WORLD PREMIERE
SO, SINATRA?
Sweet Grassmarket Venue 18
August 5th – 15th @ 3.55pm
Reviewed by Jacqueline Sharp
My curiosity got better of me; I had to see this production about Frank Sinatra; perhaps to see if anything new could be said about the man.
This famous singer had a much publicised personal and professional life on the television, radio and the media. Even after his death his songs and films are well known.
This one man show lasts forty five minutes, mostly commentary from Martin Oldfield in role as (Nick Sevano). There are some enjoyable photos, clippings and film reels to watch in the background, but the screen could have been much bigger to allow the audience to get a better look.
After the show, I spoke with Martin Oldfield to find out more. The conversation went something like this..
JACQUELINE SHARP IN CONVERSATION WITH MARTIN OLDFIELD, ACTOR – SO, SINATRA? – EDINBURGH FRINGE 2010
Q Have you been to the Edinburgh Fringe before?
A Yes, I had previously been at fringe as an actor in Albert Pierrepoint, by Peter Harrison
Q So you are working with writer Peter Harrison once more, where is David Beddy Director then is he up here for the fringe?
A He is busy with the production Albert Pierrepoint which will be showcased in Leicester Square, London soon.
Q Throughout the production you refer to the FBI files quite a bit, even showing them on set, had the entirety of the production been based on those files?
A Mostly, but not entirely, Peter Harrison had widely researched various autobiographies.
Q Why was this a one man show?
A We would have liked to have had a handful of actors with us, that was the original intention, but it proved too costly, it had to be rewritten for the fringe, making it a one man show, same as Pierrepoint.
Q Have you acted elsewhere then?
A Yes, I have been an actor on Casualty, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Secret Diaries, Anne Lister, and Accused, (writer of The Street).
Q So have you enjoyed your role as Nick Sevano?
A Yes I have exaggerated his accent to be more like a gangster, flamboyant character. Frank Sinatra is an interesting flawed character, one of the greatest
Q I thought I had heard it all about Frank, but your production gave away some news about his mum I had not heard before
A Yes, his mother was heavily involved with Marty O’Brian’s, at a time where access to alcohol was through the back door and the other stuff about her in the play had widely been reported about.
Q You refer quite a lot in the play to Frank only having two people. Could you elaborate on this?
A Well he did only have two people who he heavily relied upon, the closest to him, who were his wife Nancy and Nick Sevano.
Q I was a bit disappointed that there was no singing of Frank’s famous songs why was that?
A I can sing but would not have done the songs any justice, the production was not about his songs more about his personal life.
Q If I were to put my director’s hat on I would have got you to move around stage much more, engage more with the audience, be more expressive and dynamic in your role and act out the gangster to the tee, what would you say to that?
A Laughs! Well I had been restricted by the lighting so I could not move around much.
Q So why did you keep same pitch and tone of your New York brawl of an
accent then?
A Laughs again! In role, as Nick, I had hoped to be the exaggerated flamboyant gangster.
Q Lastly, since you say you had not met Nick Sevano, would it be fair to say you had freedom to interpret your own style of how the character Nick should be on stage?
A. You’ve got me thinking now! You have given me a few ideas. Tomorrow’s show might be a different show now!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra
http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/sinatra.htm
http://www.paperlessarchives.com/sinatra.html
http://www.amazon.com/Sinatra-You-Though-Knew-Him/dp/1561718955
http://www.americanmafia.com/Feature_Articles_304.html
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