Gavin Lee first took his bow as the beloved character of Bert five years ago when "Mary Poppins" began its first previews at the Bristol Hippodrome in England. Since then, he has performed the role at London's Prince Edward Theatre, New York's legendary New Amsterdam Theatre and, beginning Friday, will be taking his bows on the stage at Cleveland's State Theatre in Playhouse Square.
For those with an extremely sheltered childhood, "Mary Poppins" tells the story of two rambunctious English children who are taught magical lessons about life by the title character (played by Ashley Brown, who originated the role on Broadway) to the Oscar-winning music of the Disney masterpiece. Mary's partner-in-crime is the charming jack-of-all-trades Bert, and together with the children they navigate a world filled with moving statues, evil nannies and lots of dancing chimney-sweeps.
Lee stopped by BroadwayWorld to talk about performing as Bert for five years, seeing America for the first time (he's a native Brit) and those really tight harnesses he has to wear every night.
What has kept the character of Bert and the show so fresh for you these past five years?
On a day-to-day basis, sometimes I really don't want to go in and be 'cheeky' Bert every night. But I can always step back and look at the whole picture and realize how lucky I am to be in such a great show with a great part. That's part of the reason I keep signing on for more; while I was on Broadway I don't think there was a better male role in a musical.
The other thing is that it is your job to keep it fresh. You have to go out there every night, even if you've got a bit of a hangover or you aren't in the mood, and you have to remember that the audience is seeing it for the first time. There are no excuses. I can't stand lazy actors who aren't pulling their weight. There are so many thousands of us in New York auditioning-and that's why I have to pull it out of the bag every night.
Aside from New York City, is this the first time you are getting to see so much of the United States?
I've been to Florida a few times to go to Disney World and visit my father, who used to live there, but that and New York is all I've seen. This is going to be great. I've never seen a job that gives you the opportunity to travel like this. I've always wanted to do a road trip across the States, and now I'm getting to do it. Chicago is a great town and I'll be really upset to leave it.
What is surprising you the most about American audiences?
I remember my very first performance in New York. I was just amazed at the volume and noise that the American audience makes at the end of a number or the show. English audiences are very reserved and will clap politely and we might get a standing ovation half the week. But without fail, every show in New York got a standing ovation and it's the same here in Chicago.
I'm kind of like the old man at this now since I've had three opening nights. It was great to see the cast's reaction after the first show because they go "they are just loving it and lapping it up!"
And it's true. American audiences aren't afraid to show their appreciation.
Let's talk about the tour version of the show.
We were really lucky with the tour. The creative team obviously felt that, if they were going to take the show out on tour, the whole of the country should see what people are seeing in New York. They didn't cut back. Bob Crowley, the designer, completely redesigned the house to turn around and open up like a picture book. But none of the magic or spectacular elements of the show have gone.
Who has the more painful harness for the special effects: you or Ashley Brown?
Once you get used to the harness you can get it comfortable for you. Then it's okay. Every production I've done has had a new harness and a new automation company. Every harness has been very different in shape and look, and then you get used to it and tighten it in the right places and make it snug in the shoulders or the hips-sometimes I need more padding on my hips (laughs)-but then it's fine. It becomes just another part of the show now and I'm used to it.
Tell me about meeting Julie Andrews.
We had a special night for her and she was so gracious and lovely. She met the girl who played Mary and I in London The Day Before, and we just talked with her for twenty minutes. She was everything you'd want her to be: Lovely, polite, funny, beautiful-just practically perfect in every way. At the end of the show she walked onstage and talked about how Mary Poppins had been her role for the past forty years and now she felt like she could pass it on.
