Oscar Conlon-Morrey will appear in Lambert Jackson Productions and Crazy Coqs’ virtual production of the Broadway musical First Date. The production is directed by Dean Johnson and also stars Samantha Barks and Simon Lipkin. First Date will be filmed at Crazy Coqs, then made available for streaming.
With a contemporary rock score, First Date gleefully pokes fun at the all too familiar dating mishaps we’ve all experienced and gives hope that there could be that one special person out there for all of us.
First Date featuring Oscar Conlon-Morrey will stream 22nd-24th October 2020. Tickets are £12.50, and are available here.
You’re appearing in First Date, filmed at Crazy Coqs and streamed online, what can you tell us about the show?
I am! I am working again after seven months! I keep having to sit down, partially from shock and partially because during lockdown I completed Deliveroo and I’m no longer able to walk. First Date – there’s so much to say – I love this show! It’s packed full of laughs, high-camp, show-stoppers as well as real earned moments of pathos. It’s super unusual because it breaks the mould of theatrical storytelling and takes place over one single evening. It’s a real-time snapshot into the awkward beauty of meeting someone for the first time and asking yourself if this is someone you can see yourself being with – which in itself is such an odd human ritual, right? Maybe that’s why I’m so bad at them!
How would you describe Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner’s music in First Date?
The music is genius – it pastiches so many different styles and genres, whilst staying true to its contemporary Broadway sound. There are some real stand-out numbers but when I first heard ‘I’d Order Love’, which is one of the songs I get to sing, I knew I was going to love being a part of this musical.
You’ll be playing more than one character; do you have a favourite and why?
I do! Multi-rolling has inadvertently become kind of my thing – which is gorgeous – I love it! We have had so much freedom to collaborate and create our own characters in this show that I have a soft spot for all of them, but if I had to choose a favourite, I would probably say The Waiter. We’ve used him as a framing device, a kind of ethereal Fairy God-Waiter, so there’s lots of really great opportunity for direct address to camera and fun asides, which I love.
You’ve been keeping us all entertained over lockdown on social media, how does it feel to be back doing what you love?
Ahh, that’s so lovely to hear. I started out making videos simply to keep myself busy but then it really seemed to brighten people’s day, so I just kept it up. I’m so glad it brought people a little joy when they needed it – it certainly kept me sane! I can’t describe what it’s like to be back in a room with creative people again. There’s a spark of energy that only exists when theatre-makers are collaborating and devising together in one room and it’s electric. I’ve so missed that! I can’t thank Lambert Jackson enough for inviting me to be a part of something so special.
Have you had to think differently about how you play these roles for a remote audience?
Absolutely – There are bound to be differences when you’re transporting something from stage to screen but we’ve really looked at this as an opportunity to create something really exciting and we’ve used a whole cinematic magic-box to make that happen – I can’t wait to see the finished show!
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to watch First Date?
Do it. Don’t think twice. Book now! So much heart has gone into this show – we’d so love to share it with you! Having been in the room watching my amazing cast-mates (Samantha Barks, Simon Lipkin, Danielle Steers, Nick McClean) do their thing – I know that anyone who joins us 22nd-24th October is in for something VERY special! I can’t wait to watch with you guys and tweet along!
