Kidding's Cole Allen says Will's trauma of losing twin helped him become 'a new version', make new connections
While everything about Dave Holstein’s surreal dramedy ‘Kidding’ is worth appreciating, one particular member of the show’s cast (and it boasts a very heavyweight cast) is worth looking into for the kind of promise his acting offers. Just shy of 14, Cole Allen who plays Will (Jim Carrey’s son on the show), and sometimes Phil (his dead twin brother) shows immense maturity in a show that is famous for being complicated but compassionate.
Speaking to MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) over email, Allen spoke about how he prepared for the role, his character and more.
“I read the script and thought about the emotions behind the character's choices. As the season went on, I thought about the choices Will made in earlier episodes and how those choices might influence his actions and feelings. In the first season he was dealing with the death of his twin, and taking on some of Phil's behaviors as a way to keep his brother ‘alive’,” said Allen.
He added that in preparing to play Phil, he “knew that his relationship with Jeff (Jim Carrey) was really different from the relationship between Will and Jeff. Phil was rude and dismissive to Jeff and Will was the ‘good’ twin who was always polite and nice to his dad. When I played Phil I focused on him using negative behavior to get his dad's attention.”
Talking further about Will’s character, and the turmoil he faces over things like his parents separating, and seeing his father lose control, Allen said, “I think in some ways the way Will reacted to the trauma of his brother dying helped him make new connections. In season 1 he starts acting like his dead twin as a way to keep Phil alive -- and those new ways of dressing and behaving help him to make friends with BD, Giggles and Cassidy. By the start of season 2 we see that Will is behaving less like Phil and is instead becoming a new version of himself." He added, “He's trying to keep what's left of his family together, he's realizing he doesn't need to fully reject his dad in order to be noticed. He is getting stronger, but getting there is definitely overwhelming for him.”
Allen has also taken plenty from the show. “There are so many lessons in the songs of the show and I always learn a lot from really listening to the lyrics. For example, in season 1 there is a song where Hopscotch the Sasquatch is afraid of clouds,” he said. “One of the lyrics is ‘don't be afraid of what you don't know’. That really meant a lot to me at the time since I was new to working on this big show and still kind of figuring things out.”
Allen speaking about what it felt like to be working with an ensemble star cast that includes the likes of Judy Greer, Jim Carrey, Catherine Keener, Frank Langella, and Justin Kirk, admitted that he was definitely nervous at first. “It is intimidating for your first big role to be alongside such amazing legends in the acting world. But after a few days of filming, I felt more comfortable -- everyone treats me like a professional when we're filming, which is really cool.”
‘Kidding’, despite the name, is hardly a children’s show. Even if there is a kid’s show within the Showtime series, ‘Kidding’ itself has plenty of adult language and scenes. When asked if he’s allowed to watch the show, Allen said, “I am always allowed to watch my own scenes -- but there are parts of the show that I am not allowed to watch.”
Allen recently wrapped up a film called ‘I'm on Fire’, where he plays a teen in an Italian-American family in the early 1980s. So, there is definitely more of him for viewers to be excited about.
‘Kidding’ Season 2 airs on Sundays at 10 pm EST on Showtime.