Herding Cats
Red Stitch
to 6 July
Red Stitch present the Australian premiere of Herding Cats by UK writer Lucinda Coxon.
Opening this week, it’s 2010–11 UK productions won the acclaim of critics and
it was shortlisted for writing awards.
It’s described as bleak with shards of black humour and The Guardian said “see it and shudder”.
Ngaire Dawn Fair graduated from the National Theatre in 2008
and made her Red Stitch debut in
2011 in My Romantic History. She has
performed in with ITCH productions and Hoy Polloy and been in television shows
including Rush, Satisfaction, Neighbours,
Killing Time, The Slap and Winners and
Losers. She chats about being in a show that
initially made her feel very odd.
What three words best
describe Herding Cats?
Fast, dense, surprising
What do you love most
about this show?
The way it keeps you
guessing. I love how unusual it is. Some people will love it, some will hate it
and everyone will have different ideas on the how the characters are
interconnected.
What is one of your
favourite shows you've seen at Red Stitch?
What do you love
about being a Red Stitch ensemble member?
I love the people. There’s a
lot of trust; I don’t work well under supervision. There’s a real sense of
freedom and equality, everyone just does their jobs and there’s always support
if you need it.
What’s been the biggest
challenge you’ve faced preparing for this show?
If Justine (my character)
was a cartoon character she would be Taz Devil, she’s a whirlwind. She rarely
takes a breath, so just maintaining the energy to keep up with her is a
challenge.
What was your reaction
when you first read this Lucinda Coxon’s script?
I felt very odd, I had to
tell my partner about about it. And in the retelling, I decided it was
special.
Who would you love to
see in the audience one night?
Richard Gere. That would be excellent.
Is there anyone you
don't want to see in the audience?
My dear grandparents, they would be horrified.
When did you know you
wanted to be an actor?
I
don’t think I ever really wanted to be an actor but I always loved playing
characters. In high school I performed a monologue to my class from Educating Rita and that was the first
time I felt an audience engrossed in a story I was telling. That was a special
moment. That might have been the beginning.
Apart from this one,
what was the last play you read?
Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp.
Do you believe in any
theatre superstitions? What are they?
No, I say good luck.
What's some great
theatre advice you've used? Who was it from?
“Be bold, be big hearted.”
My grandfather said that, for theatre and life (different grandfather from
above, if he was still with us, he would love this show, I think).
In your wildest
dreams, who would you love to work with on a show?
I would like to be in a play
with James Dean please.
Do you read your
reviews?
I
fantasise about not reading them, but I do.
Convince a stubborn
north-sider to head over the river to St Kilda.
The train to Flinders from
Windsor only takes 9 flipping minutes!
Tell us about your
fellow cast Paul Ashcroft and Dion Mills and director Suzanne Chaundy.
We have had so much fun
working on this show. The play is much funnier than I anticipated, so
rehearsals have been a hoot. Suzanne is open, honest and clear with a
wickedly encouraging laugh. And Paul and Dion are perfectly cast (although they
might not like me saying that). It’s just like a weird little family.
This was on AussieTheatre.com
