Chorleywood actor swaps Brel for Baldy (From Watford Observer)

Chorleywood actor swaps Brel for Baldy

9:58am Thursday 11th February 2010 in

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Jumping from a successful solo show playing Jacques Brel, Chorleywood actor Anthony Cable is tuning up his vocal chords alongside Laurence Oliver Award- winner Paul Clarkson for the European premiere of the musical version of Terrence McNally’s moving Irish drama A Man Of No Importance.

Based on a 1994 independent film starring Albert Finney, A Man Of No Importance is about the journey of self-discovery and acceptance of Alfie Byrne, a Dublin bus conductor who is prone to reciting poetry to the patrons on his bus. He is also the director of the local community theatre, which operates out of a small parish hall in the neighborhood church. Alfie’s passengers are also his performers: amateur thespians that come to see the magic the theatre offers through Alfie’s eyes.

"The show revolves around Paul Clarkson's character Alfie," says Anthony. "He's a simple man who wants to put on Oscar Wilde's Salome in the church hall but others object to it because of the salacious dancing. Alfie is up against this other character Carnie, played by Paul Monahan, who's a good old-fashioned Roman Catholic bigot and he betrays Alfie to the church."

In the play, Anthony's character Baldy, acts as a counterbalance to Carnie's religious ire.

"Baldy is a widower who desperately misses his wife. He used to have long shoulder-length hair and now he's called Baldy. He's Alfie's best friend and where Carnie betrays Alfie, Baldy saves him."

After a long run of playing Jacques Brel in his solo show, I wonder how Anthony is finding it being back in an ensemble cast?

"I was wondering how I'd feel about being part of a large team because it's very hard when you're working on your own as you have to create your own energy. Thankfully, with this show there are lots of generous actors feeding energy into each other."

The show is at The Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, London from February 10 to 27.

Details: 0845 017 5584