Welcome back to our weekly interviews with cast and crew! As opening nights approach, check back every few days another behind-the-scenes look at Romeo and Juliet and Mercutio and his Brother Valentine (RJMV)

__________________________

Who are you? – John Geddes. I play Prince Escalus, ruler of Verona and uncle to Mercutio. In my real life, I’m a family physician. I have lived in Kingston for 25 years and have three kids and five grandchildren. I’ve worked in Bosnia and Africa - I have a charity I work with and travel to Africa quite regularly.

What’s your theatre background? – Well, you know, in grade three - I was the Mel Gibson of grade three - I wrote, directed, and starred in The Emperor’s New Clothes. I’ve been doing community theatre for years where I’ve acted, directed, and done lots of backstage stuff.

How and why did you get involved with Impromptu Productions? – Well, I like Shakespeare and I’ve worked with both Matt (Director) and Clayton Garrett (Playwright). Last year I saw The Merry Wives of Windsor and thought it was a nice production, and that gave me some appeal to the company. I travel a lot so it’s hard to fit in acting, but it just so happened that this show came at a time I knew I was around. Also, I’ve seen Mercutio and his Brother Valentine as Clay has been writing it and it has always had some appeal to me. So when I found out it was being done, I thought it would be fun to try. I also love Romeo and Juliet and played Capulet a few years ago at the Grand Theatre.

What has been the best part of RJMV so far? – Well, it’s always fun to watch a production grow. You start with a lot of disorganization and stammering over lines and awkward movements. Then it gradually smoothes out. So it has been fun to watch the shows come to the point that they’re now at. It’s like creating a painting – it starts with a blank canvas and you don’t know what it will look like, and then it starts to come together. I think it’s the same with theatre.

What is something that most people don’t know about you? – Probably most people don’t know that I have as good a sense of humour as I do. I think people think I’m stern. In these shows, I have a bossy and stern part. So I think people think that’s who I am in real life and, in fact, it’s not.

Are you a big Shakespeare fan? What’s your favourite Shakespearean play? – Yes, yes, yes. I really like King Lear. And I like The Tempest. I think I tend to be more of a tragedies kind of guy than a comedies guy.

What does your future hold? – Oh, I don’t know. I don’t have a crystal ball. That’s a question for the 20 year olds.

Why should people come and see RJMV? – I hope people will put the effort into seeing both plays because I think they will get a different interpretation of Romeo and Juliet than they are used to. Mercutio and his Brother Valentine changes the interpretation of Romeo and Juliet in a way. So it’s neat. Plus Mercutio and his Brother Valentine is the first performance of a work by a local playwright, so it’s important to support that.