Interview

Michael Cormick

by Phil Willmott
11/08/2005

Michael Cormick is enjoying a new chapter in his career, playing baddies, as he takes over the role of the dastardly Sir Percival Glyde in Andrew Lloyd Webbers "The Woman in White". It's an exciting time for Cormick and the show as the creative team, including Trevor Nunn and Andrew Lloyd Webber revamp the production for it's first anniversary and Broadway opening.

Q: You certainly bring a brooding presence to the role. Is it very different playing a baddie to playing the romantic leads we associate you with?

A: It's a lot more fun. There's more to get your teeth into from an acting point of view. In fact I've just finished playing another baddie in a new show back home in Australia called the "Eureka Stockade".

Q: What's that about?

A: It's set during a little known pocket of Australian history concerning the ballet for independence in the Australian gold fields.

Q: Australia had a gold field?

A: Oh yes. The second biggest in the world after America and our gold rush was a very important time because it brought people from all over the world to Australia. It was the birth of our multiculturalism. The producers were hoping the show would be the Australian Les Mis.

Q: Was it?

A: Well not quite. We ran for four months.

Q: What was your first experience of musical theatre as kid?

A: Well, my family didn't really go to the theatre. My way into the whole business was through winning a TV talent show. It was a big shock to my dad and brothers. It was pre-recorded so my mum and I knew I'd won but we didn't let on so when everybody sat down to watch it they got a real shock. Then they took me seriously. As a result of that show I was cast in the Australian premiere of "Cats".

Q; How was it going into a show like that without any training?

A: Well, there were a lot of new things to get used to and it was rather intimidating working with all the musical theatre stars that I'd admired. But everyone was very encouraging. After that I decided to try my luck in London.

Q: It must have been odd going from the Australian theatre community where you had a profile and status to starting at the bottom of the ladder again.

A: At the time if felt exciting and romantic. I went to open calls for musicals, you know, where you literally queue up in the street to be seen. On my first day of auditioning I went up for a new musical, "Time" and the take over cast of "Les Miserable". I had to change in a telephone box so I looked right for each audition. Anyway I was offered both and I took the job in "Time" understudying David Cassidy. "Time" didn't run for a very long but I followed that up with two and a half years as Raoul in Phantom.

Q: Did you miss Australia?

A: Well, yes I did and when a hoped for recording career didn't quite pan out I decided to go home for a while; which led me to play the Pharaoh in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" for a year and the Beast in "Beauty and the Beast" for three years, then to touring in Grease and appearing in "Falsettos".

Q: That's a very different type of show to the other three.

A: Oh yes, it's a beautiful chamber piece about an extended family dealing with HIV and AIDS. Joining that cast was an amazing experience because when I turned up for my first rehearsal they asked me to go on in the role that same night. The leading actor was sick. Fortunately I'd been so nervous that I'd already learnt all the words.

Q: This must be an interesting time to join The Woman in White.

A: Yes, we're rehearsing in various changes and Simon Callow joins the cast soon as Count Fosca.

Q: I'll be back in September to review that new version. What advice would you give a young actor starting out?

A: To be passionate about your work. I think that always shines through.

Q: What do you do to relax?

A: Well my boyfriend is a set designer and he was recently asked to design the interior of The Vine restaurant in Highgate. He had too much work on so I took over the lions share and I'm really proud of the results.

Q: Not a very Sir Percival Glyde thing to do.

A: I'd like to think he'd enjoy a drink there.