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Interviews
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Russ Abbot - man of many parts Sheila Connor talks to the man who was once voted "the funniest man in television" as he prepares to rour in The Producers Russ Abbot is a man of many parts – Basildon Bond, and CU Jimmy from the seventies television series Russ Abbot’s Madhouse come to mind – but I’ve never yet seen him in a frock. “It’s only in one scene,” he explains rapidly, “and it’s because my character always wins the fancy dress competition.”
The character in question is Roger DeBris, the camp, flamboyant director from Mel Brooks’ multi-award winning show The Producers which is about to embark on a national tour, and Abbot is to take over the part from Peter Kaye while trying not to be influenced by his style so that he can bring his own interpretation into play. “It’s a great part,” he says,“a very funny role. They get the worst director they can find (to ensure a flop) and it works – this huge scam is a success. If that’s not comedy I don’t know what is.”
In common with the other ‘new boy’ in the show (Joe Pasquale) Abbot has had no formal training in acting, but he began by playing the drums while still at school and formed the comedy pop group The Black Abbots. “We had eight records on the Decca label, which didn’t chart, and we wanted to make a living so we became a colliery show band and I was elected to be the funny man – so to speak – and we grew from there.”
Appearing in television’s Opportunity Knocks in 1969 led to their own TV special, after which Abbot started his own series and the Madhouse was born, and he reckons that it was defining and developing these characters over the years that expanded his natural flair for acting. He has never thought of himself as a comedian – rather a comedy character actor.
Two years ago his Bottom in Regent’s Park received rave reviews. “I was very flattered because it was my first Shakespeare and you never know – well, you never know anything in this business!” Recently he toured in Oscar Wilde’s Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime and has had several cameo roles on television, but mostly he has appeared in musicals – including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, My Fair Lady and Oliver. “That was a gift really, I’ve always wanted to play Fagin,” and he treated us to a high speed section of ‘reviewing the situation’. No need for singing or dancing lessons for Abbot – he’s well versed in both.
“My first musical was in eighty four at the Prince of Wales, Little Me, where I played nine roles, with twenty one costume changes – brilliant! Bruce Forsyth played the role before me – with twenty two changes. He beat me at golf yesterday too!”
Asked whether he preferred theatre or television work…..
“It’s a different technique, but I’ve always preferred theatre to TV because it’s there in your face, it’s spontaneous, you only get the one chance. You get that ‘buzz’ in the theatre. You can sense it in your dressing room when you hear the auditorium over the tannoy, and it’s a wonderful buzz. It’s just adrenalin for me. I don’t get nervous. I’d be more nervous doing my own material, wondering if it would work, but with the show all I have to do is play it. Val May, director of Little Me, came into the dressing room on opening night and said ‘It’s all yours, it belongs to you now. Just go out and enjoy it!'” Advice he has followed ever since.
When touring he always used to rush home after the Saturday evening show, but now older and wiser he prefers a glass of wine and a meal. However his wife of forty years (and that’s an achievement in this profession) will join him at weekends. “She has never interfered, but always been a helpful critic.”
When I met him two years ago he was considering concentrating on directing. “Yes, but nobody’s asked me yet” he laughed. “The thought’s always there. I’ve a lot of tricks up my sleeve”. Perhaps this role will give him a few more.
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