TVW
(US Soaps)
[Australia]
Jack on the box |
When Days of
Our Lives writers opted to take a page from the screwball comedies
of the Thirties and Forties, they had no idea just how popular their
maddest of madcap couples, Jennifer Horton (Melissa
Reeves) and Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford),
would become.
Now, after too long an absence for Days' fans, the original
team is back in place and ready to wreak more mayhem and misunderstandings
on the drama-fuelled folk of Salem. "Jennifer and
jack have always been the Bickersons," says Matthew Ashford,
who returned to the role last year. "They have ridiculous arguments
over nothing. They don't think they're silly, but anyone watching
knows they are. And, of course, they make up only to fight again.
But underneath, it's clear how much they adore each other."
The pair will return to Days a sense of hope that a solid
marriage can survive anything -- even each other. "People want
this couple to be happy," Matthew explains. "They want
them to live happily ever after, so long as they still have these
adventures!"
The Iowa native also has another theory on the couple's popularity:
they're funny. He says even in the context of a dramatic soap, humour
is a vital ingredient. "There are enough characters traipsing
across the screen in an hour who are filled with anger or fear or
angst, and there should be someone during that hour to whom a viewer
can relate."
Matthew left the soap in the autumn of 1993 to concentrate on stage
acting, joining the prestigious Interact Theatre Company headed
by former co-star Marilyn McIntyre (Jo, Days).
"As an actor trained for the stage, to be able to build and
create characters is a joy," he says. "You can take chances
on stage that people in film or TV can't."
Matthew might have been on top of his game under stage lights, but
Days' fans would argue the show suffered in his absence.
Thankfully, after eight years of wooing by the soap's producers
and fans, the real jack is finally back. "It means a lot to
me that so many people were happy that I was here again. I appreciate
that so many fans are still behind me." Karre
Jacobs -- in Los Angeles |
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