Interview: Kevin Massey Talks A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER at Winspear Opera House
By: Sarah Comley Caldwell Aug. 16, 2016
It was a delight to chat with Broadway actor Kevin Massey, currently starring in the national tour of A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, playing at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas this August.
We discussed the show and what first-time audience goers can expect, aspects of the creative process and cast bonding across the country, among other topics.
Check out our conversation below!
Sarah Comley Caldwell: For people who don't know a lot about this show, can you tell me what character you play and what you love about him?
Kevin Massey: Sure! I play Monty Navarro. He is the 'Gentleman', and the killer--and the lover, I suppose --in the title. He's a young man that doesn't have much to his name. He has lost his mother and has a girlfriend who only wants to marry a man who is rich--who has him wrapped around her finger. He finds out that he's able to inherit a huge sum of money, but he has eight [family members] ahead of him, who are horrible family, so he ends up knocking off each one of them off to claim his rightful throne if you will.
I love [Monty] because he's got such a journey. The world is happening to him, and as he journeys throughout the show, he gains confidence. You see him make things happen to the world, instead of the world just happening to him. [He ends up] wrapping the women around his finger!
The way it's written, you really love him and you root for him. You get to the end of the show, and step back, and think, "Oh my, did I really want him to kill all those people?". That's what so fun about it!
Sarah: If someone is coming to see the show for the first time, and doesn't know much about it, what would you like them to take away from it?
Kevin: I don't think you really need to know anything [about the show] beforehand. I love seeing shows not knowing anything about them. It's not really a murder mystery, but its got a bit of that quality to it-- you don't know exactly what's going to happen, so it's nice not knowing anything about it before you go.
It's one of the best nights you're going to have in the theatre, it's so funny and fun! So many people have said those words to us [after they see it], "it's just the best night I've had." It is so well written, you're automatically going to be drawn in.
One of my pieces of advice that I give to everybody is if you can, come early in the run [of the show] because you'll probably want to see it again. It's different every night!
The audiences are more than 50% of the show, I'd say, because of the way they react and interact - it really changes the dynamic of the show from night to night, and we respond to that. Its really fun over the top, witty comedy - there's so many things going on. Everybody on stage is interesting and it's a small cast--there's only 11 of us - and everyone is doing such interesting [work]. Its one of the most brilliant pieces of theatre that I think I've ever been a part of.
Sarah: That's wonderful! I've heard the writing is remarkable and interesting. Were you a part of the Broadway company as well before this tour?
Kevin: Yes, for about 10 months. I covered [understudied] the role that I'm currently playing--Monty--and I was one of the ensemble men in the show.
I actually got the role of Monty on tour before [the producers] saw me do it in New York. I'm glad they trusted me! It's one of those roles in an actor's life that every actor [hopes they have]-that fit you very well. This is one of those roles for me and I have such a blast. Its a lot of work because I'm on stage the entire time, but it's well worth it, because its such a good show.
For the tour, the original creative team came back, and we got to work with Darko [Tresnjak] who won the Tony for direction, and the writers. So they let us re-create the roles for ourselves. Even though we didn't change the music or the script at all, it is quite different in some ways than [the New York production]. That's [a] testament to them trusting us, and I think that's what makes the show work so well for us on the road.
Sarah: I love to ask actors about their creative process. What's a part of your creative process--whether its in creating the role or performing it every day- that surprises you?
Kevin: I came at this business from a musical perspective, initially. I didn't think I'd do this for a living, I was going to be a doctor. I was pre-med at [the University of North Carolina] Chapel Hill and happened to be a music major as well. I didn't have as much of the acting and dancing background.
Throughout my career, I've noticed a lot of my roles are very physical. [Roles like] Tarzan, and even Huey [in MEMPHIS] - the way he holds his body and the way he moves around.
That's one thing that is also a huge part of this role--it's very physical. It's a certain style that when I saw the show, it just clicked, and I understood it. It's a quick comedy - it's about timing, and looks, and movement, and making things clear and articulating your fingers fully--all sorts of little things that started to make sense to me. It's funny, you can ask my wife [Broadway actress Kara Lindsay] I'm NOT a dancer by any means! So it surprises me, and a lot of people, how much the physicality of roles is a part of my journey [as an actor]. To me, that's a huge part artistically that informs my show as well.
Sarah: It must be very rigorous to play a role with so much stage time.
Kevin: I have very few times offstage. I've never timed it, but probably about a minute or two total, during the entire show.
The few times I come off [stage], you'd think I'd sit down, catch my breath and drink some water, but actually, I love joking around with my cast mates, poking fun, and then coming right back into the character. I'm not one of those method actors who has to stay serious or get into character. I like popping in and out [of character], it's really fun.
Sarah: Do you find that you are close with your cast mates on this tour, given the small cast size?
Kevin: We are very close, and we're lucky, it's not always the case! We've got a great group of actors, and our crew is fantastic! They [have] positive energy, and are up for exploring new [tour] cities. Everybody's really cool, we're lucky.
Sarah: One last question: did you have a favorite musical or acting influence/inspiration whilst working on this show?
Kevin: I really loved working with [director] Darko [Tresnjak ]. This is his first musical, so it was great to have his outside eye and a new and fresh taste on the 'typical musical' [model]. He didn't have the trappings of typical musical comedy. And he's also a bit of a weirdo, like I am! He has a history of circus [work] as well, and I think that all fit really well with this [show's] style.
It was great to see him demonstrate some of the ideas he had, and play off of some of the ideas that we [the actor's] brought. I just felt like it inspired me to become better and better everyday, because of his direction and guidance.
Sarah: I'm so excited to see the show!
Kevin: Thanks for chatting with me!
A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER plays at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, TX August 14 - 28, 2016.
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