Viva Italia! Interview with Jayne Atkinson and Michael Cumpsty
By: BWW Aug. 02, 2003
The restorative powers of friendship, love and Italy invigorate the lives of four 1920s-era Englishwomen in "Enchanted April," the new romantic comedy by Matthew Barber. The play is based on Elizabeth von Arnim's best-selling novel, which was previously adapted into a 1992 Miramax film. Directed by Michael Wilson, "Enchanted April" stars Jane Adams, Elizabeth Ashley, Jayne Atkinson, Dagmara Dominczyk, Michael Cumpsty, Michael Hayden, Daniel Gerroll, and Denny Dillon.
CC: Hello Jayne and Michael, thank you for meeting me. I have heard Jayne that you want to sing in a musical, is that true?
JA: I want to do a musical review written by Eve Ensler, from the Vagina Monologues. I have not told her about it so I better do that soon!
CC: Have you ever sung before?
JA: Yes, I actually started out in Musical Comedy.
CC: Really? I did not know that!
JA: And Dance, once I got to College I realized that there were other people, specifically Megan Mullally, do you know Megan Mullally?
CC: Sure, from Will and Grace...
JA: Who is such a talented singer, and really good at singing so it was kind of tough. So it was good for me to know that so I could find my niche which was theater. I have a great love of singing and dancing and going nuts.
MC: I love Megan!
JA: Megan is a triple threat, she can sing, dance and act! And I was that too but she was better. So I guess I should say Megan Mullally should be in this too.
CC: You sing too Michael, you were in 42nd Street of course...
MC: I don't sing very well.
JA: I Sing well in the sense that I am not embarrassed. I don't have Megan Mullally's voice, or Alice Ripleys voice, or Karen Ziembas voice, but put me amongst those women and I will not do badly. I can carry a great harmonic line that is where my strength is and I am a good dancer also.
MC: What is this show?
JA: The fantasy show is written by Eve Ensler, the Vagina Monologues musical- women over the centuries focused on women in love, how they deal with love, how they get out of love and how they fall in love, and counter pointing different periods of time- for instance don't sit under The Apple Tree that song with a rap song written I ain't sitting under no apple tree, waiting for you baby!
CC: That is very funny Jayne. I do not see why you can't make it happen!
MC: That is hilarious!
JA: That is just a little fantasy of mine, building and building in my mind. I have just been with my best friends in the world, we call ourselves the ya ya hood two, we saw that movie on one of our infamous weekends and we spent two days this past weekend and we are going to buy a house together. If we can get the price we want. So this play has influenced me in that.
CC: Have you both been to Italy?
JA: I have been to the Swiss part of
CC: Have you been to Italy Michael?
MC: Yes, just once. I was working in
Patricia Connelly arrives: Who plays Costanza!
CC: You are marvelous! (she introduces a friend to Michael and Jayne)
PC: Grazie
CC: She is actually fantastic! What I love about this show is that everyone who is in it is fantastic and you all work so well together. I loved the new woman who took over for Molly Jane Adams too; she was very good.
JA: Last week was Jane Adams' third week?
MC: No fourth week.
JA: We are arguing like an old couple. (She laughs)
CC: I have to ask you both when did you decide you wanted to act?
JA : I decided I wanted to be an actress when I watched my mother do theater and I was inspired by watching both my parents. My mother is a wonderful actress and I would watch them, learn lines with them I just caught the bug of it. My father said to me, if you do this in your life you will be very successful (about Ann Frank and acting) and it was interesting, because he never said anything like that to me before. So it kind of sunk right in and they have supported me every step of the way. They would like to see me do more in terms of my career but they understand that I have also gravitated towards a real life, family and home.
CC: Yes, I know you have a son, that's wonderful. How do you balance your life with eight shows a week?
JA: I get stressed out. My husband stays home with our son but I want to be there.
CC: Your husband is also an actor right?
JA: He has done a show, and he is writing but he stays at home and that helps. I try to spend as much time with my son as I can. Then I also need time to myself so it is a juggling act.
CC: If you were to pick any musical currently on Broadway to appear in, what would it be?
JA : I would do Cabaret, I love Cabaret.
CC: Why Cabaret?
JA: Because I did it in college, it is raunchy and different. And Molly went from Cabaret to here.
CC: And Annie originally! I love Cabaret.
JA: It is kind of wild and I would like to expand that nature. It would be fun.
CC: How about you Michael?
MC: I don't know... If I had the power to do it I would play the MC.
JA: Oh! You would get to do some dancing darling! You would have to pump and grind a little. You see Cumpsey holds these things close to his chest we know he can but we don't get to see it. It is like his nude scene.
CC: Well, the first time I saw "Boom," I was in the first row. lt was one of my favorite scenes in the show. (Laughs and blushes)
JA: Laughs
CC: Is it hard for you to do that?
MC: No.(Smiles)
CC: Have you ever done another show where you exposed yourself?
MC: A couple of times, yeah!
CC: Other then this show, what has been the favorite show that you have appeared in?
MC:
CC: You were brilliant in that. And you (turns to Jayne) are just an incredible actress Polyanna.
JA: (Laughs) Thank you. It is very interesting as I did "Our Town. And I played a woman who has this secret dream to go to another foreign country where they don't speak English and she dies and never gets to go. And then jump cut to this show of a woman who gets to go. It is a wonderful journey for me.
CC: When were you in the Vagina Monologues?
JA : I was in the second to last grouping of women.
CC: I saw it when it first started and then I went to V-Day a few times.
JA: When did you want to be an actor mister?
CC: Yes, you did not answer that one?
MC: Well I acted. I was never really athletic, so the thing I always did after class was always acting. I did my first nativity play. I always wanted to be a Doctor actually. I got much more of a kick out of emergency rooms and hospitals. I have a brother who has cerebral palsy so we had to take him to the hospital every now and then. My Aunt asked my Father what is Michael going to do? He said he is either going to be a doctor or an actor." And she said which would you prefer?" And he said "I would rather him be an actor." And I overheard him and said "Why do you want me to become an actor?" "Because I want you to be happy" was his response.
JA: We both had the influence of our fathers.
CC: What other shows currently on Broadway are you fond of?
JA: Just watching Bernadette Peters made me crazy for Gypsy.
MC: You would make a wonderful Mamma Rose
JA: Yes, but I don't have the voice for that. That is an amazing part. You have to have amazing vocal talent for that. I could do it in
CC: Well, with training you never know...
JA: That's true. I was told once that I could be a singer if I wanted to be. I would love to do Gypsy. Actually we can go and see Gypsy since they have Monday night shows. And then I want to see Talking Heads.
MC: It is getting such great word of mouth
CC: I was glad you were nominated for a Drama Desk Award, but disappointed that you didn't win. I think everyone was happy to see you receive the Outer Critics Award however.
JA:Thanks.
CC: I was rooting for you the whole time!
JA: I was rooting for me too. But I did not realize that Vanessa was never nominated nor had she ever gotten a Tony. It is not a mercy Tony and one had to bow ones head to honor that she has done fantastic work in that show. AND YES I WANTED IT. I REALLY DID. I was really happy that the whole show got nominated, which is what you say the show is wonderful.
CC: What do you want to do next?
JA: Want to take a break. I want to spend time with my little boy. Give my husband a chance to get on the boards and maybe have a baby.
CC: Oh, that's wonderful.
JA: I am not dead yet and I would like to have another child. There is some television stuff happening.
CC: What about you Michael?
MC: I have no idea what I will do next. I have to have two hernias operated on. There are several short term projects that I know about. I keep hearing rumors of a big splashy production of Mary Poppins. I would love to be in that.
CC: What role would you like to play?
MC: I would love to either play the father or the Dick Van Dyke role. The father would be just like Mellersh. But I would love to play the Dick Van Dyke role. But I am probably too old for that.
CC: I could see you in the Dick Van Dyke role. You are hardly old. What are your passions, hobbies?
JA: Family, hiking, house hunting. Anything to do with the kind of journeys that Lotty has experienced.
MC: I love travel and house hunting.
CC: There was a rumor that you were all going to go to Italy for awhile?
JA: We were thinking about it. The producer knows a woman who owns the actual house.
CC: You should go there! Viva Italia!
JA: Italia should give us free tickets with all the publicity we have given Italy!
CC: Thank you both for your time today. I wish you continued success with Enchanted April and hope to see Michael in Mary Poppins and Jane in a new Eve Ensler Musical. Enchanted April runs till August 31st.
'Enchanted April' Ending Monologue.
LOTTY: To those who appreciate wisteria and sunshine… (Sighs) Not long after that evening, the wisteria at San Salvatore gave way, and, though a loss, the castle now dressed itself in triumphant white. There were white stocks and white pinks and white banksia roses, syringa and jessamine, and above all, the crowning glory of Mr. Wilding's acacia. A season had passed, and would pass again. And what I see now is that, enchantment aside, what had really been handed down that month was... a lesson in gardening. The wisteria would return the following April. We all would, in fact.
And there would be a wedding, and a new child. And Kate Lumley. But that first April we had only just planted our futures. And on our final day, as we reached the bottom of the hill and passed through the castle's gates, a great warm wind blew through and against our backs, as if to blow away our befores forever, now that our afters had begun.
And with the wind came all the scents of San Salvatore... the gardens and the sea, cinnamon and macaroni. And dancing among them, white blossoms! (Thrilled) Breaking free! (White petals start to fall. She looks up, beaming, raises her arms skyward) Falling …like rain! (The piano resumes and the lights fade)
Enchanted April" is now playing at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street). For tickets call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday-Saturday at 8 PM; Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2 PM, Sunday matinee at 3 PM.
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