GenQ

Jennifer Ward-Lealand (far right) stars in The Threepenny Opera in New Zealand

The Threepenny Opera is a musical production, directed by Michael Hurst and starring a large cast including Keith Adams, Amanda Billing and Jennifer Ward-Lealand. It’s vivid, wild, entertaining, dramatic, dark, funny, violent, sexy, provocative and very, very human. Jennifer Ward-Lealand took time out just days before the opening night to talk to GenQ about the show.

GQ: Jennifer thanks for taking the time to answer these questions!
JWL: Hello there!

GQ: Opening night is days away, how’s the feeling on stage during rehearsals at the moment?

JWL: Am feeling very excited – I think we have a great show on our hands. Can’t wait for an audience now.

GQ: How has the work load been for Threepenny?

JWL: This is a big show and requires enormous commitment from the whole company. Michael has asked a lot of us (which is great!) and it is up to us to deliver up the work with everything we’ve got. I have been in 3 other productions of Threepenny over the last 25 years, and this is definitely my favourite.

GQ: Do you have a favourite scene? Tell us about it.

JWL: I love the brothel scene as it has my favourite song in it – The Pimps Tango. A very sexy number between the prostitute Jenny and Macheath. They have had this tortured relationship off and on for years. Gritty stuff.

GQ: What is it like being directed by your husband? And Do you prefer him directing you or you directing him? Why is that?

JWL: Michael is a great director and I have really enjoyed watching him do his thing. He is brilliant with huge groups of people (in this show, 27) and has such a vision that you can’t help but be inspired. We certainly have a short hand with each other when we work together which makes for a relatively swift process. There is a mutual respect for each other’s work so whatever the role is – actor or director – it is about achieving the best for the piece.

GQ: You’ve got your finger in a few pies, cabaret, TV, theatre, directing. Which would be the one that gets the blood pumping the most?

JWL: There is nothing like the stage. I love it. Ultimately though, it is about story telling, and whether that story is in song or dialogue, you have to make it come to life.

GQ: Tell us what’s coming up next for you.

JWL: A week after I finish Threepenny Opera I will be performing Falling in Love Again at the Queenstown Winter Festival, then in July head to Nelson to perform my new cabaret The Look of Love. I MC the Montana Book Awards in July, and in August direct a workshop of a new musical, Mugby Junction. Oh, and don’t forget looking after the children too!

GQ: Describe Threepenny in three words.

JWL: Raw. Sexy. Human. (with GREAT songs)

GQ: Anything else you would like to say to the NZ audience?

JWL: Come and see the show - you won’t have seen anything like it!

GenQ wishes Jennifer, Michael and the rest of the cast and crew all the best for the show. Stay tuned to GenQ next week for a show review!

Tags: Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Michael Hurst, Musical, New Zealand