It’s been 11 years since Craig Urbani returned from his British stint where he first went to perform in a production of Buddy Holly, the role that first brought him to our attention.
He feels blessed. He’s had a career that ranges from musicals and pantomimes to television dramas like Isidingo and now more recently e.tv’s Ashes to Ashes. And he’s grateful that even here, the progression has been to more rounded personas, a flawed man with faults and someone who has to battle life rather than the less complex leading man.
At 44, he thinks his professional and personal lives are in a good place. “I feel more connected,” he says as he talks about his latest season which opens at Pieter Toerien’s Studio on April 29 featuring the life of Brit funnyman, Eric Morecambe.
Morecambe is described as a fast-moving, funny and affectionate celebration of Britain’s funniest man, one half of the legendary and much missed comedy duo, Morecambe and Wise. I would have been more surprised at this strange casting if I hadn’t witnessed Urbani fooling around during the end-of-year panto rehearsals.
‘He’s funny,’ I thought while watching the actors in between the Janice Honeyman panto regime.
“Not many people know,” says Urbani, but when he recently did a funny song at a Toerien audition, the impresario remarked on his wit. “I think he remembered when they were casting for this one.”
His first solo show was “daunting,” he says, but he feels safe in director Alan Swerdlow’s hands. “He’s known me for a long time,” he says and one is reminded that Urbani starred in David Mamet’s Romance, also directed by Swerdlow a few years back.
“He’s also so familiar with these British comedies,” says Urbani as he points to the fact that Pythonesque telling the story of the Monty Python gang on Pieter Toerien’s main stage is also directed by Swerdlow.
But there’s no comfort level as he thinks about this solo gig. “I know all about the theatres that Morecambe speaks about,” he says, having toured all of them when in Britain, but less of the man himself. “He was the worrier, the one who frets,” he says, admitting to some of those neuroses himself: “I’m getting better though.”
There’s a quiet confidence growing and he can tell when things start working.
“I’m doing the best I can,” says Urbani. And he trusts himself more than ever before.
It’s all about showing off the Morecambe wit. People who know about the comedy duo will be reminded of their sparkle, those who don’t will see a funny show and hopefully learn about the quick wit.
“The text captures the essence of the man,” says Urbani and hopefully he can carry it through in the performance.
“I’ve seen enough footage,” even some delivered to him and Swerdlow by Pieter-Dirk Uys who saw a recording while out shopping and dropped it off while dropping in at rehearsals. “He’s something special,” says Urbani about his fellow artist who was performing to packed houses in the main theatre while they were in rehearsals.
“Eric was the one who was allowed to be more playful, but as a duo, Morecambe and Wise were well rehearsed, not leaving too much to chance,” he notes.
And while he will admit to being funny, stand-up isn’t something he could ever do.
Talking about a dream job, his head turns to DJ because of his deep love of music.
“When I was younger,” he says, “I wanted to be George Michael and Kevin Costner.”
Now he knows he has achieved more than many and that he’s still out there working across the genres from music to comedy to singing to film.
He also has his odd working hours to thank for allowing him to spend time with his 8-year-old daughter;. “She’s a chip of the old block,” he says proudly. “Loves and knows her music.”
That’s also why he was pleased to do the last panto as Captain Hook, and even though he was warned about the hours and the demands of the job, he had loads of fun.
“I loved working with Janice (Honeyman),” he says.
He knows that Morecambe is a stretch for him, but he hopes to make audiences laugh and, even better, make them care.
Looking back at his past life and returning to this country 11 years back, Urbani says it was a matter of his heart not his head.
“I never put down roots there,” he admits.
And now it is about being back home and where his daughter is.
• Urbani stars as Eric Morecambe – the man what brought sunshine – in the Olivier Award-Winning West End play Morecambe in the Studio Theatre, Montecasino running from April 29 until June 7.