BWW Catches up with the Cast of NEXT FALL; At the Southwark Playhouse Until 25th October
By: Robert Diamond Oct. 10, 2014
BroadwayWorld catches up with the cast of NEXT FALL the latest must-see at Southwark Playhouse. The play runs until 25th October.
Charlie Condou: Adam
Martin Delaney: Luke
Ben Cura: Brandon, Luke's friend
Michael Mullen: Butch
Sirine Saba: Holly
Nancy Crane: Arlene
1) Describe your character in 3 words:
Charlie Condou: Neurotic, funny, camp!
Martin Delaney: God is Love.
Ben Cura: Straight-laced, Bible-loving, closet-case (I cheated).
Michael Mullen: Complicated. Stubborn. Troubled.
Sirine Saba: Compassionate. Kooky. Whole-hearted
Nancy Crane: I have two versions: Terrified, rebellious, valiant - or- holding back the darkness (which is four words, but, what the hell...).
2) Is there a scene you particularly enjoy performing?
Charlie Condou: I love the scene in the park with Brandon and also my breakfast scene with Luke.
Martin Delaney:I enjoy the final scene of Luke and Adam, where we see their relationship in a happy compromising place, 5 years after they've met. I also like Luke attempting to come out to his father.
Ben Cura: Brandon doesn't have many so they're all worth doing. Group scenes are as much fun as the one on ones.
Michael Mullen: The hospital bed scene
Sirine Saba: The chinese food scene with Adam and Luke
Nancy Crane: I like the scene in the hospital temple with Adam because of the quality of the writing
3) Who is your backstage hero?
Charlie Condou: Our stage management team!
Martin Delaney: Our stage manager is Kelsi and our ASM is Antonia. They're both so awesome! A real breathe of fresh air and lovely girls. They keep us safe and happy.
Ben Cura: Our SMs. Antonia and Kelsi. They're amazing at doing what they do, and they do it with a constant smile on their face. Makes our jobs so much easier and infinitely more enjoyable.
Michael Mullen: Antonia. Kelsi. Nancy Crane on or off undoubtedly.
Sirine Saba: The gorgeous, amazing, Princess-Jasmine-like Antonia
Nancy Crane: Well, the Backstage Hero gong has to go to our ASM Antonia as she is literally backstage and a total hero. Can't get more straightforward than that. But the award must be shared with Kelsi, our BRILLIANT stage manager who is cueing the show from out front. Both Antonia and Kelsi are beyond good at their jobs, probably because they both go beyond the call of duty at all times.
4) What's the most memorable on-stage moment you've seen or been part of that made a lasting impression on you?
Charlie Condou: Drying on stage has happened a few times over the years and that's something you don't forget in a hurry!
Martin Delaney: My most memorable moment on stage is 20 years ago this Fall/Autumn. My first ever job was a musical in Covent Garden- Peter Pan at the Cambridge Theatre. Kevin Bishop, my cousin was playing a lost boy, as was I. We had to run on stage in a scene change, following a scene with dry ice. It always left the stage slippery (great health and safely involved) Kevin ran on improvising, calling my character name 'Nibs'. As he did so, he slipped on his face. I entered the stage laughing my head off and we struggled to get it together for the rest of the show. 20 years on, we're both performing American plays, half a mile away from each other in Borough. It's been a lovely journey so far!
Ben Cura: You enjoy the moments where things don't quite go as planned. Ad-libbing to cover up for a situation or something that hasn't gone quite right, for example. Charlie and I had a moment where we had to improvise wiping water off of a piece of set furniture we were about to sit on because - as it can often happen - someone had spilt their drink all over it. We would have ended up with soaking-wet derrières otherwise. Anything that keeps you on your toes is great fun.
Michael Mullen: Shubert Theatre, 1976, A Chorus Line. Changed my life and gave me the inspiration and courage to be in the profession.
Sirine Saba: Performing Next Fall for the young people from The Albert Kennedy Trust.
Nancy Crane: The director Peter Sellars is, I think, just about the greatest director at work today when it comes to music. I was privileged to see the late, wondrous Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in his production of Theodora at Glyndebourne and also at the Barbican in his staged version of Bach cantata no. 82 "Ich habe genung". In both those performances she embodied the physical and spiritual possibilities of performance. She was miraculous. And it is no exaggeration to say that the televised versions of Peter Sellars's Mozart / da Ponte trilogy changed my life.
5) Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
Charlie Condou: I always read through my lines just before I go on stage. Just a quick skim but I find it helps me get into character
Martin Delaney: Collectively as a company, we have got used to playing a game called 'Big Booty' which is a concentration game. And we're now pretty good at it, even though it scared the hell out of me when we first started playing it. I also say a prayer just before I go on. Basically saying thank you.
Ben Cura: Showing up.
Michael Mullen: Listening to music on the way to the theatre
Sirine Saba: Bit of stretching, bit of mmmmming, bit of makeup and round of Big Booty (don't ask) with the company of Next Fall.
Nancy Crane: God, I have too many pre-performance rituals to enumerate. Among the greatest hits are going over my lines in the afternoon and thinking about what worked and what didn't the night before, then I have to meditate. Once I get in to work I have to warm-up onstage. And I have to have a Vocalzone at around the 5 minute call. If I fail to do any of these things the earth will obviously stop spinning on its axis so you'd better be glad I'm around to do them or chaos and darkness would reign.
6) What would be your dream role?
Charlie Condou: I have to say I'm rather enjoying this one!
Martin Delaney: I would love to play Iago in 'Othello'. I would also like to play McMurphy in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' at some stage later in life.
Ben Cura: Hamlet. Is that boring and stereotypical? Probably. Doesn't make it less true though.
Michael Mullen: Mama Rose
Sirine Saba: Cleopatra
Nancy Crane: I don't really have a dream role. As one becomes une femme d'un certain âge one is most likely going to play Mother to the interesting male character who is driving the action. Now, there are some good and interesting mother roles, Arlene is certainly interseting. And I love Tennessee Williams; no one writes roles for women like he does and there are plenty to choose from. But I would really adore to play Clytemnestra in both the Aeschylus and Euripides plays, 'cause I'll tell you, there ain't no hugging and learning with that dame, just dreadful catharsis. She might be the pawn of men, but she gives as good as she gets along the way. However, this whole question is coloured by the fact that last Friday I was lucky enough to see the dress rehearsal of Phyllida Lloyds's utterly brilliant Henry IV at the Donmar. So, what I now have to say about dream roles is: fuck age appropriate and fuck gender. I want to play Figaro in the Beaumarchais plays. And Philip Marlowe.
7) If you could watch a play with anyone - dead or alive - who would it be?
Charlie Condou: I imagine Oscar Wilde would be quite a fun theatre companion
Martin Delaney: I would have loved to watch Paul Scofield play Faust. My first ever screen job was with Paul & he and my father remained friends until his passing. He was a lovely man. And a true inspiration.
Ben Cura: More of Rylance's work. I've only seen him in Jerusalem. I also want to see the all-women Henry IV at the Donmar directed by Phyllida Lloyd which is opening soon. I doubt I'll be able to get a ticket though! I've also never been able to catch Ben Wishaw doing his thing on stage. I'm hoping that'll soon change.
Michael Mullen: My favourite person to watch a play with is my best friend, artist/professor/writer Steve Lo target="_blank">http://www.samsonprojects.com/locke. The person I most like to watch onstage is Elaine Stritch.
Nancy Crane: If you mean seeing someone in something that would have to be Maria Callas singing Medea at Epidaurus in 1961. I would just about sell my soul to the devil to see that. If you mean who would I like to go with to see something that would be Ava Gardner because if the show was boring you could get the hell out and go do something interesting like dance flamenco with gypsies.
8) Whats your favourite line to say in Next Fall?
Charlie Condou: "Having a 29" waist and being able to breathe through your asshole does not a genius make!"
Martin Delaney: "Excuse me?" in the coming out scene with Mitch Mullen.and "I'm not sure" in the final scene with Charlie Condou.
Ben Cura: "I just don't think this is the time to be getting all bent out of shape about it."
Michael Mullen: "Oh I'm just goofing"
Sirine Saba: I love saying EVERY SINGLE ONE.
Nancy Crane: Can't say because I might jinx it.
For more information, visit www.nextfalltheplay.com
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