Following catching their performance in the premier of “the Nude Scene” this weekend I met up with the writers and stars Laura Polley and Tom Satowski to discuss the play.
Q. So guys, what prompted you to write “the Nude Scene”?
LP: It’s actually the third play we’ve tried to write together but it had so much more substance than our previous efforts
TS: yeah, we’ve both been in plays before with nude scenes and it seems to attract a lot of focus, we thought it would be a good idea to create a play based on 2 actors rehearsing a nude scene, to try and teach the audience that for an actor, it shouldn’t be a big deal.
Q. Can I ask what plays you’ve done before that required you to be nude?
LP: Well to be honest we actually met whilst doing Equus together at college
TS: That’s right, that was the first nude scene I had done, since then I’ve done “Trainspotting” and “I am Curious”
Q. I caught “I am Curious” at the fringe, that was pretty heavily sexed I thought
TS: A lot of people have said that to me, the bodypainting scene in particular I always get asked about
LP: It is sexy to watch
TS: Like I say though, you’re in character, and you’ve rehearsed it hundreds of times, it loses its edge for the actors, pretty much the essence of what this play is about.
Q. Of course. Back to this play then, I don’t think I’m alone in saying the stripping scene at the start was very sexy, did you intend it to play out like that?
LP: I suppose we kinda knew it would
TS: Yeah and it’s a good way to start it, It shows that seeing clothes gradually getting discarded creates a sense of the erotic but then once we are both naked, and for the next hour the sexiness seems to dwindle away.
LP: That’s right. We rehearsed it various different ways but the slowness of it key. Its also about being normal, I’m not up there wearing suspenders and fishnets, its more subtle than that. I’m wearing a normal skirt with a normal pair of tights underneath because that’s what I always wear.
Q. An then there is Cara, your director, was it always intended to have a 3rd person in the play?
TS: Not at first to be honest, but the way we wanted it to go there had to be someone there telling us what to do
Q. She add’s some nice relief to any sexual tension that may be built up
LP: that’s true as well, we tried to make her dialogue witty and crude, and June (Wallace) played the part so well.
Q. She give’s a pretty thorough commentary of both your bodies, were you both comfortable with that?
LP: Why not, I know I’m no DD chested super model, I’m a normal girl with bumps and curves. I comfortable in my body so having it on display is no big deal to me.
TS: Same here, there’s no point in lying about anything. When she’s talking about my penis theres no point in her saying its enormous, everyone can see its not!
Q. Glad you brought up the penis actually, and by the way I’ve seen smaller, but there are a few scenes- watching Laura strip, having June try and turn you on by indulging in erotic fiction, playing naked twister at the end; when it must have, how shall I say it, started to swell?
TS: The start of the play is the toughest, watching her strip and having to stand naked in front of her it can be difficult to stay focused, she’s a beautiful girl, I’d be lying if said otherwise
LP: Aw, thanks!
TS: As for the dialogue part, by that time I’m well into the character and I know every next line that’s coming so its so bad. June is a very sexy woman though and very suggestive when shes playing the part
Q. I’ll say, I don’t mind admitting having to adjust my seating at that part!
TS: Ha, we had a bit of fun with it in rehearsals. I think at times she was trying her best to give me an erection, stroking the inside of my leg and blowing at my balls. I did get a bit twitchy a few times. The twister scene is a bit exciting I guess too
LP: When we did it in rehearsals I think we both got a bit turned on a few times!
TS: God that’s right, I always seemed to end up with your hair tickling into my crotch, I’m not made of ice you know!
LP: (laughs)
TS: It looks improvised but it’s very well choreographed. We’ve deliberately kept our bits away from each other.
Q. I thought the twister scene was fantastic, you all seemed to really enjoy it, it was sexy and funny
LP: that’s the intention, I think by that point the audience is well aware the play isn’t about sex and we’re not all of a sudden going to start doing it, we worried it was a little long, we’re playing for nearly 10 minutes but nobody seemed to mind.
TS: yeah I think we could have cut it down a bit, but there’s some great dialogue whilst we playing so it would be a shame to waste it
Q. And the middle, which I guess plays like an intermission, creates a real sense of ease among the audience.
LP: That was good to see, initially we were going to have a proper intermission with us mingling with the crowd, squeezing in at the bar, striking up conversations all totally nude, who knows maybe one day we’ll work that in
TS: I think that would be fun to do, I have a scene in my head of a bar full of people chatting away and two random nudes just blended in as if nothing’s happening. I always like plays that break the fourth wall.
Q. And coming out at the end to take your bows, was that spur of the moment remaining naked for that?
LP: Kinda, we toyed with the idea of it but had 2 robes set aside. When we came off stage we couldn’t find them. Tom wanted to put his boxers on but the stage hand had taken all our clothes into the changing room
TS: At that point your out of character, I know it sounds odd but for the first time its me the actor being nude on stage as opposed to me the character. It felt a bit weird to be honest.
Q. So whats next for the play?
LP: We’re going to take it to London, maybe the Camden fringe or something, then hopefully Edinburgh festival later this year.
TS: We’ll see what it develops into, everyone has been positive with the concept so that’s encouraging
Q. Well I certainly enjoyed it, and wish you every success with it in the coming year.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the movie Matinee? It has a similar plot line. You can see the trailer here - http://vimeo.com/9423266