by Priscilla

Mar.03, 2010, under Cast Blog

We asked you to send in your questions for Tony. Here are the last set of them and his answers.

What memento will you take with you from the show?

I have a bear, dressed in a leopard skin outfit with sunglasses and a handbag. She was given to me by a very kind and devoted fan, who has supported me through the entire run. She will definitely come with me.

You once said directing Follies was the highpoint of your career. Do you prefer directing, writing or acting?

Oliver Thornton, Tony Sheldon and Jason Donovan.

I find writing like pulling teeth. I am very slow and methodical. I love having written, but the process is agony for me. I love directing. I really love directing, but there is a feeling of powerlessness once opening night comes round and you lose control of the project. I would like to do more directing. I think that is where I am leaning towards in the future.

What are the best and worst things about living and working in London?

Everything has been the best so far. I have loved living in London and wish I could continue to. The worst part of working in London is that you can’t see all the other shows that are on. I have loved every minute of being over here. It has been a total joy and I will remember it all my life. It has been a great thrill.

Do you prefer creating roles like Bernadette, or stepping into an existing role, like in The Producers and putting your own stamp on it?

I’ve done a lot of both. It’s hard to do a show like The Producers, because the production team want you to replicate someone else’s performance. They want you to reproduce what happened on Broadway. So you don’t have much say. When you are creating a role, or Shakespeare or Chekhov, you have been hired for your particular skills or personality, so there is a lot more freedom. They all have there own rewards. I did The Witches of Eastwick and the production team thought I was so different from the person who did the role in London; they gave me total freedom, which was great and very flattering.

What will you miss most about Priscilla and Bernadette?

Starring in an Australian musical, in a role that I created. That may never happen again. It’s never happened for me before. It’s a once in a lifetime gig. What more can I say?