birthday.

A small girl in a light pink T-shirt with the word… It’s Mr. Critchfield’s birthday.

A small girl in a light pink T-shirt with the word “cutie” printed on it in bright letters drops a cake on his desk. Feeling rather generous, James Critchfield returns the favor by tossing a slice of cake to the nine youngsters, ages 6 to 9, in the room. Some catch it gently, like they would an egg, others simply open their mouths and swallow their portion whole. When it’s the turn of Lynn DeBree, an actual adult who leads this hungry mass, Critchfield gives the final slice the heave-ho, but makes only a mess.

“Oh no!” he bemoans. “It landed all over her face.”

Of course there is no mess, no cake, no sharing. It’s not even Critchfield’s birthday. So what possessed this grown man and the elementary school children who surround him? To quote an old phrase, “It’s acting!”

Critchfield is the director of the Actor