Concert Tour Anecdotes

Michael's First Musical

After singing "Tonight" from West Side Story, Michael had this to say:

"That was the first musical I ever saw. From then on I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up- a Jet [audience laughter]. I wanted to be a Jet. That all changed when I was...beaten up...at school a few days later-he obviously wanted to be a Shark [audience laughter]. I...I wanted to be a...a Jet...and I became a Phantom [many cheers from audience, Michael grins]"

Michael's first job

"Someone once told me I have the perfect face for radio....So I decided to get a as a radio actor. My first job was with the BBC. They didn't have much money then so the actors had to double...they had to play two roles. During one particular show I had to play Henry VIII...Henry VIII and two of his wives. I think I am the only actor who has ever beheaded himself."

Michael and the Soap Opera

"My first television role was on a soap opera. I played Eric, a very optimistic young lad who was determined to recover after a serious...motorcycle accident. So they wrapped me completely in bandages and put me in a hospital bed under a white sheet. I had one line...the line went "Nurse, have you seen these?" referring to some flowers. There was only one problem-in rehearsals I would get so nervous I would forget my line. I practiced and practiced and I wrote my line on the sheet so if I got nervous when the time came I could read my line written on the sheet. Well, the time came...red light on, recording in front of a live audience, live, millions of people watching..and I forgot my line-my mind went completely blank. So I lifted the sheet [lifts make-believe sheet and looks down] and read my line, "Nurse, have you seen *these*?[laughter from audience] Eric died later that night."

Michael and the Boat (not the frisky one)

"I think everyone knows that the Titanic was one of the worst naval disasters in history. Well, I have had a few naval disasters of my own [grins].

"As some of you may know, there is this scene in Phantom of the Opera where the Phantom takes Christine down across this lake in a boat. It is a very moving scene-it usually gets a response from the audience..and some standing ovations in its early run in London. The boat is controlled by a stagehand, who holds a little....[makes cup w/right hand and joystick w/left]...about the size of a CD...he controls the direction and the speed with this thing [moves left hand around in a joystick fashion]. This...remote control...drives an engine on the front of the boat, where Christine lies in the scene. At that time, Christine was played by Sarah Brightman, who was married to Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was the first day of previews, and the stagehand was nervous-we all were....his control was very remote.[laughs] The boat is supposed to go like this[demonstrates movement of the boat] and down toward the audience. But instead it goes like this across the stage like this [demontrates while talking] and all the while I'm singing and the music's playing [sings a couple of bars]. Then, the boat goes back across the lake to where we started from. And I'm singing and wearing a mask and a hat [covers face and shades eyes like a brim] and trying to look all smooth and cool... and I'm carrying a pole [holds imaginary pole], because I'm taking her across the lake....and I want to take this pole to the stage hand and [raises pole for a blow]....well by now smoke is coming from the boat...and we lurch forward and *zig-zag* our way toward the audience [demonstrates]....by now the engine is billowing smoke...and I'm thinking...[sings, frightened] "And in this labyrinth .../where night is blind.../She A-ndrew Lloyd Webber's wife/And she's on fire"....[laughs] So I'm the only one who knows this and I'm afraid Andrew...I'm afraid he's going to kill me for toasting his wife...[laughing]..so I get...I get out of the boat...I pick up Christine....she's very hot...I set her in place...turn her around... *run* to the boat and push it where it's supposed to be....three tons of metal...then I *run* to my organ to start Music of the night....[while panting]" Night..time.....sharp..ens....heightens each....sensa...tion" After we finish, Andrew comes on to the stage...I'm afraid he's going to kill me....and he says[shaking left (upstage) finger, walking in short brisk steps, in a high-pitched "Andrew" voice] "Michael, Michael! I loved the way you did the boat tonight! It was so sensual! It was wonderful!" [Michael laughs hysterically with the audience.]

news & gossip*krista's desktop*credits*faq & bio
discography*mc links*media*encounters & lit
anecdotes*fan chat*guestbook*quiz

site by Krista, erikog@one.net

Commonwealth Network