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Michael Xavier: “The experience of performing LOVE STORY is both thrilling and harrowing”

18/01/2011
He plays Oliver Barrett IV in the West End production of the musical show inspired by Erich Segal’s best-selling novel of the same name that runs at the Duchess Theatre after an acclaimed sell-out season at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

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Erich Segal’s best-selling novel, ‘Love Story’, became one of the most romantic films of all time, and now it has been turned into a musical. Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, LOVE STORY opened officially at West End´s Duchess Theatre on 6 December 2010 after a critically acclaimed sell-out season at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

Michael Xavier stars as Oliver Barrett IV besides Emma Williams as Jenny. Michael Xavier was seen last Summer as Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince in INTO THE WOODS at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Previously his many musical theatre credits include Curly in OKLAHOMA for Chichester Festival Theatre, Sir Galahad in SPAMALOT at the Palace Theatre, Raoul in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Freddy in MY FAIR LADY at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Sky in MAMMA MIA! on tour nationally.

The British performer tells us about his work in LOVE STORY and about his musical theatre career.

HOW DOES THE WEST END PRODUCTION DIFFER FROM THE CHICHESTER FESTIVAL ONE?
The production is different mainly because in Chichester we were performing in a thrust theatre (audience on 3 sides). At The Duchess Theatre we are in a proscenium arch so the direction has had to be altered to accommodate the change of playing space. It works even better here as we can guide the focus of the action more specifically. Our director, Rachel Kavanaugh, has done a wonderful job!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE OF PERFORMING ‘LOVE STORY’? HOW DID AUDIENCES RECEIVE THE SHOW?
The experience of performing LOVE STORY is both thrilling and harrowing. To go through the emotions of meeting the one you love to losing them is an epic journey. I love performing the show every night even though it’s emotionally exhausting. The audiences have been fantastic. They really listen and absorb the story and characters and the pay-off is how moved they are by the end. They go through the emotions with us. I have received a lot of emails and messages online to say how much they enjoy it and how moved they were. Most people don´t think they´ll find it emotional and then are surprised when they cry.

THOSE WHO READ THE NOVEL OR WHO WATCHED THE FILM, DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE SURPRISED IN ANY WAY WATCHING THE SHOW?
Those who have watched the film will be very surprised at how unsentimental we have made the story and the relationships. I heard some people found the film a little schmaltzy but we have avoided going down that road. The show is very true to the book so those who have read it will be pleased to see a new but faithful interpretation of a beautiful story.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU PERFORMING THE ROLE OF OLIVER IN THE WEST END?
To perform the role of Oliver was a great honour in Chichester as he is such a central character in what is an iconic story. To get to play him now in the West End is even more incredible. We are part of theatrical history and that´s something that I love about live theatre.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST OF PERFORMING OLIVER? AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST OF TAKING PART OF THIS PRODUCTION?
I love the diversity of emotions that Oliver goes through during the course of the show and getting to portray that is thrilling. It´s also wonderful to perform with such a talented cast.

IN THEATRICAL LOVE STORIES IS SO IMPORTANT THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE TWO PERFORMERS. WHAT WOULD YOU HIGHLIGHT OF THE WORK OF EMMA WILLIAMS? HOW IT IS WORKING WITH HER?
Emma Williams is a truly gifted actress and singer. Getting to work opposite her is a joy and we have a great relationship both on and off stage. We are great friends and it´s really important as we need to trust each other when acting so intimately together. Knowing each other well allows the chemistry to be natural and yet fun!

LAST SUMMER YOU STARRED AS CINDERELLA’S PRINCE / THE WOLF IN THE OPEN AIR THEATRE PRODUCTION OF ‘INTO THE WOODS’. HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS YOUR WORK IN THIS SHOW?
I had a wonderful time in INTO THE WOODS and thoroughly enjoyed playing both the Wolf and Cinderella´s Prince. The characters were both so different that it was great fun to explore them. Acting opposite Jenna Russell and Beverley Rudd was also a fantastic experience. They are such talented performers and I loved acting our scenes together every night. Also, playing outdoors was wonderful. Torrential rain, blustery winds and blistering sunshine. We had it all! Where else do you get that experience? Apart from other outdoor theatres, of course! I was also nominated for a What´s On Stage Award for my performance so I presume I did a pretty good job.

WAS THIS YOUR FIRST SONDHEIM? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SONDHEIM´S WORK AS A COMPOSER AND LYRICIST? AS AN ACTOR, DO YOU THINK HIS SONGS ARE PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING TO PERFORM?
Yes, this was my first Sondheim show and it was just brilliant! I think the man is a genius. His lyrics and compositions are so carefully thought through and they really help to aid the actor with his/her character. Every word is meticulously placed to compliment the narrative. Playing the characters was actually much easier than other shows I´ve been in as the thoughts and intentions are crafted so specifically through the language.

YOUR FIRST BIG MUSICAL PRODUCTION WAS ‘MISS SAIGON’ IN 2002. SINCE THEN, YOU’VE BEEN WORKING IN SHOWS AS ‘MY FAIR LADY’, ‘MAMMA MIA!’ OR ‘PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’. DO ANY OF THESE SHOWS HAVE A SPECIAL MEANING TO YOU?
I´ve been incredibly pleased with my career so far and have enjoyed every character I have played. Each show is different, each cast, each part, each challenge. I have fond memories of every show but it would take too long to spell them all out. My first West End show (Pageant) has a great significance as I learned lots about the industry and owe Bill Russell (the writer and director) so much for taking a chance on me as a new kid on the block! LOVE STORY is definitely the highlight of my career as it´s the first role I have originated in the West End and it´s the biggest role (amount of both songs and dialogue) I have ever performed. Where do I go from here? Life is great and acting is my life!


Emma Williams and Michael Xavier in a scene of LOVE STORY

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