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Double Talk
23rd July 2007
by Melissa Trickey
Possibly the
most complicated, confusing, and cleverly written musical ever
conceived, City of Angels requires the audience’s utmost
attention, but believe me, it is well worth the concentration! A
musical that delivers love, redemption, violence, betrayal, lust,
mystery, nostalgia and fantastic one-liners, City of Angels
will be presented by relative newcomers PEP Productions, in only
their second musical offering. It is shaping up to be one not to be
missed.
I recently met
with the two leads of the show, Marcus Fleming who plays Stine, the
would-be Hollywood screenwriter, and James Brown, who portrays the
role of Stone, the fictional private eye of Stine’s invention.
Marcus and James could not look more different. One blonde, one
brunette; one tall, one not so tall; one stocky, one slim. They have
a great rapport, and it was with many a chuckle that I conducted
this interview.
TP: How did
you get involved in theatre?
MF: Well, it
was a good way to meet girls in high school…
JB: Also in
school, but not to meet girls specifically, I suppose I’ve always
liked the buzz of being on stage, working with a group of people to
construct something that is greater than the sum of its parts.
TP: Previous
theatre experiences?
MF: God where
do I start, Into the Woods, Guys & Dolls, Witches of Eastwick.
Les Mis, Urinetown, Bye Bye Birdie….
JB: Recently
Return to the Forbidden Planet with Fab Nobs, Stella’s
RENT, My Fair Lady at the Comedy Theatre where I got to
understudy Jon English and Marty Fields, Les Mis twice, first
with Whitehorse, then as vocal coach for Ivanhoe Grammar School.
 TP:
Favourite
shows and any in particular you’d like to do in the future?
MF: Definitely
Into the Woods! I would love to do Parade in the
future too. And You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.
JB: Going to
be a cliché and say Les Mis! Would like to do Miss Saigon,
Is there Life After High School?, I Love You… and The Last 5
Years.
TP: How are
you finding City of Angels so far?
MF:
Challenging, very, very challenging, but exciting at the same time.
A very enjoyable and fun experience overall.
JB: Everyone
involved has been great to work with, rehearsals are hilarious! The
role of Stone is quite an exciting challenge, he really allows me to
test my acting ability.
And now for
the really important questions…..
TP: All-time
favourite
movie?
JB:
Anchorman, Ace
Ventura
and Zoolander.
MF: Lock
Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
TP: Any sports
you like? (if Theatre People know what that means…)
JB:
Basketball, still play! Footy, Horseracing, and jelly wrestling….
MF: AFL, Golf,
Tennis, Soccer, Cricket, Ping-Pong, Chess, Mud-Wrestling, Kayaking,
Yachting, Lego…..
 TP: (Jelly
Wrestling?! Lego?!? What the…!) Ever had a near death experience?
JB: When I was
little I was given penicillin… not a good idea!
MF: Hmm, let
me think….. No. Definitely not, I would remember it, wouldn’t I?
TP: Who in
your opinion is the hottest woman in the world?
JB: All the
Theatre People readers! Well the female ones. And Megan Fox from the
new Transformers movie.
MF: Scarlet
Johansson.
TP: Would you
turn for anyone?
JB: If they
tapped me on the back, sure. And Stone. Who wouldn’t?
MF: Hmm,
tricky question, very tricky indeed…. Maybe Kieran (the Co-Director
of City of Angels), or maybe not.
TP: Anything
that really freaks you out?
JB: Needles
and Real Life Medical Shows!!
MF: Spiders.
Especially the really hairy ones!
TP: Who do you
think will win the Federal Election?
JB: Kevin
Rudd. Wouldn’t mind seeing Tony Blair coming over to take them all
on!
MF: Yep, Kevin
Rudd all the way.
TP: When you
get up in the morning, what is the first thing you do?
JB: Try to
figure out where I am and how I got there.
MF: I always
food myself.
So there you
have it, the two ‘heroes’ of the piece, in a nutshell. If you want
to see these two ‘hunk-a-spunks’ in action, and trust me ladies (and
whoever else is interested) you wont be disappointed, check out
PEP’s City of Angels, showing from July 27 to August 4 at the
Mahon Theatre, Aquinas College, Ringwood!
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