TV interview with Philip Quast

Interviewer: Your role is very interesting as the policeman your hounding Valjean throughout Les Miz. So why, what has he done?

Philip: He stole a loaf of bread and I play the policeman who just.... . He really is a fascist I suppose. Some see him as evil but I personally don't. He just takes his work a little bit too seriously and the point. Hugo is making in the novel is the law can be probably a little unjust if its taken to the letter. Follow the Ten Commandments. It doesn't take into account someone steals a loaf of bread because their children are starving.

Interviewer: It's a very powerful, epic play. As we have mentioned this week. Do you find it terrible powerful when you are actually performing?

Philip: Well I have done it on and off now since the end of 87. Here and London and I did the original cast here and I am back to do it here and perhaps New Zealand to do it. It's probably the most satisfying thing I think I've ever done.

It's a great role. Yes as an actor it's a wonderful piece because it's so passionate about what it's saying. I think it demands great commitment from the people who are in it. It's wonderful to sing and it's a great cast and this cast, in particularly I think is the best that's ever been.

Interviewer: Why have you come back to Adelaide to perform in Les Miz?

Philip: Well I sort of missed the show I think. There was a vacancy and it's a short season, but partially I've worked in Adelaide before. I started my career here in 1980 at the festival in the nude.

Interviewer: In the nude!

Philip: Yes! I played Adam, but I wear my clothes in this thank goodness. So you are spared. (He laughs)

Interviewer: (She laughs) So is that a good idea to make your first appearance in the nude.

Philip: Well I don't think there's much choice with Adam is there.

Interviewer: No there isn't.

Philip: Not even a fig leaf

Interviewer: No fig leaf, but he did have a fig leaf didn't he or was that just to keep it clean for us.

Philip: I think so. Not a body stocking, nothing.

Interviewer: Philip the mums, dads and everyone at home are probably thinking, "gee that face seems all fully familiar" and if you have young children you would have seen Philip on Playschool. I now my children have always adored Playschool. Quite different Playschool too Les Miz. quite a change in direction.

Philip: Yes it is. I suppose. I don't know whether I like doing Les Miz because it's different from Playschool or Playschool because it's different from anything else you do as an actor. I am very devoted to it. I have been doing it for about 10 years I think. I believe in it, it's wonderful to do, it's very difficult to do because it's highly scripted and carefully structured.

Interviewer: You have to say every word correctly don't you or every sentence?

Philip: In Les Miz or Playschool?

Interviewer: No, Playschool. (She laughs)

Philip: In both, yes. Yes it's all carefully worked out, all the shots. It has the feeling it's improvised. There is a little bit leeway for freedom and improvisation, but no it's all carefully worked out right done to the last word, and the team that creates... Unfortunately we don't have the funding to do the many new programs, as we would like, so some of them that are on are 5 years old because there repeated for so long.

Interviewer: You don't look any different though

. Philip: I'm bit older. (Laughing)

Interviewer: Not a scrap. (She laughs)

Philip: You see me with a moustache in the morning and short hair in the afternoon, but they don't seem to mind.

Interviewer: Getting back to Les Miz and talking about lines, have you ever forgotten your lines?

Philip: Yes I have. I did in Sidney about 3 months after we had running. I had a sort of battle with stage fright after that, that went on for a couple of months. I ran straight off the stage when it happened and vomited, I think. Yeah! It just frightened me so much because it's um...

Interviewer: You just dried up?

Philip: Well actually I sung a line and hadn't realised I had sung it. I just lost concentration for a minute because it's a very exposed show. It's a big orchestra and a big sound and there is no room for slip-ups at all. You were asking me before whether or not anything funny had happened, well there's lots of funny things do happen, but it's the sort of show that doesn't allow for mucking around because it's dangerous too, there's so many moving things. Although it's a very small cast it looks as if there are hundreds and hundreds it's only 32 and then the people running a thousand miles per hour backstage in the dark so there is no room for slip-ups. I suppose it's amazing how people seem to work with their antenna up.

Interviewer: And mentally it must be draining at times?

Philip: Yes it is, I've got use to it now after years. When I first started I founded the eight shows a week very, very hard and the singing hard. I am sort of into it.

Interviewer: Well the day draws closer when I am actually going to see it here in Adelaide at the festival theatre. If believe there are only a few tickets left, if you still like to go you can book through Bass Festival for Les Misérables. Philip delightful to meet you this morning

Philip: Ta. Thank You!