Latest / The BSB Podcast / Exclusive Interview: Adam Wager & Celeste Blanch of Avon Players' 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'

Transcript

Exclusive Interview: Adam Wager & Celeste Blanch of Avon Players' 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' · The BSB Podcast

• 0:00
  A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is coming to Avon Players, and today we're chatting with two of the cast members, Adam Wager and Celeste Blanche.
• 0:05
  Thank you so much for being here.
• 0:07
  Yeah, thank you for having us.
• 0:09
  So you're currently in Tech Week for this show.
• 0:11
  Celeste, how are you kind of feeling right now?
• 0:12
  it's been going well.
• 0:14
  The cast is phenomenal.
• 0:16
  We've been having a lot of fun with it.
• 0:18
  And the crew is amazing.
• 0:20
  And then getting the crew and the orchestra in there really just, it's so exciting to have everything coming together.
• 0:28
  Adam, how does it feel to kind of have those pieces finally coming together?
• 0:30
  mean, you're just a few days away from opening night.
• 0:32
  It has to feel pretty good.
• 0:34
  It does feel good.
• 0:35
  You know, it's always a little, scary when you get close to that date.
• 0:40
  But I will say, I know for me personally, it feels like we're right there.
• 0:43
  It feels like we're kind of firing all cylinders and it really feels like we are going to be absolutely ready for opening.
• 0:49
  And I think audiences are going to absolutely love it.
• 0:52
  So for maybe audiences that aren't familiar with the story, I know I'm one of them.
• 0:55
  I didn't know much about it until I was kind of doing some research.
• 0:58
  I'm even more excited to come see it on Saturday.
• 1:00
  But Celeste, what's kind of going on in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder?
• 1:04
  Well, I feel like Adam should share this.
• 1:08
  He's, okay, all right.
• 1:12
  Well, Adam is Montague who finds out unexpectedly that he is a bit far down in line to inherit a title in England.
• 1:23
  This is place placed in 1909 in Edwardian England.
• 1:26
  so he is, unbeknownst to him, he's the heir to an earldom.
• 1:31
  um And so he is looking at potentially furthering himself socially and in society.
• 1:39
  his character is, I don't know how, I don't know what I give away, but it's about his social climbing.
• 1:50
  And I play one of his love interests and his cousin because that happens in the aristocracy in England.
• 2:00
  gonna say that lines up with the era that this is, right?
• 2:03
  I mean, it makes sense.
• 2:04
  Adam, it sounds like it's such a juicy story.
• 2:06
  What was it about it that really drew you to this project?
• 2:10
  Yeah, I mean, I wasn't too familiar.
• 2:13
  So kind of doing a little research on my own, was just, it's kind of, when you think of like a who done it story, right?
• 2:20
  And this is not like that.
• 2:22
  We already kind of know who done it.
• 2:23
  I don't want to devolve too much as to what it is, but it's more of like a how it's done, right?
• 2:28
  So it's kind of, the audience kind of already knows when the show starts, kind of where this is headed pretty early on.
• 2:34
  It's just kind of like the journey of how, you know, Montague kind of gets there and also the characters and love interests.
• 2:40
  as it goes along and it's just fun and it's silly and it's almost like a dark theme but done in such a fun and silly light way.
• 2:48
  Those tones, how do you feel like they kind of like, I mean, darkness and light can always go together, but like, how do you feel like the show really balances the humor with the
• 2:57
  fact that there's, I mean, there's murder in the title.
• 2:59
  Yeah, yeah, that's, well, that's exactly it, right?
• 3:02
  It is a balance and I feel like the way the story is written and the characters, and it's just, it's a constant back and forth.
• 3:09
  Again, these dark themes and murders in the title, right?
• 3:12
  And it's just the way that it happens and the way the story kind of just flows, just leads itself to be funny and hilarious.
• 3:19
  And we have some amazingly funny, you know, actors that we're blessed to kind of be within this.
• 3:25
  And I think it's, it just, it just pulls off beautifully.
• 3:28
  So I got,
• 3:29
  Keep saying it, I'm just super excited for everyone to see it.
• 3:31
  Celeste, what was it about for you about that script that's like, yes, I need to be a part of this show.
• 3:37
  Well, the first time I ever really became familiar with it was when was on the Tony Awards, when it first came out.
• 3:42
  So I don't recall the year.
• 3:45
  uh there is a very iconic song that Adam and I get to sing with another of our amazing castmates, Hosanna.
• 3:52
  And it's the coolest song, and they did it at the um Tony Awards.
• 3:56
  And I watched it, and I thought, my gosh, I want to do that.
• 4:00
  And so the costuming was great.
• 4:02
  The song is really funny and clever.
• 4:05
  And the staging was so
• 4:07
  inventive so really it was just that little snippet on the twenty awards that really intrigued me and then having seen some productions in the area uh...
• 4:15
  you know i really loved it enjoyed it when i saw it on stage this would be a great opportunity uh...
• 4:21
  to get out there and it's my first production with Avon so i was like Avon's doing it they always do wonderful shows so i'm gonna throw my hat in the ring there and see what happens
• 4:29
  because i've always enjoyed the the productions there and so it was uh...
• 4:33
  just
• 4:34
  things came together really nicely.
• 4:35
  was show I was interested in and got me out into a new theater where I've met some really amazing new people and been having a wonderful time.
• 4:43
  That's really cool though that you like you had enough information to be like, yes, I see, I've seen this show.
• 4:48
  I know this show.
• 4:49
  I gotta be a part of it.
• 4:50
  And then Avon, what a perfect opportunity.
• 4:54
  And Adam, you got to close, you got to open us up this season and close us out.
• 4:58
  That's kind of awesome as well returning to Avon.
• 5:02
  What is it like to kind of come back to close the season after doing the Prince of Egypt?
• 5:06
  Um, great.
• 5:07
  Um, you know, honestly, Avon for me is it's like my home.
• 5:11
  It's my home theater.
• 5:12
  I've spent a lot of time there with, you know, productions and every time it's special, it's unique.
• 5:18
  And, the same time, um, they put on great productions and the experience coming from someone being on stage there and even being off stage sometimes it's, it's a great place.
• 5:28
  Things are well run.
• 5:30
  You know what you're getting.
• 5:31
  It's welcoming.
• 5:32
  So I would encourage anyone who's listening, has any interest in auditioning anywhere, check it out because it's, I never hear any complaints.
• 5:39
  People that go there love being a part of all their productions.
• 5:41
  So again, it's special as always.
• 5:44
  I mean, absolutely.
• 5:45
  I mean, I've seen you in so many different shows there.
• 5:47
  I feel like the first one I saw you in was Sweeney Todd, and that was just also an incredible show.
• 5:51
  And it's awesome to be able to have like the musicals there.
• 5:55
  You are kind of like a pillar in a lot of these musicals that show up.
• 5:59
  So it's cool that you're able to come back and be part of the show.
• 6:03
  But you mentioned that you're playing Montague.
• 6:05
  Who do you feel like Montague is to you?
• 6:07
  Montague is kind of, what's a good way to put it?
• 6:11
  I feel like he's a little bit of a victim of just like happenstance.
• 6:17
  You know what mean?
• 6:17
  Like he gets thrust into this story that he wasn't anticipating to be in and this scenario he wasn't anticipating to be in.
• 6:23
  And yet he kind of embraces like this role and this trajectory of where his story is going.
• 6:29
  And he just kind of goes full throttle, right?
• 6:33
  He kind of decides this is the action, the steps he's gonna take and he goes for it.
• 6:37
  And yet the same time, know, things kind of fall into his lap in a lot of ways.
• 6:42
  Um, and he just kind of goes with it.
• 6:44
  He's just kind of, it's an interesting combination of intent and he's got a mission, he's going for it, but things just tend to work out for him.
• 6:51
  That's kind of how it's going.
• 6:53
  So what's kind of your process then for bringing him to life?
• 6:56
  Cause he sounds like almost like a larger than life character on the stage.
• 6:59
  Yeah, it's been a journey.
• 7:01
  feel like at first it was a little hard to wrap my head around.
• 7:04
  I just didn't have a lot of reference points with this production.
• 7:08
  So it was first reading the script.
• 7:11
  But when it really starts to click is when you're on stage.
• 7:14
  I feel these last couple of weeks, that's when things really start to feel real.
• 7:18
  You get the blocking and then interactions with other actors on stage like Celeste and our other amazing actors on stage.
• 7:25
  And that's when it really starts to click, You're saying, what's happening in these moments in the story, interacting with each other kind of helps me wrap around, how is
• 7:35
  Monty, how am I gonna take this moment?
• 7:37
  How am I going to react?
• 7:39
  m What is my character thinking?
• 7:41
  Really, for me, it's when you're physical and you're on stage.
• 7:45
  That makes sense, when you're finally embodying that character in all of his glory.
• 7:49
  Yeah.
• 7:49
  Yeah.
• 7:50
  So Celeste, you're playing Phoebe and you kind of mentioned love interest, cousin.
• 7:55
  Yeah, there's a lot of different words here, but when it boils down, who do you feel like, uh not who Celeste is, who do you feel like Phoebe is?
• 8:03
  Yeah.
• 8:05
  I was like, I'm going put on my therapist cap for a second.
• 8:07
  uh
• 8:08
  This was not going the way I thought it was.
• 8:12
  But who do you feel like Phoebe is to you or like how do you like what does she kind of encompass?
• 8:20
  Well, Phoebe is, she's really fun.
• 8:23
  uh I think this script is nice because it does lend itself well to giving you some interpretation, know, some flexibility to interpret.
• 8:32
  I feel like she's a bit silly.
• 8:35
  She's, uh in a great way, she's clever.
• 8:38
  She's witty.
• 8:40
  She's got, she's smart.
• 8:41
  ah And you don't necessarily see that initially, but after the course of it, you get to see her kind of, you know, have...
• 8:50
  come out uh of her shell and she actually sings a song specifically about that.
• 8:58
  she's just, to me she was really interesting.
• 9:01
  love vocally she's a soprano which is exciting to see a really legit soprano role out there because uh there aren't as many of those out there these days as there used to be.
• 9:11
  So it's kind of exciting to try something there.
• 9:14
  But she's just, uh I think...
• 9:17
  She lends herself well to interpretation.
• 9:19
  I really feel like I've gotten to bring some of myself into her and to make some choices and have some ideas about her that I've gotten to explore on stage.
• 9:28
  And what's nice is the cast of Gentlemen's is such a strong, amazing cast of people and we work very well together.
• 9:35
  people have been very open as you're trying things and that you really learned from each other and been able to experiment with our characters and really find them.
• 9:43
  I think that has been a lot of fun.
• 9:46
  But Phoebe definitely has grown from what I saw her as initially to what she will come to life as when the show opens.
• 9:55
  so.
• 9:56
  When you're developing her, does she present herself in a certain way in those moments to kind of, this is who Phoebe is?
• 10:02
  Or what is that process for you?
• 10:04
  So for me, Phoebe is an aristocratic woman.
• 10:09
  ah So she's got these set of social norms and things that she has to do and things like that.
• 10:15
  ah through some of the dialogue, she talks about being perceived as differently as what she is.
• 10:22
  So she really lends herself well to, you know, here's the norms of what I'm supposed to be, but I'm different than that.
• 10:28
  And so I think that helped and gave me some license to play.
• 10:32
  And then when you've got a strong group of people you're with and other actors who are very giving and very uh collaborative, you get to play and you find the things that don't
• 10:43
  work too.
• 10:43
  But you really, as you're going along, you can truly find what is working for that character for you and what is working as that character is interacting within the space
• 10:51
  and with the other people on stage.
• 10:53
  So it's really, I think, the process and being open and flexible and willing to try new things and willing to know that
• 11:01
  Perhaps they will be great and perhaps they won't.
• 11:03
  And then go back and try something else.
• 11:06
  Yeah, absolutely.
• 11:07
  feel like, you know, I'm not, I'm not an actor, but I am a writer.
• 11:09
  And I feel like sometimes as I'm writing characters, kind of ex, they expose themselves differently in those situations.
• 11:14
  It sounds like it's very similar of like, where sometimes Phoebe comes out depending on who you're talking with in those moments, but also in, the lines that she's saying there,
• 11:23
  there's, there's a depth to it that you can kind of explore and work with.
• 11:27
  Definitely.
• 11:29
  So Celeste, what would you say has been maybe the biggest challenge of this production for you?
• 11:33
  I don't know, it's been so much fun.
• 11:35
  really, even any challenges, it's been such a delightful experience.
• 11:40
  I've just been enjoying it so much.
• 11:42
  think there's always the memorization, I always get super nervous about that.
• 11:49
  And so there's that, which is a very technical thing.
• 11:51
  That's not necessarily the interpretation of that.
• 11:55
  it's been such a delightful experience.
• 11:57
  It's just, any of the challenges have been so.
• 12:01
  so much fun.
• 12:02
  I think keeping up to the level, really feel very strongly that it's such a great cast and our ensemble is amazing.
• 12:10
  play, what is it, 80 characters, all told?
• 12:13
  There six of them and between them they play, think, 80 characters.
• 12:16
  And so seeing them and all the work that they're doing, it's like, I gotta step it up because they are so amazing.
• 12:23
  I need to make sure that I am up at that level because they are just phenomenal.
• 12:28
  That's an incredible amount of characters to have to balance for them.
• 12:35
  It is, to see them in action is truly, truly amazing.
• 12:40
  So Adam, how have you feel like this show has challenged you or how has it been challenging?
• 12:46
  I would echo what Celeste said.
• 12:48
  think um just the volume of memorization for this one for me has been a lot, know, between, you know, lyrics and songs and just dialogue.
• 12:57
  It's been a heavy lift.
• 12:58
  It's been a lot.
• 12:59
  So I think that was probably for me the most challenging aspect of this one.
• 13:03
  was unexpected.
• 13:04
  I feel like I wasn't expecting to be that challenging and making sure being very intentional with my time and making sure I'm putting time aside to work on things I need
• 13:12
  to work on.
• 13:13
  And that's my own personal time management.
• 13:15
  um again, as a whole, the production, I feel like you've had some bumps in the road, but nothing crazy.
• 13:21
  And I want to commend the, the, the ensemble again, because again, not only are they like the work they're putting in and the costume changes, like their costume tracks are insane.
• 13:30
  Like we, they have it all written out and like the amount of work they have to do backstage so they can be ready to get back on stage.
• 13:37
  But moments later and a whole new costume is just outstanding and they're killing it.
• 13:41
  They really are.
• 13:42
  I mean, that's incredible.
• 13:43
  mean, time management, you're right, is super important.
• 13:45
  And I would assume for a show like this where, I mean, any show where you just have to make sure that everything is kind of balancing out and it's, you're easily easing into it.
• 13:54
  So it's not like crunch time or feeling like you're crunch time right now.
• 13:58
  So with this world as well, know, Avon players, and I mean, having been a part of lot of productions, I'm sure you can attest to that.
• 14:05
  They build such incredible worlds on their stage.
• 14:08
  How do you feel like this show is coming to life on stage with the set and with those with those pieces that help make A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder real?
• 14:20
  Yeah, I think the technical side, there's again, this is a big tech piece behind this production.
• 14:23
  think um some that Avon does a particularly nice job with is like lighting and sound design.
• 14:30
  Phenomenal.
• 14:31
  JD um does an amazing lighting effects for this production.
• 14:35
  It kind of brings it to life, which you don't get to see until tech week, even as one of the actors on the stage.
• 14:39
  um That again, sound, and we even have like some voiceovers involved in this.
• 14:45
  There's so many elements all being thrown in throughout this.
• 14:49
  two, two 15, two and a half hour production all at once.
• 14:52
  like I mentioned before, the backstage piece, we have a huge crew backstage trying to manage set pieces and pre-setting props.
• 15:01
  it's just, it's a, there's more people offstage than on stage.
• 15:04
  Like there's a, there's a lot going on and they pull it off beautifully.
• 15:08
  Celeste, you said this is your first show with Avon's as well.
• 15:11
  As you've probably seen shows there, you can attest to that too, that beautiful set pieces, costumes are amazing.
• 15:16
  What is it like to kind of be a part of that world as well and watch it come together from early on and seeing the world being built with those set pieces and the costumes and
• 15:25
  stuff?
• 15:26
  It's been really neat.
• 15:27
  mean, just to see everything coming together.
• 15:29
  Our set is really, it's an interesting set because it's not uh just, it's like a show within a show type set.
• 15:37
  And it's just beautiful.
• 15:39
  It really is cool.
• 15:40
  And then seeing all the lighting coming together and all the pieces moving.
• 15:43
  As Adam said, there's so much going on backstage too.
• 15:46
  think, you know, watching the production from backstage is another show in and of itself because you're seeing everything that's moving around backstage and all the movie pieces
• 15:55
  there and all the people who are.
• 15:56
  we're doing things back there because there's a completely different world happening backstage to make sure that the things that are on stage are coming together.
• 16:03
  But it's been really neat to see when we started there was another set for another show up there.
• 16:08
  So to see that come down and on our set filled up and then every time we're there, there was new pieces coming in and then we were adding our components, adding the music, adding
• 16:19
  the acting, know, the costumes and the costumes came in that really helps make it real.
• 16:23
  To me, the biggest thing is
• 16:25
  that makes it real is when the costumes and then the live orchestra comes in.
• 16:29
  Like that moment when you pull those two together, it's like, okay, we're finally here.
• 16:32
  And seeing all that come together has been really just so much fun and such a neat part that even these past few days, having all that come together has been really exciting.
• 16:44
  And speaking of the music, feel like I can't let you guys go before we talk about the songs and stuff like that.
• 16:49
  Celeste, is there a favorite song you have to perform in this show?
• 16:53
  I do, and it is the one I referenced earlier, which is called I've Decided to Marry You.
• 16:59
  And it's one of the more well-known songs, I would say, in the show.
• 17:02
  um was back when the show first was on Broadway and was at the Tony Awards.
• 17:07
  It was what was performed.
• 17:08
  And it's a really, really funny piece between Adam, Hosanna, uh who plays Isabella, and then me.
• 17:18
  And it's such a great piece, and there's a lot of timing in it.
• 17:22
  We've really had to work on making sure we've got everything just the right way, but it's been so much fun.
• 17:28
  And I know that's the piece, when I went into it, that I was looking forward to the most.
• 17:32
  The first rehearsal that we even sang it through, I was so thrilled to get to that point and to get to sing it with Adam and Hosanna for the first time was really a magical thing
• 17:43
  there.
• 17:44
  And so that's definitely my favorite and most memorable song on the show, but they're all great.
• 17:49
  Like all the songs, and I often say,
• 17:51
  the songs that get stuck in my head, none of them are the ones that I think.
• 17:54
  So it's other people's songs.
• 17:55
  So it's all this really great music.
• 17:57
  Like it's not even just my songs that I love.
• 17:58
  It's all of the music's amazing.
• 18:01
  Sounds like you're such a fan even when you're just in the wings watching it.
• 18:05
  Absolutely.
• 18:07
  Adam, how about for you?
• 18:07
  What is a favorite song that you perform or ones that you just love hearing every night when you're kind of up there on stage?
• 18:14
  Yeah, there's gonna so many I would I agree with with Celeste I think I'm excited to the Mary you song that we do is so much fun ah Like action-packed like the blocking against
• 18:25
  very precise the staging of it.
• 18:28
  It's just fun.
• 18:29
  It's upbeat.
• 18:30
  I think it's just
• 18:30
  fun to watch, but also exhausting and fun to be a part of too.
• 18:33
  But that's probably up there.
• 18:35
  That one's a good one.
• 18:36
  We have another castmate named Tom who plays many characters in the show, which is part of the fun of it he plays, was it nine people throughout the entire production.
• 18:47
  And it's that's part of the fun of it.
• 18:48
  And he's got so many fun songs that he brings such a good comedic element to where you're just enjoying the song, not necessarily just for the music, but for the comedy that the
• 18:59
  music also brings as well.
• 19:01
  That's awesome.
• 19:01
  That's awesome.
• 19:02
  And then one final question for both of you and Adam, I'll start with you.
• 19:04
  It's just, what are you hoping audiences take away from this production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder?
• 19:10
  I hope they just walk away with big smiles and just just enjoying it because I can't imagine anyone walking away and not loving it.
• 19:18
  They're going to go in.
• 19:19
  They're going to be ready for something that's fast paced, fun.
• 19:23
  I think people are going to be surprised at how much they enjoy the show, especially if they don't really know what they're getting into.
• 19:29
  So I hope they leave just happiness and smiles.
• 19:32
  Absolutely, absolutely.
• 19:34
  And Celeste, how about for you?
• 19:35
  What are you hoping on this takeaway from this production?
• 19:38
  Well, I would echo that.
• 19:39
  I'm hoping that they have a lot of fun.
• 19:41
  It is such a fun show and there's so much comedy, there's so much interesting things to watch.
• 19:48
  We've got such a talented cast.
• 19:50
  As Adam mentioned, is just seeing him embody all of his characters, seeing the ensemble and everything that they do.
• 20:01
  They sound amazing.
• 20:03
  Every time they're on stage, they're doing something funny and interesting.
• 20:08
  but the costume changes visually, it's just got so much going on and it's such a strong group of people.
• 20:12
  So I'm really hoping that people come and have a fun night at the theater and that they have a lot of laughs and they leave, know, chuckling and maybe with a song in their head,
• 20:22
  but that they enjoyed it and that the audiences, you know, feel like this was a great night for me and that they enjoyed themselves.
• 20:33
  Well, thank you so much Celeste and Adam for being here.
• 20:36
  It was such a pleasure and again, we are so excited for the show to arrive Avon players.
• 20:39
  So thank you for being here to chat about it.
• 20:41
  Thank you for having us.
• 20:42
  much.
• 20:43
  A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder arrives May 22nd and runs through June 6th.
• 20:47
  So get your tickets now.
• 20:47
  We'll see you there.