Working Management and Hayes Theatre Company will be bringing the 1974 Broadway classic ‘Mack And Mabel’ to Sydney audiences this November.
The musical comedy, based on the romance of filmmaker Mack Sennett and Starlet Mabel Normand, will feature Scott Irwin and Angelique Cassimatis in the leading roles. Angelique was more than excited to learn that she had landed the role of Mabel in the production.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Angelique says. “I just want to start getting into it all.”
The performer says she is quite chuffed with the idea of sharing some of herself with the character: “She’s quite energetic, and she’s definitely got power,” Angelique says. “She’s electric. Even when she’s not doing very much, there’s so many exciting things going on behind her eyes. That’s the thing that I have in common with her, that energy.”
Some of that personality was featured in a few previous performances of hers. “I played Columbia in ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and she is very physical,” Angelique says. “She has lots of energy. In ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’ I played the character Crystal who has that unintentional fiery cheekiness that Mabel tends to possess as well.”
Angelique is looking forward to Mabel and Mack colliding on-stage. “When we meet, he’s the character that gives me my first ever job. I think Mabel feels very thankful towards him but also develops these feelings for him. If he was a little bit younger or maybe met her in a different time, they would have gotten together. It’s an amazing love affair that just doesn’t eventuate which is fun to play.”
The performer has worked previously with Scott Irwin on a production of ‘High School Musical’ back in 2009. “I did my first ever professional show with Scott Irwin,” Angelique says. “I’m also really excited to be working with Deone Zanotto, and the director of the show Trevor Ashley. Just to be in the room with them all and to work and play is going to be incredible.”
‘Mack And Mabel’ is set in the early 1900s, which will be fairly new territory for Angelique. “There’s a lot of research involved as to what the world was like back then because it’s completely different to what we are now,” Angelique says. “It’s interesting to look at how silent film and comedy were so important back then to get people into the theatre. Everything today is just at a touch of a button, so it’s just so nice to look back to when it was a big event. Instead of staying home and watching television, it was about going out with the family or going on a date to the pictures. It’s different and exciting.”
Another feature of the show that Angelique is eager for audiences to see is Cameron Mitchell’s choreography.
Image © Kurt Sneddon“I love his work,” Angelique says. “There’s also so many amazing musical numbers that are going to be wonderful. So many shows are acting-based with a little bit of movement, or lots of dancing with two or three singers, but with this show everyone gets to do a bit of everything. There’s a lot of dancing, a lot of singing, and some great acting. It’s exciting to do an old show like this where you can use all three skills.”
For Angelique, the show can’t come quick enough. “I think it’s one of those musicals that has a wonderful score, some amazing dance numbers, and some great scenes. It’s one of those shows where you get a bit of everything.”
