Craig McLachlan - Chicago
It's been a long road from Ramsey Street to Chicago, but the Gold Logie-winning former rocker is ready to razzle-dazzle Sydney as nefarious lawyer Billy Flynn.
By Nick Dent
So Craig, how did you end up in Chicago? It's a show that I've always loved - I've seen many different productions of it all over the world. But it came up late last year, two days after my dear mum had a post-operative stroke. She was making slow but steady progress and she said, "Go and meet these Americans. I've always wanted to see you on stage in a suit instead of fishnets or leather jackets." [Producer] John Frost has confided in me that around that time, I had a television commercial for Blu-ray where I was joyously taking the piss out of my mulleted history with the ludicrously named Check 1-2. And part of that ad was me very schmickly attired in a suit, and looking very Billy Flynn, apparently.
He wears a suit, but Billy is hardly a respectable character, is he? I was delighted to read a review that said that "McLachlan's Billy oozes slime", which is basically what we were trying to achieve. I'm a big fan of Boston Legal, so I thought I could sneak into him a little bit of Denny Crane mixed with just the hint of James Spader's character, too.
To what do you attribute this musical's success? Chicago is based on true events: these murderous gals who were locked up and went on to have a very successful vaudeville career. For a period there in 1920s Chicago, it was all about celebrity, and it didn't matter how you got it. Look where we're at today: people will do anything for a taste of celebrity. The story is more relevant than ever.
Caroline O'Connor [Velma] is a bit of a legend when it comes to this show... She does have a tremendous history with the show, having done it here ten years ago. I think she's played Velma in New York, London, the Middle East. She's just the heart and soul of it. I reckon you could just plug a big cord into Caroline O'Connor and she could power at least one hemisphere.
And how is Gina Riley [Mama Morton]? Gina and I did Rocky Horror together in the early 90s - she was my Janet. She was funny as fuck. I'm just thrilled that people are getting a chance to see her onstage and hear her sing. There's a whole generation out there who only know Kath and Kim but from day one I've been warning people: wait until Gina Riley opens that mouth and lays a few bars of song on you.
You're practically an old pro in musical theatre now. How did that happen?
I remember a great Aussie actress - who's sadly no longer with us - by the name of Myra De Groot. I was only 21 when I joined the cast of Neighbours and she took me aside. She said, "Not everyone who comes into these shows will go on to do other things. But I think you've got a real shot. So as of today, I don't want you to stop being a sponge." And it doesn't matter whether I'm doing an Irving Berlin musical in England or a film in Australia, I still love to learn.
And the other thing is - and maybe I'll sound like a complete wanker, but people seem to jump to that conclusion very early on, there's nothing I can do about that - it's also about confidence. I remember a producer ringing up and asking if I'd be interested in playing Frank's creation, Rocky, the muscle man. I'd never done a musical but I had the balls to say, "Listen, if you're going to offer me Rocky Horror, there's only one part. It's Frank N Furter."
Are you still close with Kylie?
Don't get me started on Kylie Minogue. I could well be her biggest fan. It's 23 years since Kylie and I started in Neighbours, and she was the one that took me by the hand and guided me through it. She was an inspiration to me then, and continues to be to this day. It's interesting that the same people who called her the Singing Budgie are saying now that she's our greatest diva. After all of that bullshit, she soldiered on.
You soldiered on too, though.
I've probably never had the single-minded, determined focus that Kylie's had, though. Kylie's been like a finely honed sniper rifle, and I'm like a sawn-off shotgun. For better or worse, I had a crack at everything.
Chicago is at the Lyric Theatre Star City until 9 Aug.
