Cheryl Livingstone speaks to Angela Darcy as she prepares to take on the role of one of the world’s greatest rock singers
HI ANGELA. SO WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I’m originally from Hamilton in Lanarkshire, but I live In Glasgow.
AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PERFORMING FOR?
I graduated from RSAMD (now RCS) in 2000, so I’ve been working professionally for 15 years.
WHAT KIND OF THINGS WERE YOU DOING PRIOR TO THE
JANIS JOPLIN SHOW?
Loads of things really – theatre, TV, film. I also work as a voice actor, and singer, and I teach acting and voice at RCS in my spare time.
HOW DID THE SHOW FULL TILT COME ABOUT?
I was in a show called The 27 Club where I sang some Janis songs (amongst others) and my friend Cora Bissett suggested we create a Janis show. The late and great Dave McLennan gave us the opportunity to create the piece as an Oran Mor Play, Pint and a Pie show, and the fabulous Peter Arnott agreed to write it. So it was all very organic really.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO JANIS JOPLIN? DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU FELT THE FIRST TIME YOU HEARD HER SONGS?
I didn’t know much about Janis Joplin at all before the 27 Club, but the first song I listened to of hers was Ball and Chain and it literally took my breath away. I had never heard a singer before with such power and vulnerability and range. I was blown away, and then after my initial reaction, I thought “Wait, you want me to try and sing like that?” It was a little intimidating to say the least.
CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT ABOUT THE SHOW? WHAT CAN
AUDIENCES EXPECT?
We have an amazing live four-piece band onstage, and some fantastic writing by Peter as Janis talks us through her life. We hear about all her innermost fears, emotions and her passions. Her hit songs are interspersed with the monologues. It’s Full Tilt boogie.
HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THE ROLE?
I read lots of books, watched as many interviews of her and as much live gig footage that I could get my hands on, and of course listened to her music over and over again.
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TAKING ON THE ROLE OF SUCH A WELL-KNOWN PERFORMER?
It always carries its risks, in that there are very definite and famous comparisons to be made. We are not a tribute show though, this is a play with music that centres around a very real, lonely and iconic character. I’m not doing an impression of Janis Joplin, I’m an actress interpreting a role, the same way I would do in any other show. I just do my best to convey her truth and spirit and hope that she’s looking down and rockin out with us.
Janis Joplin…Full Tilt will be at Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree from Thursday, September 10, to Friday, September 11.