THEATRE
Stage Door Dinner Theatre’s current production of Movie Madness ends just before Xmas. Don Gordon-Brown threw a few questions about movies – some silly, some serious – to two of the cast members Ian Maurice (pictured) and Damien Lee.
It’s been a long time since I’ve emerged from a cinema and thought: Wow! So, has the last great film script been written?
Ian: If the last great movie script has been written we may as well stay at home and watch the reruns of the great ones on cable.
How do you rate this year’s crop of films, and what was your favourite and why?
Damien: Oh, if only I had the time to see some movies. Being in the theatre world, it sort of keeps you busy. Movie Madness is as close to a movie I have come in months.
George Clooney is the modern-day equivalent of Cary Grant .... agree or disagree?
Ian: Quite possibly although Brad Pitt might challenge him.
On the same theme, who is today’s Katharine Hepburn?
Ian: Meryl Streep, Julie Walters or Helen Mirren.
Name the most underrated actor or actress going around in world movies right now.
Damien: I would have to say the most underrated actor for me is Robin Williams. I am a bit of a fan of his work. He can make us crack up, or terrify us in films like One Hour Photo.
Colin Firth gets to stutter a lot in the upcoming The King's Speech. Does that make a Best Actor Oscar a near certainty?
Damien: Go Colin, but I don’t think stuttering will get him there alone. For me, an Oscar nomination should be awarded to any actor who has excelled in making their character on screen totally believable. You need to no longer see the actor on screen, but the character. That’s when it is awesome.
The explosion of CGI has been a blessing for the film industry over recent years. Agree or disagree?
Damien: CGI has totally transformed the movie industry. Who can ever forget the movie maker attempts to fly rocket ships in the old Flash Gordon show (fishing line everywhere) and even the amazing efforts George Lucas made on the initial Star Wars movie without all the technology.
Steve Buscemi has made a fortune out of film, so why hasn’t he got his teeth fixed?
Damien: But he has had them fixed. You should have seen them before!
Movie stars can reshoot their mistakes .... has anything gone terribly wrong onstage during the current season of Movie Madness?
Ian: Edna Turnblad’s (Damien Lee’s) microphone became dislodged and her husband Wilbur (that’s me) had to pull her dress up to adjust it, revealing her scanties!!
