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• Victor/Victoria

Bobbi Bates plays Victor / Victoria in the ACT stage production of the musical. (Joe Vitti / The Star)

Directors have told Bobbi Bates that she really ought to diversify her resume with a few "straight" plays, and she says she will -- eventually.

Meanwhile, the actress known for her musical-theater roles at Indianapolis Civic Theatre and elsewhere doesn't apologize for the fact that Shakespeare and modern drama aren't exactly her cup of tea.

"I like good, old-fashioned American musicals," said Bates, 36, a North Manchester native whose 20-plus roles in the Indianapolis area have all involved tunes.

But that doesn't mean the Butler University graduate, who books entertainment at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, isn't into diversity. Her latest onstage adventure is the title role (or roles) in "Victor/Victoria."

The musical comedy opening tonight at ACT began as a 1982 film starring Julie Andrews as penniless singer Victoria Grant, with Robert Preston as her pal Toddy, who helps her get a nightclub act by having her impersonate a man impersonating a woman.

The stage version of "Victor/Victoria" opened on Broadway in 1995. Bates stars opposite Ron Spencer as Toddy in ACT's production. She shared a few thoughts about what it's like, tucking herself into a tux.

How is "Victor/Victoria" different from anything else you've ever done?

I've played many ingenues since I first started here in 1995, in things like "Oklahoma!" and "Meet Me in St. Louis." Those were very feminine. But as any actor ages, roles change. I'm at the point where I'm not young enough to be an ingenue anymore, but I'm not old enough to be the mother. So what do you do? You become a man.

What are some of the challenges of the double role?

One of them is how you disguise your, um, physical femininity. That's one reason we chose tails, because you don't have to button the coat. I've got a bulge in the front and one in the back, but whatever. Fortunately, our costumer is a magician.

All theater involves stepping out of yourself, but doesn't "Victor/Victoria" ramp that up a bit?

You mean, going from Roberta to Robert? Yes, it does, but then I performed in "Ragtime" two years ago, and how would I know anything about being a woman in 1902 and raising a black orphan child?

In the film "Victor Victoria," Julie Andrews essentially made herself synonymous with the role, so how do you put your spin on it?

Our director, Bob Harbin, is driving the boat, so it's really his spin. And while some actors are very into method acting and others create a history for the character, for me the script tells you what to do. I don't know what kind of spin I could put on it, other than mannerisms, like Victoria's laugh, or her fun and sass. Close friends might think those are completely Bobbi Bates.