Do you find it challenging combining theater with music and comedy?
There’s a comic element in all music and classical can also have a funny twist to it! Playing the violin and acting took a lot of time and effort in front of the mirror to do simultaneously. I’m not sure what my housemates thought.
What was your most memorable performance and why?
There’s a great tradition of silent comedy in Italy and audiences there are warm and appreciative. One performance culminated in an argument between our cellist Flora and a lady in the front row. Flora wanted to serenade a good looking Italian man but his wife wasn’t very happy with it!
What’s life like away from the spotlight for the cast?
There’s a lot of time spent in the “Pluck Truck” travelling to shows. A highlight of our last visit to Malaysia was going to see the elephants. I got dumped straight from an elephant’s back into the river which was pretty wild. The elephant must have thought so too because he immediately did a huge poo that floated past my head.
How do you prepare for a show?
Apart from the five hours of tantric yoga and the 80 laps of the Olympic swimming pool that I swim, I spend at least 10 minutes getting my cufflinks nice and shiny. That last bit is unfortunately true.
Which are some of your favorite songs to perform and why?
I never get bored of our Jimmy Hendrix tribute. I get to improvise, so it’s different every night. I play the violin with my teeth. I’m not sure if my dentist would agree to this.
You’ve dived off the stage to steal a shoe from an audience member before. What can we look forward to this time?
Without giving too much away, there are Pluck antics aplenty in this show. Suffice to say those people sitting in the front row better not have any jealous partners!
Catch PLUCK: Musical Arson! on Jul 7-17, 3pm, 8pm. DBS Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Rd., 6733-8166. $48-68 from Sistic.
