Mutant Olive
nytheatre.com q&a preview by MITCH HARA -- MUTANT OLIVE:
September 24, 2012
What is your job on this show?
actor, writer, .
When did you know you wanted to work in the theater, and why?
As a kid i used to do concerts in the shower. And nude productions in my living room, till the kids parents stopped letting them play with me. that's when i started doing monologues. i was always an actor and the live experience is the most inspiring.
Why is this piece a solo play (rather than a multi-actor play)?
MUTANT OLIVE was conceived as a solo piece. It's from my perspective, my life and when i play all the characters, they do exactly what i want them to do, most of the time. it also takes place in an audition. i'm there to get the role. it's me and the audience going on the ride. it could be a genius movie, but the humor and pathos come from my solo experience in the hyper-present in front of the audience. it's my heart and soul slammed all over the stage.
Has this show been presented in other cities before New York? Was there a place where the response to this piece surprised you, and why?
we ran for 4 sold out months in los angeles. what blew me away is how the audience brought their own experiences to the show. the demographic was all over the map. 20's, - 70's. everyone was effected. they laughed, they cried, they stayed after to ask me questions and thank me!! it was crazy! a mother came up to me and said, "i still can't catch my breath!! i laughed till i hurt and my heart broke in a million pieces. i just want to hug you. and, i'm here with my son (18) and he said you're performance inspired him. but he said, mom i couldn't really identify with it. and the only thing i could think of was THANK GOD!!" is that genius or what? she hugged me really hard.
For Election season: which American political figure do you think would like your show best, and why: Barack Obama, Ann Romney, Paul Ryan, or Hilary Clinton?
Barack obama and hilary because they seem to have a sense of humor. Obama for dealing with morons (romney) and hillary for the blow-job-gate. plus, michele Obama would want to have dinner with me and maybe some bedroom tips. i'm just saying!!
Who are your heroes?
daniel day lewis in the last scene of "there will be blood," meryl streep by the window in "sophie's choice," bette davis, fucking with that candy in "all about eve," brad pitt in "fight club," mike Nichols, "who's afraid of virgina wolf," gary oldman, woopi in her one person show (the first one), my teacher milton katsales, my nephew,anyone who walks thru fear to get what they want.
