|
Aussie Soap Star Hooked On Panto
Evening Express, 4th December 2008
Neighbours’star to play Peter Pan’panto villain
ALAN Fletcher is hooked on the magic of Aberdeen.
Which is only fitting considering the Neighbours star will
be in the Granite City for the next four weeks starring as the
villainous Captain Hook in His Majesty’spectacular panto
Peter Pan.
“With the white snow on the ground and the beautiful
granite on nearly every building in the city centre, it really
is striking,” said the star, who is known simply as Fletch.
But it’not just the architecture that has the actor,
who plays Dr Karl Kennedy in the Aussie soap, singing Aberdeen’praises
– it’the people, too.
“The further north you get in the UK, the friendlier
people seem to get, so I don’think you can get any friendlier
having come this far north,” he said, laughing.
“But the people are lovely. They still get a bit shocked
because they don’ expect to see me in Boots. They turn around
and there I am buying cotton buds.
“But it’a pleasure for me to meet people because
it means they are watching the programme (Neighbours) and I love
to hear them say they are coming to the panto.” And it’a
mark of Fletch’good-natured personality that he organises
to meet up with fans after panto performances – “They
want me to meet their mum, or something like that.”
Fletch’own, easy-going, open personality is in sharp
contrast the monstrous Captain Hook, who he will be bringing
to life on stage from Saturday.
“I love playing it, because it is a very dark character,”
he said. “The original Hook, as written in JM Barrie’play,
was evil personified.
&;dquo;In the panto we are trying to create an evil, dangerous
character who the kids hate and love to boo, as well as balance
that with some of the humour around him.
“Hook is a dandy, he loves the sound of his own voice
and has the biggest ego in the world, so playing that such an
enormous amount of fun.”
That fun also comes from Fletch’belief that it’better
to play a baddie than a goodie.
“I prefer playing the villain. If you can incite an
audience to boo that is an absolute joy,” he said. “And
having a contest with the audience is fun.
“Also, the goodies are reserved for the young, sprightly
lads, so it’almost certain I’going to be a villain,”
he added with a twinkle in his eye.
Rehearsals for the show have been intense, but enjoyable,
said Fletch.
He has particularly enjoyed working with actor Alan McHugh
– who is not only the dame but also wrote the script –
and Jordan Young who plays Smee.
“The nice thing about this production is that it has
brought Alan and Jordan back together again, because they were
so successful in Aladdin last year,” said Fletch.
“Alan’script is very reverential to the original
play. He’not taking the heart of out Peter Pan, but he’putting
an enormous amount of comedy in, which – thankfully –
I’involved in.”
Much of the humour comes from Alan’hilarious verbal fireworks
using Doric – a dialect which Fletch says he’coping
with “just fine”.
“I actually have a list of Scottish words,” he
said.
“I even get to say a few myself ... foo’yer doos
and chavvin’awa’,” said Fletch.
While he’clearly giving his all to Peter Pan, Fletch
is still finding time to pursue another passion of his –
music.
An accomplished musician – he regularly plays and tours
with his band, Waiting Room – Fletch is playing a gig at
Moshulu next Wednesday.
“It was going to be a solo appearance, with three songs,
but I hooked up with Gareth Weedon, musical director of Peter
Pan and we’working to build that to 10 songs in an acoustic
set.”
As well as some of his own songs, Fletch will be performing
covers by the likes of The Killers and Oasis – plus some
“fun” songs that “might have a bit to do with
Scotland”.
“I also have a song I sing about Susan Kennedy from
Neighbours ... I don’take myself too seriously.”
What he does take seriously is the making sure audiences enjoy
Peter Pan.
“I think the audiences will find a lot of magic ...
when you have flying in the show, kids find that enthralling.
“They will find a lot of humour and be spellbound by
the wonderful dance numbers and the costumes.
“The panto experience, particularly with this Peter
Pan, will be like being in Magicland.”
<< BACK TO INTERVIEWS &
PRESS |
