Will Brown stars in Pierre Marivaux’s The False Servant, translated by Martin Crimp which will play at The Orange Tree Theatre.
Before his final season as Artistic Director of the OT, Paul Miller, directs Uzair Bhatti, Will Brown, Julian Moore-Cook, Phoebe Pryce, Lizzy Watts and Silas Wyatt-Barke.
The False Servant opens at The Orange Tree Theatre on 13 June, with previews on 8 June, and runs until 23 July, with a livestreamed performance via OT On Screen on Thursday 7 July and available to stream on demand 26-29 July.
You’re starring in The False Servant at The Orange Tree Theatre, what can you tell us about the play?
On a good night it’ll be funny, moving and thought provoking. On others, it should be painless, short and quick. You could be in the pub way before last orders.
What is it about Pierre Marivaux’s text, translated by Martin Crimp that really appealed to you as an actor?
It’s really fun to do. Pierre Marivaux wrote a brilliant play and Martin Crimp’s translation is immaculate. He has been in the room and it was very, very cool to meet him. I’m talking about Martin Crimp of course, not Pierre Marivaux, who died 257 years ago, you understand.
You play Trivelin, tell us a little more about the character and what you’re enjoying most about it?
He’s not someone you’d want to take home to your parents. He’s a total nightmare.
I’m most enjoying working with my incredible company. Lizzy, Phoebe, Julian, Silas and Uzair are all superb and it’s been a total joy to work with them. Actually not Phoebe. I don’t like working with her. She’s difficult. Luckily we have no scenes together.
This play was last seen in 2004, why do you think now is the right time to bring it back?
That is ages to be fair. Maybe we should have done Hamlet. But maybe, just maybe, it’s the perfect time to do it. I think it’ll resonate with our audience and I am genuinely surprised it hasn’t been on since then.
It’s directed by Paul Miller, what have you learnt about yourself working with Paul?
I’ve learnt to use knee pads wherever appropriate.
What I’ve learnt about Paul, however, is all the incredible work he has done as artistic director of the Orange Tree, that he is a brilliant director with whom I’ve loved every second working on this play with and that he will be greatly missed by all the incredible staff at the theatre. He’s a top man.
What would you say to anyone thinking about booking to see The False Servant?
It would take someone with huge courage, real bravery and with an excellent taste in theatre to have the gumption to book a ticket. Honestly, you’d have to be a total legend to book a ticket for this. Have the readers of Theatre Weekly got the guts?
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