A Spirited Performance

[nyandra]

In 2006 , comedy duo Lano and Woodley finally called it quits after 20 years at the top of the Australian comedy circuit. Now one half, Frank Woodley, has a new solo stage show, Possessed- a love story in which he plays all the parts. Petra Starke talks to him about what it's like to play a man possessed by the ghost of the woman he loves.

Q : Do people still ask you about Colin Lane? Do you think people maybe need to just get over it,that you guys aren't together anymore?
A: Yeah maybe. But I had dinner with Col on Saturday night... actually, I F*cked that joke up...I meant to

Q: Do you want to start again? I'll pretend I never heard it.
A: (laughing) Yeah, yeah let's try again. Hang on, hang on, got to take a deep breath in.

Q: Do you want me to lead you into it?
A: Yeah that'd be good.

Q: So how is Colin? Do you ever see him these days?
A: Well Colin and I had dinner on Saturday night. NOT TOGETHER. But you know, you've got to eat.

Q: That's very good.
A: Yes, see, the first time I said "Colin and I had dinner TOGETHER on Saturday night" and then there was a pause and I thought "I can't say NOT TOGETHER now! That's not going to make any sense!"

Q: (laughing) That really was never going to work was it?
A: It wasn't, was it?

Q: Is that joke going to be in your Fringe show then?
A:I'll do it but you'll have to be there, are you free to tour?




[I'll type the rest up later, I'm being interrupted]

[the doctor.]

oww don't leave us hanging!!

[euphogal]

yah yah yah, is this your new stratergy, have us clamouring for more? lol, was this published in something?

[liz]

oo funy article by the sound of it.

[nyandra]

Sorry guys, I keep getting distracted. And I couldn't be bothered saving that bit I'd typed up for later lol. Yep, it was published in The Messenger, our council area paper.

Q: No problems. So,apart from not having dinner together, what have you and Colin been up to since 'the split'?
A: I last spoke to him about three weeks ago. We were at a party. We had fun, you know, we didn't avoid each other or get awkward or weird.

Q: Is it a bit like an awkward relationship break up where you have to decide who gets what?

A: Well we agreed that he would get all the set ups and I would get all the punchlines. But it turns out that when you just say "I didn't even have any avocados!" it doesn't really work so well.

Q: Yeah I can see how that would be difficult.

A: NOT TOGETHER. See? It just doesn't work at all.

Q: So Possessed sounds huge: a 75 minute extravaganza of physical comedy with music by ARIA winner Paul Mac and elaborate sets...
A: IT'S OVERLY AMBITIOUS I CAN'T DO IT! No, it is ambitious, it's very physical and very theatrical. I've done six trial shows to iron out the wrinkles, and there were some wrinkles. You could say it was a it like Mother Teresa. But hopefully by the end of the run it's going to look like Joan Rivers.

Q: So it's a romantic comedy slash ghost story?
A: Well I've always wanted to do a big theatrical solo show, and I've always wanted to do a romantic comedy as well,so I thought maybe I could do a solo romantic comedy. But how would that work? I fall in love with myself? So from there I thought "Well it could be a ghost that possesses me that I fall in love with"- that was pretty much the starting point of the show.

Q: And of course it's very physical.
A: Yes, if you're not smart enough to think of a joke, just fall over. It's worked for me in the past.

Q: How do you go falling in love with yourself on stage?

A: It happened REALLY easily. No, actually it's a bit weird- when they get passionate they have to decide who gets the top lip and who gets the bottom lip and there are some obstacles to overcome but they seem to work it out. Love conquers all.

Q: So it has a happy ending?
A: Well, bittersweet. I mean, she IS dead.

End

[liz]

haha Hope it comes to brisbane!