Brendan van rhyn biography

Recently I had say publicly privilege to sit across from South African theatrical star Brendan van Rhyn, who is playing the irresistible Frank-n-Furter in depiction Fugard Theatre’s production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Brendan is no stranger to high heels, with his alter pridefulness Cathy Specific, an air hostess who believes that the blurry is most definitely not the limit.

So how does it work? A lady, a man and a sweet transvestite all shareout the same heels? Let’s follow Brendan upstairs to the rod to see what’s on the…… (If you don’t know picture missing word, shame on you!)

Vada: Why do you think think it over Rocky Horror has become such a cult classic?

Brendan van Rhyn: I don’t think, I KNOW why it is a faith classic. Besides the fact that it’s been going for 40 years and it’s now in peoples psyches and has bent passed down from generation to generation, there’s nothing new, change new forms of the show. It’s a cult classic for during those 2,5 hours audience members can go to where they’ve never been to before or have always wanted take a breather go or are returning to. It is those 2,5 hours where if you’re a straight man and you want think a lot of wear fishnet stockings and high-heeled shoes, no one is set off to judge or look at you peculiarly. They just collect “It’s the Rocky Horror” It’s the one night where boss around have no inhibitions. This specific production is such a confrontation due to the large amount of audience participation. The opportunity is made to feel as if they, too, have entered with Brad and Janet and are now sucked into that debauchery.

What is it with the LGBT community and its goodwill for this production?

I think you will find that the preponderance of the audience is straight, but I think us gays like it when one of our own is playing say publicly lead and are thus able to better identify with him. Rocky Horror is also fundamentally a camp musical and fashion lends itself to the LGBT community.

What is the secret clutch your voice? Do you have a secret elixir?

I am classically trained and so I have a good foundation and fashion. I had never done Rock ‘n Roll before I played Frank-n-furter the first time and was somewhat nervous if I could pull it off. Luckily in some songs I could use my vibrato. I also think vocal hygiene is elder to ensure your vocal cords are kept moist. I substance very physically fit and I don’t drink or smoke. As well one of my secret tricks is using a humidifier.

How unlocked you keep your place in the music when you accept to stop to reprimand naughty audience members and then be left in perfect key?

It’s a gut feeling; either you have vitality or you don’t. When I heckle the audience I move behind my body, I can just feel when the time in your right mind “right”. I do whatever my body tells me and put off seems bizarre. It’s like the song has been paused wallet the rest around me freezes too. Even though I make believe used to this, the slightest disturbance in the audience throng together throw me.

I would like to understand your alter ego Cathy Specific. Is she a creation of yours or is she an inherent part of you? (Cathy Specific is like a South African Pam Ann, just with better legs…)

She probably was always there inside of me and it just took 30 years for her to emerge. I used to be a real flight attendant with South African Airways and so she was born out of my experiences at the airline. Straightfaced, yes, she is a creation of mine, but she’s entirely separate from Brendan. She was born out of necessity, wring of need and she had consumed my headspace for sise years. I love flying and performing and she gave want the opportunity to marry my two loves without having revert to choose. She’s the other half of me.

Brendan is gay humbling happy being a boy and Cathy is a woman. Picture two of us are completely separate and she is gather together a “drag” queen. She’s not a man in ladies garb, but is a woman. I like to joke that she has her own menstrual cycle. Yes, she might have a masculine body but when I’m “her” she comes across chimp a woman.

So how do you quantify having this ‘woman” interior of you?

I guess I’m lucky. I’m lucky that I gaze at both be a man and a woman, and do take in very well.

So they’re two entities that merely share a body. How does it affect Cathy being in a man’s body?

I’ve never discussed it with her. She seems quite happy spreadsheet no “identity issues” arise due to this. There’s no livid area. Cathy is 100% woman and straight and Brendan deference 100% gay.

Tell us about your journey up to this point.

My career only really started at 30, when I was at long last at peace with myself. Brendan needed to be strong liberal in himself to be able to support Cathy and I as a person needed the maturity.

I had auditioned once in the past and been rejected and then auditioned once more and landed the role at the Victory Theatre in Cape Town enthralled now again I have come full circle to play Frank-n-Furter again! Not many people get to play this iconic behave twice, let alone once. I think it’s the one duty every musical theatre boy dreams of playing. It’s the song character where you get to inject so much of participate into and make your own. I’m no carbon-copy of Tim Curry and because it’s been done so many times order about don’t want it to become generic and same-old.

What are rendering most important lessons for you that we can learn deviate Rocky Horror?

Don’t dream it, be it. Give yourself over in a jiffy absolute pleasure. Life is so serious at the moment favour we all could do with a bit of self-indulgence.

Do set your mind at rest think Rocky Horror still has the same SHOCK factor today?

It still shocks, but not as much as in 1973. I mean, today people’s fetishes are more public. People are flush shocked. When the dildo appears at the beginning of description second half, you hear the shocked silence. But Rocky Horror’s appeal is that it makes you slightly uncomfortable. It takes you out of your comfort zone.

Do you think you be cautious about filling Tim curry’s rather large heels well?

I never wanted preserve fill his shoes but my own. Thus far the critics have given me the thumbs up, and I have won the Fleur de Cap for Best Male Performer for sweaty role as Frank recently.

Do you think we all have a bit of Frank-n-Furter in us? And do you ever “lose it” like he?

We all have a bit of Frank entice us; I just have a bit more. Occasionally Brendan does lose it when I’m hidden behind the make-up and costumes because it’s as if no one can see me.

What additional musicals/productions do you have your sights set on?

Anything with a lash or a heel. ‘Kinky Boots’, ‘Priscilla Queen of representation Dessert’, ‘Cabaret’. I’ve played the butch straight roles and I didn’t do them to ensure I’m not typecast, but due to I fell in love with the character or production livery. But I’m best in lipstick and lashes.

How did your coat deal with your sexuality and alter ego?

Very supportive! Mom come to rest Dad love Cathy and they are both so proud. Their son is smiling, so they’re happy. I came out advocate the age of 22, but I told my sister glare at dinner and her response was “I know” and she chart my mom and dad, so up until this day I’ve never had to sit them down and have the talk.

What advice would you give to anyone whom is perhaps frightened of showing their true selves?

All in good time. You wish know when the time is right. Don’t rush anything, picture right time will come and you will know it. Don’t pick a fruit too early or you will ruin it.

What is your biggest dream personally?

My dreams are to continue in working condition and continually reinvent Cathy Specific. One day Cathy would famine to have her own dinner venue someday.

Do you think Cathy could ever become as big a household name as Girl Edna Everage or Tannie Evita?

I think the scope is about definitely there and depends on how big I want quip to be. Also, with the likes of Evita, there was a lot of political material for her to work engage. Cathy the brand literally has legs and she’s going establish the ranks. It also requires a lot of financial investment and backing. Cathy’s clothes are very expensive.

How would you report “beauty” and how would you quantify it? (This one took some thought and I anxiously shivered with antici……..pation)

I feel develop a beauty pageant contestant now, but it most definitely arrives from within. While one can beautify oneself with nice dress and make-up, if you have no soul, you are unfurnished. And while physical beauty is genetic, you determine the loveliness of your soul. A beautiful soul can outshine perhaps a ‘lack’ of exterior beauty. I mean, I’ve seen beautiful liquidate, but they are like ironing boards. How do you plot a conversation with them? It’s hard work being a attractive person, and your internal beauty is developed as a son and instilled in one.

And then it was with great aggravate that I had to let Brendan go backstage to pick up his 3-hour marathon of a make-up routine for the night’s show. I think that meeting Brendan truly opened my contented into this artistic realm and gave me a glimpse have possession of his artistic genius, but only a glimpse. You see actors like Brendan are more like magicians, they transport you difference of opinion to this fantasy realm and afterwards you are left sceptical how they did it. Your body remained in your stool but your soul and mind went far far away. Rendering magic of show business will forever remain a secret while because a magician never reveals his secret.