Sinds oktober 2006 is de musical ‘Cats’ als reizende voorstelling weer in Nederland te zien. Een van de hoofdrollen wordt vertolkt door de Engelsman Mark John Richardson. Hij is 8x per week in de rol van Mr. Mistofolees, oftewel Dr. Diavolo, te zien. Musicalworld reisde af naar Amsterdam voor een gesprek met de acteur annex danser die in de pers veelvuldig genoemd wordt voor zijn energieke optreden tijdens de voorstelling.
Introducing Mark John Richardson
Mark: This is my 3rd production of ‘Cats’. I started ‘Cats’ in London when I was 18 and it was something that I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been dancing since I was 6 years old. And through seeing it and seeing lots of things about it, Mr. Mistofolees became the role that I’ve always wanted to do. I did ‘Cats’ in London for about a year and a half. I’ve also done the Pet Shop Boys musical ‘Closer to Heaven’ in the Arts Theatre on Leicester Square for 6 months, which was a lot of fun to do. When I was 24 Christine Cartwright [resident director of Cats, red.] asked me for the German production of ‘Cats’, so I moved to Berlin. She also asked me for the Dutch production and here I am.
You’re from England but you’ve been living in mainland Europe for quite a while now. It’s not unusual for English or American musical artists to move to mainland Europe, and Germany or German speaking countries in particular. What made you decide to take that step?
Mark: Like I said, I was asked by Christine to go to Germany. She knew my work and knew that I was reliable. At that time she needed someone for the role of Pouncival so I joined the German production in the role of Pouncival and I was also cover for Mr. Mistofolees and took over the role of Mistofolees later on. And 4 years later I’m in the Netherlands as Mistofolees.
This is you’re 3rd production of ‘Cats’. What is it about this show that you’ve decided to do it again over here?
Mark: I could go back to London or Germany to work, but I can’t find a job that would really push me as a performer in all my areas. As far as I’m concerned ‘Cats’ is a show where you have to be able to dance, to sing and to act. You use all the skills and I do that 6 days a week. There is no other show that would push me to the limit to what I can do as a dancer. Of course I could go to another show and join the company, but still you don’t work as hard. I guess that’s why I keep going back to ‘Cats’ to try and top that level of pushing yourself to a certain extend. One thing that I also like about this production is that you’re on stage practically the whole time. Sure it’s tirering but it’s a good feeling in a way. When I finished the London production of ‘Cats’ I did a lot of other work for tv, gala’s and dancing for pop artists for about 4 years, but never quite got the fulfilment that I get with ‘Cats’.
You are familiar with the role as you’ve played it before. When you were in rehearsal for this production, did you discover something new about your character? Do you play things differently now as opposed to previous productions?
Mark: Oh yes, it’s like a growing thing and I’ve definitely grown. I auditioned for the role of Mistofolees for the 1st time when I was 19. When I look back on it now, there was no way that I would have been able to do it for 6 days a week and do it the right way. So I know why I didn’t get the role back then. But there’s a lot of things different about this production. I actually just got a kitten and it’s a black and white one. You wouldn’t believe it, but I’ve called it ‘Diavolo’ (laughs). It might sound silly but it’s amazing to watch an actual cat. I remembered that Christine [Cartwright, director of Cats, red.] said to us to watch a cat and back then I thought ‘no way I’m going to do that’. But when you do, you notice so many things about them. A few weeks ago a friend of mine came to see the show and he was in the German production of ‘Cats’ with me. He told me that he could see that I’ve done a lot of different things with the character on stage and I really think it’s because I’ve watched my kitten.
Do you have a favourite moment in or memory of ‘Cats’?
Mark: Obviously I have so many memories of this show, seeing lots of different people playing all the different roles. But I think my favourite moment is at the end of my number [Mr. Mistofolees, red.] I actually still get nervous when I’m waiting to come down. Even after all this time I still get a little moment where I go ‘there’s something in my stomach that’s a little bit jittery’. When I tell people that they find it a bit strange because I’ve done it so many times. But I think that if I didn’t have that nervous energy, I wouldn’t be able to do it how I want to do it. That’s the feeling for me, once that goes it’s important for me to realise that this phase is over. And to be honest, I think that moment is going to come soon. It’s getting to the point where I’ve done it now. It’s time to find the next thing that I really want to do, something that challenges me.
The show is in Dutch, quite a difficult language to learn. Especially poetry, which is already challenging in English. How did you prepare for this production?
Mark: As I knew the show, I spent most of my time learning the language as good as I could. I had to do that as well when I was in Germany. When I told people in Germany that I was going to Holland to do the show they told me that the language was similar to German. But when I got here, I realised it’s nothing like German. Maybe some words sound the same, but the way you say it or where it’s in your mouth is so different!
Do you use it outside the show?
Mark: No, not really. But it was the same in Germany. I lived there for 3 and a half years and I’m a bit ashamed to say it, but even my German isn’t that good. I can understand a conversation, but to join in is a different story. But I must add that when I was in Germany there was hardly any German cast member in that production. With all different nationalities obviously the language of choice is English. The difference with Germany as well is that everyone in Holland speaks English. I know the German people can speak English but they don’t really like it. Here it’s so much easier, which makes me a bit lazy I guess to really learn the language so that I can use it outside the show.
You’ve been living in the Netherlands for a while now. What is it like to live here?
Mark: I like Holland, I’ve only been here once before and that was a short trip but I always had a nice feeling about it.
I can imagine that it must be hard to start ‘all over again’ in every country you go to.
Mark: Yes that’s difficult. People generally think that it must be great to be an artist and travel. And it is and I wouldn’t change it, but it’s also a real stress. When I left home at the age of 16 to go to London, I never really had a fixed place of my own and I was constantly moving. Not only in England but also in Europe. But I don’t want to change it because it’s a part of who I am.
‘Cats’ is a huge success. New performances have been booked till the beginning of October. Are you going to be a part of that?
Mark: Right about now it’s decision time, but I’m so indecisive. My contract finishes in 2 and a half months at the end of March. A part of me sort of wants to move on, but another part of me says, ‘6 months more, why not? I’m having fun’. But I definitely know that soon it’s time to move on within my professional career. When I leave here, whether it’s going to be in March or October, I know it will be the end of my ‘Cats’ stint.
So what do you want to do then when ‘Cats’ is finished?
Mark: I’ve been asked that question a lot lately and up until now I never tried to plan anything. In my experience if you plan something in this business, it never works out that way. I’ve been thinking of going back to England. I don’t know what I want to do there, whether it’s going to be theatre or tv. I see a lot of performers at a certain age pushing themselves and I think that’s not really for me. I don’t disagree with that and think it’s bad, but for me I see myself finishing at a certain point and try to move on. I’d like to work in the same business and ideally I would like to do choreography because that’s my background. But we’ll see what the future holds for me.
