BWW Interview Exclusive: Eugene Levy Talks Godspell, Improv and Harold Green

On Monday night, stage and screen star Eugene Levy graced the stage at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts for a special one night performance in support of The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company. Entitled "Conversations on the Green", Mr. Levy's appearance is the first in a series of conversations that the Harold Green will host throughout the year.

Eugene Levy is perhaps best known for his work on the Canadian classic sitcom SCTV as well as for his extensive film work, but he also has an impressive stage career to his name. Most notably Mr. Levy was part of the Original Canadian Cast of Godspell, which went on to become a cult-hit and worldwide phenomenon and is being revived on Broadway this year.

BWW is thrilled to bring you this exclusive feature interview and photo piece with Mr. Levy, from backstage and on-stage at his "Conversation on the Green". We spoke with him about the Godspell revival, improvisation, and why we aren't likely to see him back on the Toronto stage any time soon.

Click here for photo coverage of Levy in "Conversations on the Green"!

Welcome back to the Toronto stage! This is an exciting night and a very rare appearance for you, what do you have planned for the audience?

Nothing really! I don't like planning if I can avoid it. Most shows that you do are all pre-planned and pre-scripted, everything that you are going to talk about is decided before you even step out on stage. That can be a good thing because it allows you to know what direction you're going in, but it takes the fun out of it. If given the choice I would far rather not know where I'm going and be surprised by the spontaneity of it all.

You made your career on your ability to improvise, so are you allowed to deviate from the script in those types of situation?

Not really, they really frown on any deviation. Basically, you don't deviate because it could throw off the host and make him (or her) look bad and people tend not to like that. So for tonight, it's all spontaneous. We are just going to talk - I've got the best interviewer in Ralph Benmergui and absolutely no agenda, so I'm just going to try and answer whatever is put out there and have some fun.

Ok, we have to talk Godspell. It's getting a Broadway revival and there is a lot of buzz surrounding it. As one of the people who helped create that show, how do you feel about the new production?

Well, we are all planning on going to opening night in NYC! Myself, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Paul Shaffer and (we hope) Victor Garber. We are going to support the show. I've actually gone online and checked out some of the clips and footage that is available and it truly is a NEW show. It's not what it was when we were doing it. Back then they didn't want anyone who was too "show-bizzy" and now it seems they are all "show-bizzy". Everyone in the new production seems to have Broadway credits already, or be just coming off a series. They can all actually sing! The approach is different, I don't even think they have the clown suits anymore. It's more modern, and it's more "Broadway."

But to be fair, I don't think "our" Godspell could work now. I always thought that if that was the show - a band of hippies getting together and re-enacting the gospel according to St. Matthew in their own fun way - well, I don't think it would play now. The sensibilities are different. So I was extremely skeptical when I heard it was coming back to Broadway. But I think the approach is so completely different that it could work. Either they've bitten off way more than they can chew, or it's going to be a pretty damn good night!

Any chance we will get you back on a Toronto stage?

I'm on stage tonight!

Other than this evening of course?

I don't know...8 shows a week? That's a lot when you think about it. It's hard, it really does lock you in. That's the thing about theatre. You can't go away on the weekend, you can't make solid plans, you can't even enjoy a good dinner! You've got to make that half hour call - you can't eat too much and you certainly can't stay for dessert! I like my food!

When and Where?

The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company's "Conversations on the Green"

The St. Lawrence Centre for the Performing Arts

Conversations scheduled for November 28th 2011, February 27th 2012 and May 14th 2012
For more details on speakers at these events or other programming from The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company please visit their official website: www.hgjewishtheatre.com

Photo by Racheal McCaig Photography

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