George Kapiniaris has taken to the stage as the character of Bulgarian spy Goran in the production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Kapiniaris initially auditioned for the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang because he wanted to meet the director Roger Hodgman. Not only did Kapiniaris get to meet Hodgman, but he also gets to work with him day after day in this musical extravaganza.
“It’s a challenge but I have learnt a lot in the dance and singing department,” Kapiniaris tells Neos Kosmos.
Kapiniaris is the first to mention the difference with stand-up productions, of which he has been a part of for over twenty years, to the professional world of staged musical productions; not to mention the hard work.
“With musicals you use all your muscles,” he explains, “all my muscles were aching and my throat was aching because I was using muscles you never use before.
“With stand up you use your brain and that’s about it. But it’s good because I like a challenge and it’s a change of scenery from stand up and it’s been great.”
He says although he is taking a break from stand up, his work on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will have him ready to go, and refreshed when it’s time to step into his comedy shoes again.
However, Kapiniaris is no stranger to musicals. In 2004, he was nominated for a Green Room Award for his role of Stretch in the musical Oh, What a Night! Other musical credits include The Rocky Horror Show and Return to the Forbidden Planet.
His theatre credits include The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui for the Melbourne Theatre Company, The Queen and I and The Give and Take for the State Theatre of South Australia, An Evening with Merv Hughes and Guy Masterson’s production of 12 Angry Men.
“It’s like groundhog day,” says Kapiniaris of the performance, “and I guess that’s where the skill comes in when you have to be disciplined and you have to deliver your lines exactly the same and you have to keep up your energy.”
Also, the Melbourne production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will feature five children of Greek background, paving the way for Greek Australians to take a prominent lead in the arts in the future.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will end its Sydney season on Saturday 19 January and will end the Melbourne season on 30 January. For tickets and more information about a show, visit www.chittychitty.com.au