Interview: Boys in the Photograph's Tony LePage

The Boys in the Photograph is the new Andrew Lloyd Webber/Ben Elton musical, and it is currently enjoying its' final week at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre.  An original musical about a group of friends playing on a Catholic football team around the time that various conflicts started between the Protestants and Catholics in Ireland, this musical has enjoyed great success in Toronto.  Tony LePage plays John Kelly, the male lead and character whom the show is centered around.  Mr. LePage was kind enough to sit down with BWW and give us some insight into what it is like being in this production.

First, congratulations on the success of The Boys in the Photograph! How have you been enjoying the run so far?

It has been a pretty magic run.  When we first started doing the show out in Winnipeg we didn't even know if we were going to be coming to Toronto so the fact that we are here and able to do the show is amazing.  Especially getting to do it at the Royal Alex which is such a beautiful theatre, and there has been incredible buzz around the city and we had a spectacular opening night, it has been a lot of fun the whole time.

You got your start in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, what is it like to now play the lead in a new musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber?

It has been pretty crazy, and really full circle for sure.  It has been incredible, a full on dream come true for me.  As a musical theatre performer, getting to play the role of John Kelly, a role like this, is just such a dream.  There is so much to dig your claws into and it is very exciting for me as a performer.  Like you mentioned, I started my career doing Joseph and now here I am.  I have had the opportunity to work with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and it has just been a dream come true. 

Did you find it intimidating to work with him?

It was until he actually arrived! The thought of him coming was more intimidating than when he was actually working with us.  He is a nice and genuine person who just really wanted to help with the process and get things sounding as good as they could.  It was truly fascinating to work with him because he is clearly a musical genius, and the most prolific performer in the world.  Seeing him work and watching how his mind works, it is like he hears ten instruments at a time.  Very fascinating and cool.

One of the things Erica spoke of when I interviewed her was the challenge of being in a show that requires you to work with an accent every night, how did you prepare for that challenge?

Ben Elton (the director) actually took the time to talk to us about what he wanted to do with the accents.  He said that he wanted to create a "show accent" where basically we would all feed on one another and develop an accent localized in this community in Belfast.  It is tricky because there is a fine line between going for a specific accent and creating one.  Going for something too specific can make it very difficult to understand the words, especially when you have to sing and get so much information across.  It is important to get the accent down but in a way that the people watching the show can understand what you are saying as well. 

Cast Members from Boys hoist Tony LePage's "John Kelly" on their shoulders

Your character, John Kelly, goes through some pretty intense transformations and growth over the course of the show.  What was it like not only tackling such a demanding role, but getting to originate this character?

This role is definitely the most demanding that I have ever played.  It is one of those things were at the start of the show I can almost feel the changes as it goes on in real time.  The way the show is structured allows me to feel everything as it comes at me and then adjust as it goes along.  You really have to dig deep and go to some places that aren't so nice and reach into your past to take things that might be bad and bring them into your thoughts.  The process involves digging into places within yourself that you may not have personally experienced in a theatre performance before. 

In terms of getting to originate a role, it is a crazy experience and something that you rarely get to do so it is amazing for a performer.  Especially when we were out in Winnipeg because we were workshopping the production and trying new things out and making changes.  I actually got to have a lot of input.  To his credit, Ben Elton was very welcoming of ideas and really let us participate in the process which was amazing.

One thing that surprised me about your character is how physically demanding the role is, especially a lot of the scenes where you are playing soccer.  Did you have a lot of previous dance training and did you have to do anything special for this role?

Basically the only real dance training I have had has been through doing different shows.  I am not a dancer primarily I am more of an actor and singer.  From doing shows and learning from different choreographers I have learned more dancing.  Tracey Flye was our choreographer and she is absolutely fantastic.  She is so amazing at bringing the soccer game to life on stage.  Her whole thing was that she wanted it to look more like sport than dance, which was good news for me because as a kid I was more of an athlete than a dancer! *laughs* It did take a lot of hard work and repetition but Tracey was really incredible to work with.

Some readers have asked if there is any chance of a Canadian Cast album, is that something you would be interested in doing?

I would love to do that! If that was something that was on the table, I would be the first person there.  Because the show is a short run, I think it would depend on what happens with the show from here on out.  Whether they decide to do a tour or another production for example, but we haven't heard anything.  That being said, I would love to do it!

Speaking of what they decide to do with the show from here, there has been some buzz about The Boys in the Photograph going to Broadway.  If it did make the transfer, would you be interested in playing this character again?

Oh my goodness, in a heartbeat.  I would jump at that opportunity.  Anything Broadway is exactly everywhere that I want to be.  I love New York, I love the theatre scene there and Broadway is THE dream for me.  To combine that dream with this role would be mindblowing and I would jump at the chance.

The Cast of The Boys in the Photograph show off their soccer skills

With the show almost over, do you have any plans for what you are hoping to do next?

I am going to keep auditioning!  There are more shows coming after Christmas, so I'm going to go back to New Brunswick for a few weeks and chill out and enjoy some family time for the holidays, and then get back to auditions like everyone else.  I will see what the next show is and hopefully find something else. 

If you could give one piece of advIce To aspiring Canadian actors, what would it be?

I would have to say tenacity and patience are two very good qualities to have as a Canadian musical theatre performer.  You need to be tenacious and get out there and keep trying your best and you also need to be patient.  This isn't New York but nowhere is.  The Mirvish's do an amazing job and there are so many other great regional theatre companies.  Places like CanStage and many others are doing a great job of keeping Canadian theatre alive.  And it is that combination of tenacity and patience that will help someone, you just need to keep pushing and understand that sometimes it will happen and sometimes it won't.

Is there anything you would like to add or mention to the BWW readers?

The only thing I would really like to add is that I would like to mention our musical director Bob Foster.  He is this brilliant man who has been amazing throughout the whole workshop and rehearsal process and it has been great to work with him.  Both Bob and Ben (Elton) are brilliant and I am just thrilled to have had the chance to work with them and the creative team we have had.  It is a dream come true.

 

When and Where:

This week is your last chance to catch The Boys in the Photograph! Tickets are on sale through to Sunday November 1st at 2PM which will be the final performance

Sept 22 to Nov 1

Tues-Sat at 8PM and Wed, Sat and Sun at 2PM

Tickets range from $28 - $110 with special Student Rush tickets available two hours prior to the show for $25.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.mirvish.com , by phone at 416.872.1212 or 1.800.461.3333 or in person at the box office.

For more details please visit www.mirvish.com/boys

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