Exclusive Interview: Vivienne Carlyle of Blood Brothers

Time for another Dog Ate My Wookie Musical interlude!

The first featured Ashleigh Gray from the cast of Wicked The New Musical and you can read it HERE!

However my search for Wicked stars fell on hard times as Alexia Khadime’s people did not respond to my request for an e-mail interview with the star who starts  in Welcome to Thebes in a couple of weeks time.

So there I was thinking to myself one day while browsing facebook, perhaps I should give up on The Wicked cast (for now) and go for a Musical that I have enjoyed and reviewed a few times for this site.  That’s when it happened.

It was as if a blonde vision of awesomeness, a cosmic sign was presented to me on a platter as I noticed one of my Friends on facebook had commented on a status update by none other than Vivienne Carlyle, star of Blood Brothers on the West End.

It was quite amusing as I’ve only met Vivienne once, very briefly at the stage door to Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre.  I’ve seen her five times as Mrs. Lyons during Melanie C’s run as Mrs. Johnstone, you can read my review of the cast change over here.

So when I was last in London, I was walking down Shaftsbury Ave and I spotted someone taking a picture of a blonde.  I thought to myself I know that blonde!  Then the man taking photos of said blonde moved the camera away from his face and it was none other than Philip Stewart who plays the Narrator in the show!

I geeked out momentarily but kept walking, moved round a corner, took a snap with my phone and sent it to the Melanie fans with a “guess who” message.  That’s when I realised what people had been telling me was true.  I am a certifiable stalker!

My only regret was not saying hi and handing them a card to ask for an interview for the blog.  Much more personal However this twist of Facebook fate allowed me to ask Vivienne personally for an interview through the medium of the interweb.  She accepted and out came my little notepad and I started searching for as much information as possible about the Actress/Singer.

As you’ll see, one of the facts I nabbed from an online news source was a little off but not completely.

“Who is Vivienne Carlyle?” I hear you cry!

“Enough with your stories, geek, get on with the interview.”

Okay! OKAY!

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Vivienne was born up in Glasgow and attended the University of Strathclyde where she graduated with a BA in Community Arts.  Her current credits include the National Tour of Blood Brothers where she played both Mrs. Lyons and Mrs Johnstone (Not at the same time obviously!), She is currently playing Mrs. Lyons and Understudying the part of Mrs Johnstone at the Phoenix Theatre on the West End.

Vivienne’s career did not start on the west end however, having tread the boards for years she’s appeared in National tours and shows such as Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tommy, Cirque Du Soleil and has been a backing singer for the likes of Barry Manilow, Michael Bolton (Really?) and Dina Carroll.

Her West End performance in Blood Brothers is dedicated to the memory of her friend Jean McCormack.

A Lovely sentiment if I do say so myself

One thing that did surprise me in my research mode was Vivienne has not always been a blonde.  So here’s my first question:

DAMW: Do blondes really have more fun?

VC: Without insulting all the Brunettes in the world (I was one for the majority of my life) I have to say that I prefer being Blonde.  If I get forgetful or am acting a little kooky, I say I’m having a blonde day and people seem to nod or smile with understanding.

More fun?

Absolutely!

On we go to the main bulk of the interview: Blood Brothers!

This rather dramatic musical play by Willy Russell, we’ll call it a musical play because it’s not like your traditional musical leaving room for applause and constantly flooring you with song after song. Blood Brothers is a more sombre tale about two twins separated at birth by a mother who can’t afford to keep them both.

Mrs. Lyons agrees to take one of the children and passes the boy off as her own.  The only problem is our Narrator, who I like to call ‘The Shadow’ of the piece; as he appears to be that voice in the back of the minds of both women. Playing on their fears, the superstitions that form their daily routines.

Vivienne plays the role of Mrs Lyons a woman so tortured by the pact she’s made to separate twins from their birth mother that she eventually goes a little dolally in trying to keep her son from ever discovering the truth and realises perhaps she isn’t as good a mother as she expected to be.

Mrs Lyons is a very manipulative character; when it comes to playing on the superstitious fears of Mrs Johnstone.

DAMW: When you originally began in the role what was your approach to the character and how has that changed as time has moved on?

VC: When I started playing Mrs Lyons my main aim was to make her understood and relatable.  In her entrance so much has to be established.   The class divide between Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone I think should be evident but it should also be clear that these two women have a good relationship. So much so that Mrs Lyons feels she can confide in Mrs J.

I also try in the first scene – when the fact she can’t have children is brought up – for it to be something that she has resigned herself to, not desperate for at this stage. Over time I suppose the main thing that has changed for me is that I’m more comfortable taking risks – particularly in the kitchen scene.

When I started I was a little daunted by that scene, the knife etc but now it’s probably my favourite.

DAMW: Mrs Lyons is portrayed as the villain of the piece; do you see her that way?

VC: I’m always surprised when people say Mrs Lyons is the villain of the piece because I don’t intentionally play her way… Mrs Lyons is not black and white to me – she can’t be, I have to make her real.

I see her as someone who wanted to have children at one point in her life but has resigned herself to the fact she can’t.  When Mrs J discovers she is pregnant with twins, her idea is born from trying to help.
Somewhere between coming up with the idea to take one of the babies and Mrs J’s uncertainty, I think she falls in love with the idea and unfortunately becomes obsessed to the extent that she can’t bear to have Mrs J around – what if her husband found out what she did?  What if Edward discovered she was not his mother?

After Mrs J’s sacking I personally think all her problems stem from her overwhelming guilt and harbouring the secret.  Of course she could handle everything better, but she can’t and doesn’t – Willy didn’t write it that way.

DAMW: Playing both main roles means you get to stand in the shoes of both mothers, which is your favourite and why?

VC: My favourite?  That’s like asking me to choose between ice cream and chocolate!

First of all they are both incredible roles.  Obviously as Mrs J I get to sing these amazing songs.  When I played her in Glasgow in Februaury  this year,  I started singing “Tell me it’s not True” and I thought how unbelievable it was I was singing this Anthem of a song where I first saw the show when I was 8 years old!

Mrs J is a wonderful role; so earthy and warm, a survivor.

Mrs L is amazingly complex to play, she really keeps me on my toes.

DAMW: Are there any nights you REALLY feel you’d like to play Mrs. Johnstone instead of Mrs. Lyons? A rogue laxative in a tea or a little stumble for the leading lady in the corridor could make west end magic happen.

VC: During this contract I turn up at the Theatre ready to do Mrs Lyons. If I have to go on as Mrs J – great.

As much as it’s good to be ambitious. I think it’s also important to be happy with your lot.

DAMW: What personal traits do you bring to the character of Mrs. Lyons and equally Mrs. Johnstone when you get to play her?

VC: Oooh, good question.Mmmmm I guess as Mrs Lyons I try and bring my warmth and as Mrs Johnstone, my resilience.

DAMW: Following on from that, when you leave the Phoenix Theatre at the end of the night are there any parts of either character you take home with you?  To begin with Mrs. Lyons is a very self assured person, successful and confident within herself but towards the end she becomes a bitter being and ends up paying the ultimate price… I’m hoping you say you take the confidence home but if you go for the latter… urrr I’m not sure where the interview will go next

VC: I’m quite lucky I think that when the curtain comes down I can leave my character behind – and I think that’s important.

As you say if I was leaving feeling bitter then that’s not good for me as a person.  Sometimes Mrs J is a little harder to shake off.  When I was younger I used to obsess that this moment could have been better or I could have sung that differently.  I still have these thoughts but I hope I deal with them differently now.

A bit of a quick fire for the next few questions:

DAMW: Favourite dialogue in the show and why?

VC:

And only if the three of them could stay
like that forever
And only if we could predict no
changes in the weather
And only if we didn’t live in life
As well as dreams
And only if we could stop and be forever
Just eighteen

It is guaranteed to always bring a tear to my eye. I suppose it’s my favourite as I can clearly remember being that age and it takes me back to a time where only dreams lie ahead – before life gets in the way… oooh heavy!

This I have to agree with, it’s my favourite line of the show as it teeters on the edge of adulthood and the dangers of the world beyond the formative years but also has a twinge of regret that you know you’re always going to be moving forward and can only ever look back.

DAMW: What’s your Favourite song in the show and why?

VC: Favourite song is Easy Terms beautiful heart-wrenching lyrics and a joy to sing.

DAMW: Favourite scene to act and why?

VC: Favourite scene to act is kitchen scene as Mrs Lyons.  Until that point we’ve heard her not saying what she really means through layers of deceit and lies.  In the kitchen scene her soul is exposed for all to see.

DAMW: On the flip side, which scene do you find challenges you as an actress, the most?

VC: Again it’s probably the kitchen scene.  You go through a varied range of emotions in such a short space of time. It never feels easy.

DAMW: Any mishaps in the roles? Do you have any funny stories to tell? A blooper? A rogue spit job from Sammy sailing in your direction? Falling off the case during “Bright New Day”? The twins making faces at you as you try to get through “Tell Me It’s Not True”? Let’s face it they don’t have much else to do during the final act.

VC: Well, there’s quite a few I could choose from – a couple of the ones that stand out are as Mrs Lyons, when I was on the tour with Lyn Paul…. when I say “You sold your baby” I lapsed from RP (posh bird mode) to Glaswegian.  Lyn and I had to work really hard to hold it together.  I sounded like Rab C Nesbitt for 4 words and was completely mortified!

As Mrs J during ‘Bright new day’ as I hugged Mikey “Well I am happy now son” the pram starts rolling on its own down the stage and myself and Stan had to run down and get it!  Very funny…. and I didn’t disguise it too well!!

DAMW: You are a proper Scots woman; it shocked me how your accent shifted at the stage door.  How do you manage to keep up the English accent on stage and how did you get so good at it?

VC: Well funny as I’ve just mentioned the whole accent thing…I always mimicked as a child – constantly trying to make people laugh and clowning about at school.  It’s kind of like anything, practice makes perfect but when I’m tired I have to concentrate that little bit more.  Scouse is closer to my own accent so I don’t have the same “leap”.

DAMW: I noticed the stage direction had changed towards the end of Melanie and Richards run.  When Mrs. Lyons confronts Mrs. Johnstone at her home after the move to the country and goes for her with the knife.  The knife gets thrown off stage now whereas before Mrs. Johnstone had to pick it up.  Was it more efficient the new way?  Melanie has been known to be a bit of a butter fingers in the past…

VC: The stage direction for the knife didn’t change with Mel, it landed in the doorway by accident one night and then it just continued to.  We can’t really predict where the knife is going to land; it can be different every night.

DAMW: How often do things like stage direction change and as well as performances night after night, is there a rehearsal schedule you are required to stick to?  It often occurs to me, that there must be more to a performance on the stage than just showing up for scheduled performances.

VC: Blood Brothers has a formula which the Creative team would prefer we stick to – it’s worked for the past 21 years, right?

We do have a Director and a Resident Director who regularly watch the show and we get “Noted” on our performance.  This basically means our performances are fine tuned – over the period of a run some elements of our performance change, they can grow or change through repetition and the notes and rehearsals we get re-balance the show.

DAMW: Richard Reynard who played Eddie Lyons (your son) left on the same night as Melanie C, Technically you lost a son… what was that like and then to gain a new son in the form of Simon Willmont two days later? Must have been a touch distressing!

VC: Not distressing at all – Simon and I had worked previously on the tour.  When new people come into a show it’s obviously sad to see some of the cast you’ve worked with, leave.  However, new people make you “listen” and it helps to refresh your performance.

DAMW: Do you ever get office worker syndrome? The “Not again” another Monday… Tuesday… Wednesday… etc? I think I’d be more eager to get into work if people applauded every time I completed a spreadsheet or made a cuppa.

VC: You are absolutely right, we are so lucky that we get our work applauded!

Sometimes it gets a wee bit difficult during holidays like Christmas and New Year.  We get Christmas Day off but sometimes we may have to work on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day which can be a bit tough.  When I worked for Cirque de Soleil I had to work on Christmas Day!

The good definitely outs the bad – it’s humbling to see the extent to which people are affected by the show. That keeps it in perspective.

DAMW: Having toured with the show and now being a resident with the show on the West End, which audiences are the most receptive?

VC: Well I think because our London audiences can at times be made up of foreign people, they can struggle to understand the Scouse accent and “slang” whereas on tour – particularly if you take it to Liverpool – they just go mental!

Blood Brothers is written so well though that regardless of the venue – in town or on tour it manages to touch each audience that sees it – it’s so special.

DAMW: Your first real stint as Mrs Johnstone in the National Tour of Blood Brothers, must have been a double edged sword for you as it was a touch of bitter sweet.  A real break for your career but it came as Linda Nolan needed to leave the show when her husband lost his fight with cancer.  That must have been a difficult time for not just you but the entire cast.  What were your thoughts and feelings when you found out, you’d landed the lead? I gather it was a role you were eager to portray as you left the London cast of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat to move to Blood Brothers National Tour.

VC: This was such a bitter sweet time for me….

At that point I had just finished doing Drowsy Chaperone (I had one day off between Drowsy finishing and starting rehearsals on Joseph).  Just for the record this was 2007 – and I had left Joseph West End 2005.  So I went into Joseph for 6 weeks to start the tour off with Craig Chalmers.

At the end of my last week I got asked if I would like to play Mrs Johnstone in my hometown of Glasgow the following week.  This is when I’d heard Linda’s husband Brian had passed away.  At that point I didn’t know Linda but I had worked with her sister Maureen previously.

It’s one of these moments that was a wonderful opportunity for me but at someone else’s cost.  But knowing what I know about the Nolan sisters, Linda had great support and love from her family during that time.

My little story that’ll make you laugh is:  I had completed my last show as Narrator in Joseph on the Thursday in High Wycombe, got the call on Friday to ask me if I’d like to do Mrs J in Glasgow the following week.

So I was asked to watch the Blood brothers on the Friday night in Dunstable, do the Saturday matinee as Mrs J and then get taxied to High Wycombe to do Narrator in Joseph on Saturday night!!

Both those parts in the same day in completely different Theatres!  What a day that was and one I won’t forget!  Loved it though!

DAMW: How do you manage the 6 Nights a week? I don’t think the majority of kids applying to reality TV shows realise the amount of work involved in a west end production. The show is an emotional roller coaster for the audience and for those on stage it must be ten times worse.

VC: To do 8 shows a week you need to look after yourself.  Contrary to what a lot of people think we don’t go out partying every night – though some do – I’ve never been able to do that. Particularly if I’ve got a lot to sing, its plenty of water, sleep and stay out of smoky environments.

DAMW: What are your feelings on reality TV bringing talent into the West End, sometimes unprepared for the gruelling schedules that the theatre has to offer?

VC: I have to be very careful how I answer this question I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes…..doing a show 6 nights a week means you have to be fit and have stamina.

Unfortunately, a lot reality TV people – not all – don’t have the stamina mentally or physically to endure a run.  However, what I will say in their defence is that as TV audiences have a vested interest in a person they feel they have helped to win; it thereby encourages them to go and see them in the Theatre.

Obviously this in turn keeps Theatre alive.

This business has always been about getting a Name – it makes sense – the more people who know that name the more tickets are sold etc…. Years ago they used to take talent and make a name out of them.  The process of doing that has changed but the end result is still the same.

DAMW: This also transfers to celebrities.  Melanie C starred alongside you recently as Mrs Johnstone.  Her better known acting role was in Spiceworld The Movie.  Although she has proven herself to both critics and fans as a true leading lady of the West End stage, there must have been a small niggle of doubt when you first found out she had been cast as Mrs Johnstone.  There was for me, was it the same for you? (You can be nice after the next question – Promise! Go on tell the truth! )

VC: I don’t make my mind up about people until I meet them…why should I?

My first thought when I heard Mel was coming in to play Mrs Johnstone was “I’m going to get to sing with a Spice Girl!” Melanie is world famous and mega talented and that was only ever going to be a good and extremely exciting thing for the show.

Viv speaks sense, when I first met Melanie my legs were jellyfied it was a strange feeling but then again as a kid I was a huge Spice Girls fan, yes I like all sorts of music, don’t judge me horror fans!  I may have had my doubts about her playing Mrs Johnstone but they were soon quelled on her opening night.

As I said above, the critics adored Melanie C & The cast, in my review I pointed out that from the start of Melanie’s run she turned the nerves into a crowd pleasing performance by the time she ended in the role.

DAMW: During your time working alongside Melanie in her debut West End role what did you notice change in her over time, personally and professionally as an actress/singer?

VC: From the very first day, Mel was completely dedicated, serious and focused.  She made the role her own. What completely blew me away was that we always knew Mel could sing, that was a given, but her acting was completely natural. Incredible!

Mel was a real team player, such a lovely girl – you’d struggle to meet a nicer, more humble person.  She rocks!!!!

DAMW: What would your advice be to those wanting to get into acting or even wanting to get on to the West End stage without the aid of reality TV?

VC: I was lucky to have parents that wanted me to be happy, to pursue my dreams but they also wanted me to get an education, something to fall back on.  I am so glad I took their advice and got a degree.  I didn’t train at a Drama School, therefore I can only comment on my own experience.

It’s probably been harder initially in a lot of ways but my route has worked for me.  As for the TV reality generation, we won’t know for a few years whether they will have longevity, or not.

The Silly Stuff

DAMW: What is your favourite film of all time and why?

VC: That’s really hard I have a few favourite films:

Once Upon a Time in America –  its a great gangster movie and Ennio morriconne’s music is AMAZING!!!

The Notebook – if you’ve seen it you shouldn’t have to ask – beautiful film

The Family Stone – fantastic cast set in Christmas, brilliant laughs and yet devastating

Meet Me in St Louis – Judy Garland at her best – Have yourself a Merry little Christmas

DAMW: Your favourite recording artist and why?

VC: Frank Sinatra, Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, Beyonce, Linda Eder, Kelly Clarkson

DAMW: Your song of the moment?

VC: Just Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Buble

DAMW: Your favourite book?

VC: Brida by Paulo Coelho

DAMW: If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?

VC: A cat –   A director I worked with once compared me to a cat. Cuddly and affectionate but beware of the tale going up! Lol!

This is the point I usually ask the musical star in question.  Which lyric from the musical they’re starring in currently best describes the mood they were in when they woke up.  Now as Blood Brothers is a very dramatic and has few uplifting moments in its numbers I’m going to expand it to encompass the musicals of your career.

DAMW: When you woke up this morning, what lyric from a show you’ve starred in would best describe the mood you were in at that moment in time? (also name that show)

VC: ‘Open a new window’ from “Mame”.  Sorry I’ve never been in it but I do tend to sing this song in the morning sometimes – sad I know!

At this point in reading the answers to the questions, I fell in love.  It’s a great song and criminally isn’t on YouTube or anywhere else for that matter so I present to you a song from that very same musical performed by one sadly missed performer Bea Arthur of Golden Girls fame and Angela Lansbury, here is Bosom Buddies.

DAMW: What is your personal motto? i.e. “Look before You Leap”,

VC: What’s for you, won’t go by you.

DAMW: Actor or Actress? Which term is correct… it always confuses me why Actor is now used as a blanket term for both sexes in the industry.

VC: I think either goes but I would say Actor, I believe Actress is more of a modern term (meaning in the past Century or so).

I think actress is a little more classy.

DAMW: Did you ever hear the story of the Phoenix Mouse, whose spindly little tail brought joy to all until one fateful day a Melanie fan stepped on the poor thing.  Do you miss the Phoenix Theatre Mouse?

VC: Awwwww the poor little mouse!  There are several little mice to be seen – it’s a big old Theatre!

DAMW: Everyone loves the Phoenix Theatre cat, where does he/she come from and whose idea was it to put food out on the steps every night for it?

VC: The Phoenix cat lives in the flats next to the Theatre I think. One of the girl’s on stage door decided to feed it one night ….and so the story began of the little black cat….

DAMW: If you could appear in ANY Musical on the West End/Broadway stage, past or present what would it be and why?

Viv: One of my favourite Musicals is Gypsy.  I would love to play Rose one day, but I’m a wee bit on the young side yet.

Maybe in 10 years time.

Gypsy has one of the best Overtures I have ever heard.  It reminds me of family – in particular my Gran who’s sadly not with us anymore – she played Rose in an Amateur version and loved it too!

DAMW: The dodgy question, I asked Ashleigh Gray and since Melanie appeared in Blood Brothers, youtube has been awash with audio from Blood Brothers and some of the comments imply people were prompted to come and see the show because of these live recordings.

What is your view on Bootlegging in the West End and if Venues were to charge a premium price for shows they have recorded themselves from the sound board do you think that would stop the bootleggers?  There are first and last nights of leading cast like yourself where those in question give just that little bit more to make their performances memorable.  Fans often like to have these memories and would no doubt pay the premium to own them on their MP3 players where no real production costs are involved.

The profits made by the show could go back into production or even to a charity to help those actors struggling to make ends meet in this current climate.

What are your thoughts?

VC: I think Bootlegging is an inevitable part of the Industry and I don’t think that if shows were to make a recording from the sound desk that it would make any difference – people, in particular fans of a show seem to want a souvenir of their particular experience.

I understand that many fans want a first and last night recording but I personally feel that on an opening night in particular,  its quite frankly pressured enough without worrying that any blooper is going to be recorded and posted on the internet for all to see and hear.

However I do accept that it’s a sign of the times (pun intended) and in the majority of cases it’s from a fan of the person and the show.

Future

DAMW: What’s next for Vivienne Carlyle?  All good things come to an end and with credits as good as yours there must be something you have your eye on… Any recordings to look forward to?

VC: What’s next for me?  Well I would love to do some TV, or a movie – I am movie mad! – something that would maybe raise my profile so that I can do the roles that are assigned to the “Celebrity Culture” at the moment.

I would love to do Recording too – in fact there was talk with a studio in Glasgow  at the beginning of this year but we couldn’t get the funding together.  It’ll hopefully happen in the near future though – and I’ll let you know when it does!

I think I may have to pester a certain Manchester Detective about an appearance in Mark Macready and The Archangel Murders (follow the link to apply for free tickets to the VIP Launch party on June 19th in Manchester, plenty of treats in store including a screening of the short film and info on the feature film that will start filming next year. Oh and I’ll be there too!)

One last question:

DAMW: How was it for you? The interview that is…I’m always looking for feedback.

Viv: What a great interview, such interesting and varied questions – Thank you for asking me! x x x

That’s it, my second interview for the site is over.  Vivienne has been a pleasure to deal with over the past few weeks, kind and considerate.  As I have said many times before, extremely talented also.  If you do have the time or opportunity to go and see her in the role of Mrs Lyons while you’re down in London, it’s well worth the trip.

I’d like to take the time to thank Viv for being a good sport and taking time out of her busy schedule to answer my rather long list of questions.

Don’t forget you can book tickets through the usual outlets to see Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre:

• See Tickets
• Love Theatre

With that cracking interview coming to a close, I must leave you now with a song from Blood Brothers performed by both Vivienne Carlyle and Melanie C called My Child.  Please do leave comments, let me know if there’s anything different you’d like to see in the interviews, if you liked the interview or even leave a message for Viv herself, you never know she may pop along and read it.

Thanks Again

Puppy