The uber-popular book The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler has been adapted for the stage! How super is that!? This live musical play had sell-out seasons on Broadway and the West End in London! Wowee!!
We got some behind-the-scenes goss from Stephen, Simon and Crystal who star in this wild and wonderful production!
Stephen Anderson, Simon van der Stap & Crystal Hegedis in The Gruffalo
GP: Can you tell us in a (hazel)nut shell what the show is about?
Crystal: The Gruffalo is about a mouse who ventures into the deep dark woods in search of a hazelnut. Along the way she meets a fox, an owl and a snake who all want to have her for lunch. She frightens them away with a story of the Gruffalo. To her surprise she meets this monster with purple prickles and turned out toes and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose!
GP: Were you fans of the book before auditioning for the show?
Stephen: I’d never heard of it before I auditioned – I was shocked when, during our first show, everyone in the audience recited the lines from the book along with us. It’s amazingly popular, and it’s great fun to bring to life a book that people love so much!
Simon: I’d never heard of it. I went to my local library to borrow the book and was told all nine copies were out!
GP: So what is it like to play an animal?
Crystal: It was a challenge at first but a lot of fun discovering how to put the traits of a mouse in to my performance. It’s lucky I really like cheese and hazelnuts!
Stephen: I play the three predators – they all move in different ways and have a variety of different ways to try and eat the poor little mouse!
Simon: It’s always fun to play animals because they move very differently to people.
GP: Who has the coolest costume in the show?
Crystal: I love the snake costume, I think his moustache is the best thing around!
Stephen: Thanks Crystal – I had no idea you felt that way! The Gruffalo is pretty cool. He’s like a giant, shaggy carpet!
Simon: The Gruffalo costume is cool. Also very heavy and very hot.
GP: Do the cast have any interesting pre-show rituals?
Crystal: Just before the show begins we choose a word of the day that we say together. It can be anything at all.
Stephen: The more random the better!
Crystal: This helps us focus as a group and wish each other good luck for the show.
Stephen: Or ‘CHOOKAS’ as we say in the theatre!
Simon: I always put my left shoe on first.
GP: Do you get nervous before your shows?
Crystal: Not really, more excited. I only get butterflies if I know someone in the audience.
Simon: I always get nervous, especially if my family’s there watching.
GP: Any advice for overcoming the jitters?
Crystal: I like to sit quietly by myself and take a few slow deep breaths. Positive thinking is the key!
Simon: Big, deep breaths and concentrate on what you’re doing, not how you’re feeling.
GP: Have you had any embarrassing slip-ups on stage?
Stephen: I fall over all the time – I remember knocking the set over on several occasions. Pretty embarrassing.
Crystal: When we did The Gruffalo in the UK there was fake snow on the stage. It was very slippery and I fell over bringing part of the set with me. Very embarrassing but I can laugh about it now.
Simon: I’ve only fallen over twice as The Gruffalo when I tripped on my tail!
Simon van der Stap in The Gruffalo
See the Gruffalo!
SYDNEY – SEYMOUR CENTRE
Venue:Everest Theatre, Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Season:28 June – 10 July
Performance times: Tuesday – Friday 10am & 12 noon, Saturday 10am, 12 noon, & 3pm
Extra shows: Wednesday 7th 3pm
Bookings: 9351 7940 or seymourcentre.com.au or ticketmaster.com.au
MELBOURNE
Venue: National Theatre, 20 Carlisle St (cnr Barkly St), St Kilda
Season: 20 – 30 July 2010
Performance times: Monday – Saturday 10am & 12 noon, plus 1.30pm Tues 20, Wed 21, Mon 26 and Wed 28, and 3pm Sat 24 July
Bookings: 136 100 or ticketmaster.com.au
SYDNEY – PARRAMATTA
Venue: Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
Season: 30-31 August
Performance times: Monday 12 noon & 1.30pm; Tuesday 10am, 12 noon & 1.30pm
Bookings: 8839 3399 or riversideparramatta.com.au
Tags: Interview, Musical, play, The Gruffalo
