Jersey Boys, the story of The Four Seasons is currently showing at Milton Keynes Thetare.
The role of Bob Crewe is being played by Joel Elfernik, originally from Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia.
He nattered to Total MK about the Golden Girls, unfortunate incidents with wood splinters and playing a stalker...
Tell us about your first memory of the theatre…
I saw an amateur version of Les Miserables and I was blown away. To be fair, it was a very high standard for an amateur production and I knew I wanted to be doing that one day!
And the moment when you realised the theatre was your calling?
When I was a young boy and I saw Joanna Ampil in Miss Saigon in Sydney. Little did I know that I would be doing Les Mis with her in the West End many years later…
Any dreadful calamities, or funny happenings on stage that you would care to share with us?
A big splinter of wood pierced my leg and came out the other side while I was doing a knee-slide in technical rehearsals for a West End musical!
Which stage actor, living or dead, would you most like to meet, and what question would you ask them?
Bea Arthur (I’m a massive Golden Girls fan). I would ask her if we could be friends ☺
Do you have any superstitions, or pre-performance routines?
I recite one of my speeches at least once before I go onstage and do it.
The best piece of advice given to you when you started in the business?
You may regret some things that you do, but you will regret more the things you don’t do.
What do you think has been your steepest learning curve?
Being thrown on for my 1st cover, after having had just one rehearsal.
How do you fill your spare time while on tour?
I go to the gym
Nerves or excitement? Which takes over just before the curtain rises?
Definitely excitement
How can the future of theatre be safeguarded? What would you do to entice new blood to audiences?
Just encourage people to see as much as they can. Theatre is so diverse and I think there’s something out there for everyone.
Now tell us about the three favourite roles you have played so far, and what makes them special.
The Stalker in The Bodyguard. I played this role in China. It’s a fab part and I loved playing the bad guy!
Marius in Les Miserable. This was my first job in the UK and it was a dream to work on the show.
Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys. I love the role and the show and I’m honoured to be back doing it!
Finally, for those yet to take a ticket to Jersey Boys, sell the show.
Jersey Boys is a fab show with the hits you will love and a story you need to discover. It will make you laugh and cry but you will come out feeling uplifted.
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