Marc Antolin and Carly Bawden in rehearsal for Romantics Anonymous at Bristol Old Vic. Pictures: Steve Tanner
MARC ANTOLIN is playing Jean-René in the musical adaptation of Romantics Anonymous, presented by Emma Rice’s Wise Children company at the Bristol Old Vic until 1 February 2020. The production, which previously enjoyed a critically-acclaimed London debut, will then go on a US tour.
Angélique is a gifted chocolate maker inhibited by social anxiety and Jean-René is the boss of a failing chocolate factory. When Angélique takes a job in Jean-René’s struggling factory, a fragile love affair unfolds. Funny, tender and painfully awkward, Romantics Anonymous is a delicious love story about breaking the mould and finding the courage to be happy.
Marc’s theatre credits include Hedda Gabler (Sherman Theatre), Cry Havoc (Park Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors – for which he received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, Into the Woods, Hello Dolly! (Regent Park’s Open Air Theatre), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk (Kneehigh), Peter Pan (National Theatre), The Trial (Young Vic), Taken at Midnight (Theatre Royal Haymarket/Chichester Festival Theatre), Amadeus, Singin’ in the Rain, The Music Man (Chichester Festival Theatre), From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), Matilda (RSC/Cambridge Theatre), Billy Liar (UK tour) and Imagine This (New London Theatre). His film credits include London Road and Love Actually.
Here Marc helps Musical Theatre Review launch its new interview series: Five Questions With…
What’s it like to revisit Wise Children’s production of Romantic Anonymous?
Well I didn’t play Jean-René in the first production, I played the roles of Ludo/Loizeau/Remi, so this time round is a completely different experience. Last time my track was incredibly busy changing character, accents and (literally) hats. This time it is a much simpler and isolated show for me which has really helped to get into the character of Jean-René.
He suffers from social anxiety and his business is on the verge of bankruptcy. His father always told him to live life “safe on the ground” and never to go out of your comfort zone so that nothing can go wrong. He falls in love with Angelique [Carly Bawden], his new member of staff but is unable to tell her. The wonderful thing about the characters in Romantics Anonymous is that they are all incredibly human and relatable so I’ve been able to put lots of myself into him.
Emma Rice and Marc Antolin
Our reviewer said of the show: ‘Romantics Anonymous is a simply astonishing new work, and has been crafted to perfection.’ What do you think it is about the show that makes it so beloved by audiences?
That’s a very lovely thing to say of this show and I believe it captured the hearts of the audience because there was so much joy and hope in the story. We meet all these characters who have trouble expressing themselves or hiding from society and I think we all have a bit of that in us and have all experienced the emotions these characters go through. It also deals with issues of social anxiety and mental health in a very gentle way which makes it more accessible for audiences to relate to. It also has chocolate, a lot of it.
Do you think there is a special something that Emma Rice and Wise Children bring to the production?
Oh absolutely, Emma Rice is pure joy to work with. I’ve worked on a few productions with Emma now and she has theatre in her blood and this is the perfect show for her, she understands love and celebrates the underdogs. That mixed with the genius music and lyrics by Michael Kooman and Chris Dimond makes this a traditional musical with a twist. I’m so glad that this show has come back and more people will get to see and enjoy it.
Picture: Vivienne Vincent
How did it feel to receive an Olivier nomination for Little Shop of Horrors?
Oh, all the emotions. Shock, excitement, nervousness, confusion, but overall it just felt very very lovely that some people decided to put my name forward (if that is how it works). I never dreamt that would ever happen to me and to be included among people whose careers and work I’d been following for years was crazy. I’d always wanted to play Seymour since I was a kid so just getting to fulfil that was a dream, the nomination was a massive cherry on top.
What would the highlight of your career be so far (sorry, impossible question) and can you tell us anything about future projects?
Ah, so many. Every time you get a job or an audition that you really want becomes a highlight. Obviously, getting the Olivier nomination for Little Shop of Horrors is probably THE highlight and I still find it hard to believe that happened.
But, I remember when I got offered Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, my first show with Emma Rice, that was incredibly overwhelming. I’d always wanted to work with her. When the audition came through, I got so terrified and excited because I felt like I’d waited for it for so long. I had my audition in the morning and thought it had gone well and was happy enough with that. By the time I got home that afternoon, my agent rang to say I’d got the job. I remember being really dramatic and crying and having to ring my agent back once I’d had a whiskey to calm myself. I think that show was probably a turning point in my career.
* Romantics Anonymous continues at Bristol Old Vic until 1 Feb 2020 ahead of a US tour
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