London Calling with Champaign Charlie – Dateline: 6/10/08

I never like comparisons but this show may very will be the next '39 Steps' a potential award winning mega hit that starts off from a (not so) small theatre.

In this case it's the Lyric Theatre in south London and the show is a farce called ‘Spyski'

It's produced and performed by Peepolykus (pronounced people-like-us) who have been quite rightly lauded as one of - it not THE UK's most exciting touring theatre companies around.

They really go to town with their latest hit packing them in at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith in rainy London.

‘We've been doing this for the last 10 year' cast member and artistic director ‘JN told me over coffee exhausted after he and his team had had another sell out audiences happy the night before.

‘It all got going because as working actors we just didn't want the restrictions of being told what to do by directors you don't want to work with. That was our rationale, the reason we got going. It's been years of touring all across the world to get to this stage. That's creating comic theatre with proven national and international appeal over the last 9 years' he added.

The current show called ‘Spyski' find a comic edge to the world of spies and a twist ion the rather dark true life murder in the London of ex KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.

He died of radiation poisoning mystery and intrigue that no public inquiry could solve or explain away.

A huge diplomatic farce occurred with Moscow challenging London via each other's embassy and questions being asked in the House of Commons denied by the Kremlin - cold war style.

Meanwhile the public was haunted by front page shots of the ex KGB agent dying day by day in a London hospital from the mysterious poisoning.

When revealed that it was a deadly dose of radionuclide polonium-210 the press went to town and hospital switchboards were flooded with anxious calls from others who had had face to face contact with him in his time in London. All feared they too could be poison by this chemical in a real life case of nuclear assassination.

The show takes this case and adds more comic twists than the inside of the Royal Mazes at Hampton Court Palace.

The spy antics begin before you get in your seat with the Tannoy telling you that The Importance of Being Earnest is about to begin.

And the play actually does begin with the set turning from Victorian drawing- room to pro celebrity gold course to over 20 different other locations effortlessly and skillfully

However between the laughs the show proper starts once the security man shouting into his walkie-talkie exits from the stalls and we take in this bizarre mix of visual stunts, sight gags and rapid fire comic dialogue. If it sounds confused, believe me you won't be...they have the experience and skill to pull it off.  As one critic observed...it's not often that a two hour show has you laughing from start to finish and this one certainly does that.

‘It started as a three page outline' he explained. Everything was pretty much there for the others to buy into. From then...the work began'.

‘I wrote some dialogue and then we had about 3 stages of research, getting to the facts before we got more jokes in. By the end of 2 months we had a written and researched draft ready...by that stage I'd say we were about 80% there.' He recalled.

‘We aren't a democracy...someone has to be the judge of what's good and bad but thankfully we tend to be on the same wave length. We all have ideas though and that's what keeps it fresh. We look at it that in the plot there are problems to solve - it's the same problem all the time - how do we make this or that funny'.

The success of their show is all too apparent with critics and audiences labelling it this year's '39 Steps'. 

‘We've never really played the US' he told me. We've been going all these years now. It would be nice to have this as our break out hit'

Touring is an essential part of the company and the reason why the comedy he believes stays so fresh. ‘We went down REALLLY well in Iran'.

‘It was a place like no other. We played there back in 2002. Naturally they we're happy with the Americans invading Iraq - a country close by they felt it was an ally.

They were amazingly sophisticated and they couldn't understand why they as people we being penalised for not being a democracy when Bush had gotten in by what they considered the slimmest of majority and in a way that seemed to them well...rigged!' he revealed.

As the show being to wind down in London a UK and international tour which will hopefully take in the US is being put together.

‘We've had hit West End shows like our version of ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles' but we feel this could be it with this show' as he went off to rehearsals for his upcoming next show for The National Theatre in London.

 

 

It's lovely to be in demand and I get no bigger thrill than when anyone off HAIRSPRAY get's in touch.

Zoe Rainey has just joined the leads and just after finishing with John from Spyski the ringtone was off and I looked to the screen of my mobile to see the familiar line:

‘Hi's Zoe!' flashing away!

Being a text addict I knew what was coming!

Zoe:
Guess what - I'm in Hairspray!

Charlie:
Congrats I know you wanted it but if you were given the chance to swap roles (male or female) with any other cast member - which role would you love to play

Zoe:
It would have to be Tracy.  Everyone loves her and she changes history.  Leanne must get so much out of playing that every night.

Charlie:
How did you get this part?

Zoe:
I auditioned for it.  Originally I was given Penny material but the night before my final they sent me Amber material and the next day I got the phone call.

Charlie:
I ask everyone this but you'll have a good insight - why you think the show is a hit

Zoe:
Hairspray has an amazingly profound point to get across about serious issues that still are here today but it does this in a way that gets everyone up on their feet dancing and having a fantastic night.  It has everything that a musical should have and that is why you have to love it.

Charlie:
What is your pre - show preparation (if you have a routine that is!)

Zoe:
I come in and put my hair in pin curls then my do make-up and eyelashes.  I then go downstairs and do warm up with the rest of the cast.  I try to say hello to everyone especially Liz who plays my mother and Ben who plays Link because I would hate the first time I would see them to be onstage.  I then go up and finish getting ready.  At beginners I have to say, "Have a good show" then say a quick prayer.  Nothing too out of the ordinary I'm afraid.

Charlie:
Why has working on this show been different to your last jobs?

Zoe:
Well most of my last jobs have involved death.  In Parade we even Hung someone so this is lovely and jolly!!  Also my last job was Gigi in Regent's Park so this time I have a roof and walls, luxury!

Charlie:
How did you get going in the business?

Zoe:
Well I became interested at 7 years old when I went to McMaster's Stage school every Saturday.  I then was lucky enough to spend summers performing in the Ulster Theatre Company and NYMT, which confirmed my passion for the business.  I then went and trained at Arts Educational for 3 years, which was fantastic, and from there I started my first professional job Jekyll and Hyde, UK Tour.

Charlie:
What's you're advice for others when feeling down (e.g. songs you sing, thoughts that cheer you up) etc

Zoe:
That's simple...just watch an episode of Friends or listen to Legally Blonde or eat a lot of Chocolate!!

Charlie:
Back stage pranks - what do you get up to!!!

Zoe:
Well we're only in our first week so we haven't really settled in yet, sorry to be boring.

Charlie:
Has anything ever gone wrong on stage that you've had to cover up for (don't need to mention names)

Zoe:
There have been many occasions when people have made mistakes, that's the beauty of live theatre.  When I was 7 years old in my first ever production I wasn't quite as professional. I was playing Gretel and the boy who played Hansel forgot one of his lines so I just stared at him and then pushed him off into the wings, oops!

Charlie:
Imagine I am a casting agent and will offer you ANY role (even for a play / show not in production)...What would you love it to be and why

Zoe:
I would love to be in an episode of 'Prison Break'!  I love that programme and how exciting would it be to help them escape.

Charlie:
Have you seen the US version of the show - how if at all is this different

Zoe:
I actually saw Hairspray when it first opened on Broadway and I loved every minute.  I queued outside the theatre from 8am to get a standing ticket and it was worth it.  My cheeks were so sore because I was smiling so much and 7 years later when I watched it in the West End I had exactly the same feeling.

Charlie:
What about working in the states - experiences or desires

Zoe:
It is definitely something that I would love to do.  Who knows what the future holds? But New York has always been one of my favorite places in the world.

Charlie:
How do you unwind when the show is over?

Zoe:
I usually just have some food, chat to my friends or family and watch some television.  Anything that doesn't take up too much energy!
How is everyone at Broadway World - send them ALL out love from the UK!

Charlie:
Will do! Must run Zoe text me anytime only make sure it's the right Charlie.I have a plumber with the same name. He was very entertained but a bit confused

Zoe:
Why's that?

Charlie:
Your love life confessions were very funny but not what he was expecting to hear at 3.30am. It's usually stuff like I'm flooded with water - come over and help!

Zoe:
Don't worry - I'll watch who I press send to. Bye!

And with that it was off to meet a very special Emmy award winning writer and his actress wife based over here. See you all soon!

Spyski Photos by Hugo Glendinning

Hairspray Photos by Tristram Kenton

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