Nice Work is a Fair Cop

Gold Logie Winner John Wood talks to Coral Drouyn about his role in a brand new Gershwin Musical opening at The State Theatre on Saturday 15^th August, 2015.

It’s fair to say that for 20 years or so John Wood was a household name all around the country; first for his role as the irascible magistrate Rafferty in Rafferty’s Rules and then as Mt Thomas’ sergeant Tom Croydon in Blue Heelers. No actor has made a bigger impact in TV drama than John. But it’s also fair to say that theatre was his first love.

“When I was a young actor, I looked down my nose at the idea of doing television,” he says. “I wasn’t alone. Most of us felt that you couldn’t be a serious actor if you appeared on the box. But over the years I learned that it takes a different set of craft skills but just as much discipline to sustain a role in a long running show, and to track where that character is at in his life at any given moment. They’re totally different techniques, but equally valid.”

So which does he prefer? John laughs .“I’m just happy to still be working,” he says self effacingly. “You do wonder in this business whether each job is the last, but thankfully I’ve been busy with the Doctor Blake series for the ABC and any theatre role is the icing on the cake, especially when it’s a new musical with music by The Gershwins. I grew up with that wonderful music from Jewish/American composers and it’s never been bettered in my opinion.”

Nice Work If You Can Get It is the 51^st production from Melbourne’s Production Company and an Australian Premiere, after opening on Broadway in 2012. Set during prohibition it has a screwball storyline and almost all the most stellar songs from George and Ira Gershwin including ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’,  ‘Fascinating Rhythm’, ‘ ‘Swonderful’, ‘Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off’, and the title song.

“Musicals are always risky,” John tells me. “I’ve done a few now and you just never know how an audience will react. I think Dirty Rotten Scoundrels got the best reviews I have ever seen and I fully expected we would run a year, but there just weren’t enough bums on seats and we ran just eight weeks. This show has a very limited run, and this is where The Production Company are so clever with their limited runs.” And what about the cast for such a limited run, I ask.

“It’s phenomenal,” John genuinely enthuses. “I’ve worked with Director Roger Hodgeman before, and Gina Riley and George Kapiniaris – but the rest of the cast…the “youngsters” compared to me, are all marvellous. I’m always amazed when I see the next generation of stage performers…the standard just keeps getting higher. Rohan (Browne) and Esther (Hannaford) are the perfect leads, and so hard-working and committed. Nikki Wendt and Christie Whelan Browne – well, they could go anywhere in the world and win over an audience. The cast is exceptional, and you know I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t mean it.” (I do indeed…John and I have worked together and he is noted for his honesty. “They’re certainly keeping me on my toes. I’m having a ball. Honestly, we rehearsed the wedding reception today, and I swear it is the funniest scene I’ve ever been a part of in more than forty years. It was hard to get through the run, we were all laughing so hard. I think that’s the one thing which sets theatre apart. It’s the spontaneity….the immediacy of the reaction. We only have to wait till Saturday to see how the audience reacts. There’s a sense of anticipation already as to how they’re going to react. With television you have to wait months before it even goes to air…you’ve forgotten it before the audience even sees it. It’s frustrating not having the feedback….but there are other compensations.”

But what about downsides?

“Well you form new connections, and then the run is over too soon, though you have great memories. And a short run ends while you’re still thinking of business and wondering if you shouldn’t put a different spin on a line. But that’s what keeps you hungry for the next show. My one regret is I don’t get to sing in this show,” says John, who plays Senator Max Evergreen. “ I’ve really been having fun discovering my singing voice and I know and love all those standards…they’re some of the best songs ever written and, even though the show will be new to the audience, most of them will already know and love the songs and be singing along under their breath. I certainly will be.”

And believe me, he means it.

Images: John Wood and Esther Hannaford and Rohan Browne.