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Tell me about how you got involved with HANDFUL OF KEYS?
I was lured out of the obscurity gutter by Ian von Memerty after working with him on Return To The Forbidden Planet. And boy, did it take him a while to get me up to scratch!!!
Do you ever regret the decision?
I have never, do not, and will never regret getting the chance/given the privilege to do Handful. You must remember, there aren't many shows out there that shows off one's talents you knew you had, including the ones you didn't . This show has catapulted me from an obscure pianist to a performer, making sure that all my mistakes and shortcomings are second to my achievements. In terms of musicality, it's the thing in my life I am the most proud of and the thing I will be grateful for forever.
Tell me about teaming up with Jonathan Roxmouth?
Well, I wasn't given much of a choice...I think Ian just wanted to make me feel old by pairing me up with someone as outrageously young as 21 (at the time....yes, the wheel turns... :)
You seem to be a mean team? Tell me about the great chemistry you have on stage?
We have brilliant onstage chemistry - apart from the fact that we have mutual respect for one another's musicality and ability, mostly it stems from the fact that we find each other extremely funny...sometimes a little too much!
What do you find 'funny' about Jonathan... what does he do to set you off?
His eyebrows...have you seen them? They have a mind of their own. I don't know What it is that I funny about him - it comes down to mutual respect for each other's strong points and enjoying each other's contributions whilst always standing in service of the product…
You are also friends off stage?
Yes we are, thank goodness. Cause I think Jonathan is a quality person.
What is your favourite number in the show, why?
The Broadway medley, by far. For the sheer brilliance of it.
Why do you think audiences have responded so well to the show? What do you think contributes to the success of the show?
It's extraordinary to realize that (considering the successes of Cats, Wicked, Les Mis) that a little 2 piano, 2 man South African born show is 15 years old this year and still going strong. And I believe it's success is because of it's sheer entertainment value!!! The only question this show asks from its audience is why aren't other shows not this good for the soul.
You are a wizard at the piano, gifted as a performer, and a talented singer … is there something you can't do?
Things I can't do...let me count the ways.....maths, woodwork, oil drilling, cooking, dancing, anything requiring spacial IQ.
Where did it all start for you.. that moment you knew you were going to be on stage?
It started for me when I realized I could do nothing else...not rugby, not swimming, not geography...seriously, I wasn't good at anything else. But my parents will tell you the only way you could quiet me down when I was a child was to put on the radio.
Did you ever perform for your parents/ family as a child?
I can't remember that I ever did. I remember them making me perform as a child...every time an Eistedfod came along, countless recitals had to be performed.
Is being an actor/ performer/ musician what you always dreamed of doing?
I also thought of doing law or psychology. But here I am.
How did you get into show business?
The school guidance councilor proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was not destined to be good at anything else. And then came Return To The Forbidden Planet.
What excites you about theatre?
Curtain up. And when it's an uninspiring production, curtain down.
Do you have a favourite role (highlight) to date? Why?
Handful has been is, and probably will be the most exiting thing as a pianist I'll ever do. (Cause, by the way, that's actually what I am...a piano player.
What's on the cards for you after HANDFUL?
After this run of Handful, I'm doing the next installment of the Beethoven Rocks shows at the Barnyard and then...well, let it be said, I'm cheap and easy!
Finally, who is Roelof when he is not on stage? What do you do when you are not performing?
Off stage me and my flute playing partner Arno are two very, very ordinary, Wii playing, DSTV watching guys who have two Daschunds Wolfie (after Mozart) and Pietie, we play music and visit with friends and braai as often as possible.
READ INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN ROXMOUTH
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2009 © Daniel Dercksen/ The Writing Studio
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