BWW INTERVIEWS: Cassidy Janson, London's New Kate Monster In AVENUE Q

Hi CJ, and welcome to BWW:UK. How's it going?

Fine! It's going really, really well.

How are the arms?

My arms are not too bad; it's the hands and along into my wrist. I train in boxing and have done for two years, and I have quite strong arms, so I think that's saved me. Apparently we don't get RSI, it's just aches and pains. I put a load of gel on it last week and that's my new friend.

How are you getting on with the puppets? Is it weird?

It's different. It's fun, because the things they do are funny - like when they flick their hair back, it's funny, but it's strange because you're doing what you'd normally do, and then you're learning a skill of puppetry. It's just - I'm sure it'll click into place! I'm not frustrated, I'm just trying to piece it all together and see how it all fits with what I normally do. Your acting can't be too much in your face, but you can't do too little with your face, so it's a balance between the two.

Have you done puppeteering before?

No, never. The rest of the cast have been doing it for two years, and they're like wow, I can't believe you learnt all that in a day, it took us two weeks! And I think, oh, OK. Nigel the puppetmaster is lovely. But it's just me who's being rehearsed; there's nobody to split the focus, so everything I do is under a microscope. But in a way I have to learn quicker because there's nobody splitting the attention!

It's something to put on the CV. Had you seen the show before?

I had, but a good couple of years ago, so when I got cast I saw it again. I laughed my head off, it's such a funny show. It's hilarious. I know that Mark's going to say, "It's only an absinthe daiquiri," and that makes me laugh. We did it in rehearsals today, and it's a cast of funny people - everyone's naturally comedically gifted. "He's funny, she's funny too!" I don't know how I'll be in Monday - it's not what I'm used to doing! I know I'll be fine.

Do you generally find it funny in rehearsals?

Some things I've been laughing at. We were rehearsing the sex scene for Loud As The Hell, and I was told to give head slower. Right, I'll remember that! [laughs]

How are the songs? They must be easy compared to the puppeteering.

They're very specific about how they should be sung. So you listen to the CD, and it's actually different now, so you have to unlearn things. But that's fine, we've all done that for shows.

You were in Edinburgh over the summer.

Yes, I did the festival again this year, a show called People on at the Pleasance Dome, which is a musical revue. It was a lovely team, and a lovely hour-long show we did every day. But it's full on up there. There's so much to do - you finish your show, and you go to the bar and meet your friends, and go and see a show, and another show, and another show. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There was some great stuff - I saw a company called Gecko who are a terrific physical theatre group, and I was blown away by them.

What were you up to just before Edinburgh?

I did Crazy For You at Kilworth House. You must go there, it's beautiful - a state of the Art Theatre, it's stunning. My agent came up and was amazed by it. It's part of a Grade 2 listed building, and it's so lovely. I'd work there again in a heartbeat. It was a lovely company, and playing Polly Baker - it's a brilliant part. And before that was Austentatious.

I loved that, as you know - and what a fantastic company you had!

I know, it was unbelievable - a West End quality cast at the little Landor. It was mental. How do you get these people at the Landor? And it was a hilarious show, it was the funniest show I've ever done. It was just brilliant. I think it would tour well, and do a limited run somewhere. It really tickled me every night.

All the Wicked fans are still following what you do.

That's so nice, it's so sweet. That was my first West End show so I wonder how it'll be with another show - does Avenue Q have the same kind of fans as Wicked? I'll find out. I think a lot of people who don't usually go to musical theatre come and see this.

What do you think the appeal is?

A fondness for Sesame Street when you're a kid. And probably it's just so politically incorrect. And puppets swearing is hilarious!

Cassidy Janson stars as Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut in Avenue Q from Monday October 5.

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