The acclaimed Jonathan Roxmouth taps into his inner child with his next show, Disney on Stage…
Durban recently got to enjoy Jonathan Roxmouth on stage as Bertie Wooster in KickstArt’s presentation of the hit West End comedy Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense.
And he’s no stranger to local theatres, having performed in popular shows like Liberace, Gilbert and Sullivan and Stage by Stage.
But next week Roxmouth steps into a new arena when he stages his first children’s production – although he’s quick to point out that this one is for the big kids as well!
Punted as being for those aged “six to 86”, Disney on Stage will present songs from the Disney stage musicals. From traditional scores like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid to the more recent stage productions of Mary Poppins, Newsies and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, there’s something for everyone.
Roxmouth has had this show in his heart since performing in Beauty and the Beast in 2008: “Seeing the Disney movies turned into musicals back on stage is very interesting to me because I think the music in those films, particularly Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, are basically Broadway musicals, but on the big screen. So to put them back on stage, you realise that these songs are just made to be done live.”
Asked what his personal favourite Disney hits are, these would definitely be Friend Like Me (the genie song from Aladdin) and Be Our Guest (from Beauty and the Beast).
“I actually did Be Our Guest for a primary school concert and I always remembered it as being so fun to do and the audience thought so as well. So hopefully with a few years’ experience under my belt it might be better now,” he laughed.
It’s no secret that there is definitely magic to Disney’s stories and music that sees the popularity of these tales lasting for generation upon generation. Roxmouth thinks the secret to this lies in the ability of these tales to turn anyone into a child again.
“You spin back to your childhood and you believe in a world where everything will end with a big orchestral swell of music as the title credits scroll above you.” he explained.
“I think ultimately it makes you believe in good, which we all need to regardless of the times.
“Doing shows like Liberace and Stage by Stage opened my eyes to the fact that theatre is perhaps the most magical for children. I got to know quite a few young people who came to see these shows and it occurred to me that they are often overlooked when it comes to shows.
“I think they are one of the best audience members you could hope for. So I thought, ‘let me write a show with them in mind and one that everyone else will enjoy’.
“I don’t think you ever stop being a child. I’ve made a career out of that, quite frankly, and I plan to continue being a child and do what I love doing on stage. So it also culminates in this show and I hope it’s entertaining for the people I’ve written it for,” he said.
• Disney on Stage, March 27 to April 6 at R100 for pensioners/ under-12s. Book atComputicket or call 082 499 8636.