“Roxie is so self-centred that she doesn’t care for anyone around her, including her sweetheart husband Amos. She treats him in a cold and nasty fashion. There have been times when I felt awkward playing her horrible personality and apologised to other actors during rehearsals. Of course it has been challenging but that’s what makes her so interesting to play.”
Recalling her performance during her audition for Chicago, Wilson says she was taken by surprise when she bagged one of the leading roles.
“ I’d never really sung in front of anyone but my husband and my mother. So when the judges asked me to consider playing Roxie, I was shocked. ”
For the actor, Chicago will mark her debut as a singer.
“ I have always been part of musicals but only as a dancer. Now I get the honour to play this character, which has really made me discover more about my potential.”
Regarding her preparation for the role of Roxie, Wilson says she is working on some tips provided by a theatre friend who said she should feel her character and portray her “as real as possible”.
“There is a scene where I have to cry, and initially it took me weeks to do it naturally. But now I’m quite comfortable doing it.”
Recently she had experienced a bit of family sadness — “my papa passed away” — so that might have made the crying more natural.
Talking about her journey into the arts, Wilson says her mother played an inspirational role.
She fondly remembers that as her mother cleaned the house, she’d switch on some Whitney Houston and sing along.
“ I grew up listening to the ’80s music and singing along with my mum. When I was three years old and still in kindergarten, a ballet company visited our school and started teaching children how to dance. One of my teachers encouraged my mum to take it up. That’s how it all began and over time I became a dancer.”
Wilson said her last show was about 11 years ago with the Napier Opera Society in Napier. She and her husband had moved to Gisborne in 2021 after they were made redundant from their work during Covid.
“I’m so thrilled and blessed to work with an amazing team and cast,” Wilson says.
Playing the role of sleazy defence lawyer Billy Flynn is Alex Raines, who moved from the United States to Gisborne only last year.
“It’ll be fun to play the arrogant American once again after playing a similar role in Evolution Theatre’s Cluedo,” Raines says.
“It’s interesting to play the role of Billy, who is sort of the puppet master behind the whole plot. I particularly like the little moments when he tries to boost Roxie’s confidence but also serve his own interest, something that’s quite relatable.”
Of his character preparation, Raines says he’s avoided watching original movies or early plays that could in any way influence him to “act in the same manner”.
“So I haven’t done any research on Billy but I have tried to put myself in his spot and put my own spin on it in sync with the director’s vision.”
Raines remembers starting out in music as a kid growing up in Seattle, USA.
“My parents wanted me to learn an instrument, so I started taking piano lessons.”
After a while, he realised that he didn’t really enjoy playing the piano and eventually quit. However, he found his passion in singing and joined a choir in his home town.
“During my high school days, I was under the tutelage of some theatre folk and I absolutely loved doing my debut in a musical. I have been singing and doing theatre ever since.”
Raines says participation in theatre got a bit difficult when he started medical school in 2004. A few years later, his friend started a drama club in med school and he took part in a few productions.
“I have always tried to keep myself involved in theatre whether it be in university or my medical career. My wife has also trained herself as a singer and theatrician. So most times we just sit and sing together.”
Raines and his wife moved to Gisborne from the States to practise medicine in a different country as it was “pretty frustrating working in the US”.
Both Raines and Wilson heaped praise on the direction provided by Dean McKerras, who directs Chicago, which premieres at the War Memorial Theatre on May 19.
