by Priscilla

Oct.10, 2011, under Cast Blog

I’m a swing so I cover the female roles in the show. My first covers are Cynthia and one of the Divas, but I also need to know the ensemble tracks as well. Cynthia is a great role to play, but the ping pong scene and Pop Muzik song are very challenging. After that I have to take five minutes to catch my breath. I don’t know how Kananko does it every night. I was really nervous the first time I played the role, because I was worried that I wouldn’t get the audience reaction that she does! Luckily I did and I think it’s because the character is so good and a bit different from everyone else in the show.

Frances Mayli McCann

I went in to audition for a diva, but when they saw my look they probably thought I would be good for Cynthia as well. Then I just had to wait to see who was staying and who was leaving from the current cast as they then cast accordingly. In the last audition of the day they gave me the script for Marion and I had to do and Australian accent, which I was really worried about as I’d never done one before, but it turned out okay and I got the job.

I love being a swing. If I was just doing the one track I think it could get a bit boring, but the flip side is you can have periods as a swing where you don’t get on for a while. Priscilla is a great show for female swings as all the female roles are substantial and it’s not like you are the fourth person at the back on the left, you always have some character to play.

I love to sing I Will Survive as the crowd are really loving the show as it reaches the crescendo at the end of Act 1. In my second Diva cover I get to sing Downtown, which is also great as you get to open the show and Pop Musik is funny, but hard work. The poker machines are my nightmare on Priscilla. They are big and heavy and you always worry they are going to fall over when you have to get them over the revolve.

Everyone should come and see Priscilla, because there is nothing like it on the West End and it is such a shame that it is closing. It doesn’t demand too much thinking you can just sit back and enjoy it. It is fun for everyone.