20 Questions for Nicholas Papademetriou
Who is Nicholas Papademetriou?
A boy who saw too many Joan Crawford films as a child.
What is a Wog Boy?
Someone with a beautiful mother.
Why do Australians love wog food and hate wogs?
Because we cook well and fuck even better.
Where would you rather be in the world?
New York.
Would you like to be a Macquarie banker?
No, I'd like to meet one.
If you had your druthers you would...
Work 48 weeks a year in the theatre. The other four weeks I'd fill with my own dramas.
What do you most/least enjoy about directing?
Most: creating something special and personal to me.
Least: being in charge (which is odd, because I'm a control freak at heart).
What do you most/least enjoy about acting?
Most: everything about acting!
Least: the lack of recognition.
Are you a good cook, or is it just fuel?
Splendid cook. If I want fuel I go to a gas station.
What are you reading - aside from the script?
As if I don't have enough to fill my mind - three things at once: Wicked (Gregory Maguire), Joan Crawford: Hollywood Martyr (David Bret) and True Tales of American Life (Paul Auster).
[page]When did you first realise you could make people laugh?
At school. My report card always contained the same comment year after year - Nicholas is an excellent student but is always distracting the class with his humorous antics.
Are you or have you ever been religious?
My god, no!
What do you understand by "The War on Turr"?
I don't understand anythingthat man says. I think he's simply turrible.
Who do you admire most/least in public life?
Most: anyone who does good in the world
Least: there are way too many people in this category to give a single person the honour
What is the point of theatre?
To remember it's not television or film. Its purpose is to be theatrical and in doing so to take us simply to places we don't go on the screen.
If you were an actress, who would you like to be?
Irene Papas
Have you ever fancied yourself in a military uniform? (Indeed, have you ever fancied yourself?
Neither, although I did play a general in Miss Bosnia (La Boite Theatre) in which I wore a military outfit and was - it seems - fanciable.
What makes you laugh?
Vintage Loony Tunes, Woody Allen movies, most jokes that have talking animals in them and John Howard.
Why did you choose this play?
It's very theatrical, very simple in narrative scale but very complex and bold on an emotional scale; because it is a splendid vehicle for an ensemble of ethnic actors; and because it seemed to be a play with elements of Lorca, Chekhov and Tennessee Williams: all writers whose works I admire.
Why would you like us to come and see it?
Because it'll be a highlight of your year.
Anna in the Tropics, by Nilo Cruz, features Zoë Carides, Christina Falsone, Rom Gulla, Radek Jonak, Dina Panozzo, Nicholas Papademetriou, Lani Tupu and Steve Vella at Downstairs Belvoir St from April 20; ph: 02 9699 3444 or www.belvoir.com.au.
