Jason Donovan: “The Rocky Horror Show ‘was very advanced by its time”


Jason Donovan He stole hearts on the eighties television before reinventing himself as the star of the West End. The musical Joseph and the incredible coat in Technicolorthe technical fantasy ofAndrew Lloyd Webberserved as a definitive walkway towards the stage. Now The Rocky Horror Show He resumes the role of Frank-N-Furter-the seductive and irreverent scientist who took over in the 1990’s-on a new British tour of the cult musical that will stop this fall at the Coliseum Theater in Barcelona.

Jason Donovan

Barcelona Theater: What has given you the musical theater that music or television have not given you?

Jason Donovan: The way musical theater develops ideas and perfect them in a story. I have seen concerts of pop groups where everything can vary and transform, but musical theater is much more refined.

You often say that Joseph and the incredible coat in Technicolor changed your life. In what sense?

He had had a successful pop career that was beginning to reach his natural maturity. The discs no longer had the success of before, which is what is usually the case. Andrew Lloyd Webber He came, saw one of my concerts and I think it was his daughter who suggested me for Joseph’s role. Until then, I was like a piece from the Stock Aitken Waterman factory. But make Joseph In the West End, eight features a week and successful, made people start taking me seriously.

Recently, and after many years you returned to Joseph In a replacement, but not as Joseph. You said you didn’t see yourself again in this role, but despite the years you still see you as a Frank in The Rocky Horror Show.

Yes, it was a topic of discussion if I would be interested in again Joseph. But then it must have been about 50 years. The voice had changed a lot. In addition, there is an innocence and youth in Joseph … commercially, maybe it would have worked in a short season, but it was the right one? Returning as Pharaoh made much more sense.

You had a good time doing Pharaoh, at least?

Well, it’s ten minutes on stage. At the age of 50, yes, I had a good time. Now, do it for months? No, there is not enough work there for me. But you are right: Frank is different. Makeup, character, dialogue … can be done with more maturity. Joseph at the age of 50 does not work.

The Rocky Horror Show

The Frank we will see in Barcelona is the same as in 1998?

It has parts of that, but not. I am now a more mature artist, safer, less anxious, with more control of my trade. The voice is strong. I am simply more mature.

And how is your relationship with the character now?

Well, I’m safer, more solid. And I think now there is a respect for me when I go on stage with this character.

Which part of Frank still lives in you?

I am quite extravagant. I don’t know if I’m really an eccentric, but I’m connected to my female side. Frank has a masculinity and femininity that makes it dangerous, in good sense. It’s a wonderful balance. I feel very safe when I put those shoes every night.

“I do not understand why, if ‘Six’ and ‘Rocky’ have come, there is no larger catalog of shows”

In Barcelona, ​​in recent years we have seen British musicals like The Rocky Horror Show, SIX… Could a regular bridge be established between the theater of the United Kingdom and this city?

You should ask the producers here, the theaters’ owners, the producers of Rocky horror and others. I don’t understand why, if SIX and Rocky They have come, there is no larger catalog of shows. If you have theaters … I do not know if it does not go by financially or what.

‘The Rocky Horror Show’

The Rocky Horror Show It works in any country, culture or public.

Well … I imagine in some countries, no. It is a risky show, provocative, explicit. Surely there are cultures that do not receive it well.

Let’s talk about a musical that premiered 50 years ago …

It was very advanced for its time, which is why it remains alive 50 years later.

You’ve seen music theater greatly evolve since the 90’s. How has the West End changed?

Well, it’s expensive. Starting shows is very expensive. Now it is harder to release shows. Before, musicals like Joseph and the incredible coat in Technicolor They were promoted with albums and simple ones. This is no longer happening. But look The Greatest Showman, SIX, Heathers, Back to the futuremusicals jukebox… shows are still emerging with loyal followers. Of course, there is also a lot of saturated market and many opportunists, but not so many real opportunities.

‘The Rocky Horror Show’

You have made from musicals for the whole family as Joseph and the incredible coat in Technicolor or Chitty Chitty Bang up to worship classics as The Rocky Horror Show. Have you been able to tell stories that you mind?

It’s hard to say. The musicals offer them, you don’t choose much. I don’t think I could have been able to choose much. Sweeney Todd It is a work that I had to fight to do, because I thought I could contribute a lot. But I had to convince a lot of people. There are shows like Cabaret that I would like to do. I consider myself an actor before a musical theater singer. I am not of those who make great notes like in musicals of Disney or from Lloyd Webber. Thereby The Rocky Horror Show It works very well.

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