INTERVIEW - FIRST NIGHT MAGAZINE

Operation Mincemeat actors Peter McGovern and Danny Becker have been chatting with First Night Magazine about their new onstage mission.

As the show celebrates its second triumphant year in the West End, a new troupe of agents set base at the Fortune Theatre headquarters, determined to carry on with the laughter, tears, and heart of one of the best received British musicals in the last few years. Guilermo Nazara chats to two of the production's stars. Here's a sneak peek of what they had to say...

When the show originally opened in the West End, it featured its own creators as part of the cast. Does that create a bigger challenge or responsibility for you to take over?

Well, fortunately they’re very busy out in New York at the moment, so they can’t see what I’m doing…

In all seriousness, I suppose it made the audition process slightly more daunting, as they were in the room. It’s always a bit intimidating to audition in front of the writers, but when those writers are also the original performers, it adds an extra layer of nervous energy. It sort of feels like you’re looking after someone else’s baby, whilst they watch and make notes!

Fortunately, as you would expect, they were a very generous presence during the audition process, and although they’re currently on the other side of the world, they have been incredibly supportive during our takeover.

I think there’s an element of trust on their part — they’ve cast the right people and that we will take good care of their baby. I have nothing but total respect for everything they’ve achieved and for the masterpiece that they’ve created, and I’m very grateful that they’ve trusted me with it.

Photo by Matt Crockett

How would you describe your approach to the role? Are there any personal additions in your delivery?

I haven’t gone out of my way to be different from what has gone before, I’ve just responded to the material in front of me. I think that, when taking over a role, the biggest mistake an actor can make is to try to be different for difference’s sake. The text has to be your starting point, rather than yourself. I’ve always had a clear idea, from the very first audition of what is on the page and how I would inhabit this character, and I have stayed true to that instinct.

The fans of the show have commented on some changes and additions and I’m sure it’s interesting for them to see the characters in a new light, but I never set out to make changes or additions. Inevitably, without even trying to, when a new actor steps into a role, they will bring their idiosyncrasies to it but in the Venn diagram of previous Charles Cholmondeley’s, I expect there is still a great deal of crossover. All I try to do is stay true to the character on the page and to my instincts as an actor.

You can read the full interview with First Night Magazine here.