Faith Brown Interview by
The Lowry Theatre is renowned for its remarkable Christmas shows, and this year's Cinderella should be no different. Starring former Corrie actor Lucy-Jo Hudson as Cinders, with Janice Connolly (Holy Mary from Phoenix Nights) as the Fairy Godmother, it should be a real treat for all the family. Sure to be a real hit with audiences is comedienne and impressionist Faith Brown as Baronness Hard-Up, and if her performance in this interview is anything to go by, she's well on form...
Q - Are you looking forward to the show?
A - I'm really REALLY looking forward to it, there's nothing like a live audience! And particularly because it's here at The Lowry... I'd heard so much about it and really wanted to do something here, and when I arrived everybody was fantastic; there's a PR girl called Michelle [who is sitting in the room] and Rob, they're all fantastic and that makes such a difference when you get somewhere and everyone is so warm. I can't wait to get this show on the road!
Q - So, what can we expect from it?
A - You can expect from me a complete BITCH! The Baronness is a wicked lady, she treats Cinderella abominably, and of course I, moi, would never do that! I've never played wicked before, this is my first wicked, and people have been saying 'what's it going to be like when they all start booing and hissing you?' And I said 'ooh gosh, I don't know!' But I think I'll bear it, they all said 'Once you've done it, it's fabulous when they start booing, you'll want them to boo and hiss', so I'm ready for them, I'm READY for them!
Q - Do you get to do any impressions?
A - [Immediately slips in a series of accents] Yeah, there are a lot of impressions, d'ya know what I mean? I'm doing Marilyn Monroe [done in an Marilyn accent], I'll be doing Kim and Aggie [does an Aggie impersonation so well that I couldn't understand a word of it], and Cilla Black, Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy, so, [in Ozzy mode] i-i-i-it be good! I'm really looking forward to it.
Q - Have you seen any of the Christmas shows here before?
A - This is my first time, but I've heard so much about it and what a great stage it is here, but I'll tell you I'm really looking forward to: Working with 'Killer Kate'! Lucy-Jo, she is a dream! She's going to be a fabulous Cinderella, and the Uglies! We have FABULOUS Uglies! They are amazing, the kids are going to love them. They'll love to hate them, which is what they're there for. When you put a panto on, you've got to decide whether to be traditional or modern, and when you get a modern one, you put a bit of an act there and a bit of an act there, and you don't want that. Kids want to be transported into another world, and grown-ups too! They love pantos! They may say they're only taking the kids, but they keep coming back! This is what it's all about, it's family entertainment and this one is a knock-out.
Q - What's your favourite panto?
A - Cinderella! I did it last year in Horsham and played the Fairy Godmother, so this year I'm playing wicked and I'm really getting into it. Poor Lucy-Jo's terrified of me! My husband says I'm like this at home all the time anyway... But I'm nice really. [Slips into Cilla mode] I'm too good for this world, I should be shot!
Q - What's do you want for Christmas this year?
A - Ooh, what do I want? I don't know, I think I've got everything I want.. Danielle my daughter is healthy and happy, and so is my husband, and I don't think you can wish for more than that, honestly and truthfully. You can have all the money and all the goodies, but it's no damn good if you haven't got your health. I've never been materialistic. Can you just go fetch that bottle of Dom Perignon please? [laughs] No, I never have and I never will be. My family are very important to me, my baby Danielle... She's 27 but she's still my baby! She's got a lovely boyfriend and she's an interior designer, ooh I must mention that! If anybody wants any work doing, she does a beautiful design!
Q - Will she be coming to the show?
A - Oh yes, she WILL, or there'll be hell to pay!
Q - Do you enjoy theatre work?
A - When I did Sunset Boulevard here in Manchester, that was amazing, one of the best things I've ever done. I've got to tell you this, because Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber told me that I was his BEST Norma Desmond ever. 'Glenn Close was very good, Elaine Page was excellent, but Faith Brown IS my Norma Desmond!' And I had some pretty heavy duty critics watching the show and they all loved it too. I could have fallen flat on my face, well, not literally, not with my figure! But I could have died disastrously, but I didn't thank god. So hopefully people who liked me in that will come to see this, and people who didn't? Well I don't know about that [very melodramatically]!
Q - What would you say to convince people who might be thinking about coming to the show?
A - Well, if they want fantastic entertaintment and good clean wholesome fun they have got to come to The Lowry, because that's what they are going to get in abundance. The tickets are flying out the box office, it's selling really, really well! It's just a fantastic show! [turns to The Lowry press officer] Can I have my money now? [laughs] |
