Not Just a Muppet.....
It's way past the watershed on this piercingly cold February evening and I'm loitering outside the Noël Coward Stage Door, surrounded by avid fans all awaiting a chance to meet the stars of the West End's most hilarious musical, Avenue Q. We have all been witness, for the last 2 hours, to a brilliant and entertaining musical bursting with both witty and moving episodes on life, love, internet porn and of course, purpose. I am lucky to steal five minutes with the leading lady of the show, Rebecca Lock en route to the Charing Cross station before the last train leaves for home, and more importantly the comfort of central heating.
With crowds of people dashing to catch their train I probed the star on the pros and cons of appearing as both the lovely and naive Kate Monster and the downright brash Lucy the Slut. Rebecca pulls off the dual roles brilliantly as she switches between characters adding her own touch of class to the show. I asked how she got involved with Avenue Q:
My Agent set me up with the audition, well there were three auditions in total that I had to attend, but that was basically it. I had to attend a two day course at a puppet school to learn how to use them before I could get the job, but much like any job, you have to impress.
How do you find working with the puppets? Was it hard to learn?
It's great fun, I mean it's so different to any normal West End production that I have been involved with in the past and it is very hard work. Constantly holding the puppets up on stage hurts - a lot. You get arm ache, and hand spasms throughout the show and during the songs - there are times when you just want to put it down and throw the thing on the floor, but you can't. I may complain but it is great fun, and a I get a weekly massage which certainly helps!
How are you finding Avenue Q compared to other shows you have been in?
It's great fun, it's completely different to anything else I have ever done before - I mean you can go into work feeling completely depressed or whatever, but you come out happy because it's a happy show. Everyone laughs because it is great. It's just great, great fun to do.
How difficult was it to break into the West End? Have you been performing for a long time?
I have been acting for about 10 years now, I was lucky - very lucky to get my first job straight out of drama school. If anything, I was simply in the right place at the right time.
Are there any other shows you would like to appear in?
I would absolutely love to do Lord of the Rings, Galadriel has an amazing entrance that Im sure any actress would love to perform. (Rebecca is of course referring to her grand entrance from the ceiling, a massively epic moment in the play which results in a rapturous applause from the audience.)
How Does appearing in the West End compare to appearing in local theatre?
It's pretty much the same except the theatres are bigger and it's easier to get to. Although there is always something a bit magical about performing in the 'West End'! I live just outside the city and able to commute into London which helps a lot, it saves me from having to live out of a suitcase for weeks on end!
Do you do much work in TV or Film?
Not really that much so far, when you work in musicals it becomes hard to cross over. People tend to class you as a singer more than an actor so you tend to get labelled that way. I did work on the set of Bridget Jones' Diary as a drunken bridesmaid with Hugh Grant but it was, however, cut from the final edit. I spent three days on set filming, it was there, it was in the can but it was unfortunately cut. (Rebecca stresses the word CUT in a jovial manner.) I would love to do television and i'm hoping that this will launch me into that side of things more, as Avenue Q is all about the hilarious script and not so focused on the singing.
Finally, is there any advice you could give to any budding actors out there?
Dont do it!...Its such a hard business more often than not you're out of work and thats such a harsh reality! However, if you can't visage doing anything else and you want it with all your heart and soul then follow your dreams, find your purpose (laughs) If it's what you really want to do then go for it - go to drama school and get a proper training! Work hard and be lucky!
With time inevitably running out, I have to leave Rebecca to dash off in the direction of Charing Cross' Underground station. I can't help but feel she has a busy schedule and a hectic life: it's now ten past eleven on a Friday night and Rebecca won't be home for some time yet. And then she can come and do it all again tomorrow. When asking the question, is it hard work? I feel painfully aware that 8 shows a week kind of spells that answer out. Would you change it for a 9 to 5? "In a word, No."
And so we part company, Rebecca on her way home to relax for a few hours and me to practice the art of puppetry...watch this space.
Published by: Jon Lane
