Whitaker returns to singing in ‘Jingle Jangle’
Oscar winner studied music performance in college, but he rarely sings on-screen
The mostmemorable characters have the most melodic names: Willy Wonka, Caractacus Potts, Mary Poppins and, now, Jeronicus Jangle.
The last is the leading manof theNetflix musical “Jingle Jangle: AChristmas Journey,” which reinvigorates the fantasy storybook elements of beloved family films with a powerhouse, and majority Black, cast— including Phylicia Rashad, AnikaNoniRose andKeegan-MichaelKey. But it’sOscar winner Forest Whitaker, 59, who delivers a surprisingly delightful turn as Jangle, whether flying through hismagical toy shop or dancing in the middle of a snowball fight.
“He’s a great dramatic actor— whenever you see him on-screen, he has power and gravitas and people are afraid of him,” saidwriter-directorDavid E. Talbert. “But Forest Whitaker, the person, is a gentle giant, awarm teddy bear, whoI knewcould bring out the vulnerability and joy of this three-dimensional character. And he looks likeBlack Santa.”
The role— of a heartbroken inventor recovering fromamajor betrayal— mirroredWhitaker’s own artistic crisis, and pushed him to revisit a skill set he’d long left behind.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: Whatdrewyouto this role?
A: Whenyou first meet Jeronicus (played as a youngster by Justin Cornwell), he’s on top of theworld— and by that, Imean, hewas living in joy. And then he loses his most prized inventions— which is a part of his spirit, really. He’s somebodywho believes somuch in joy and magic, and then he’s robbed of it. It’s a story people can relate to, becausewe’ve all been in difficult places wherewe felt likewe couldn’t go on because life had hit us so hard.
But it’s possible, even if you’ve fallen, to rise. You can reawaken the joy inside of you; your dreams can still come through in differentways. And there’s always a possibility, as long aswe’re alive and striving and stepping one foot forward, to change it. I do feel lucky to play Jeronicus because he’s this character who’s trying to find himself and his passion again. In a way, Iwas taking a parallel journey as an artist.
Q: Howso?
A: Originally, Iwanted to work as an actor as away to explore the human condition and howwe connect with others, and every part I’d playwas about expanding that understanding. I wanted to learn something new about someone else, and alsomyself. And then, at some point, that joy of invention and exploration, it just got blocked. I didn’t feel like Iwas doing good work, I couldn’tmakemy work stronger. I felt like I had lostmy passion.
Starting with the play “Hughie” (on Broadway in 2016), I’ve tried to get it back again and really pushmyself to grow. So the fact that “Jingle Jangle” is amusical, itwas a great challenge, because I hadn’t sung in such a long time.
Q: Howdid youprepare for these vocaldemands?
A: I started taking vocal lessons right after I got the script. Iwasworried I wouldn’t be able to handle the complexities of the songs. I felt like Iwas strainingwhenever I’d get to a certain high note because I didn’t really have a falsetto. I calledDavid and said, “I can’t do this.
Canwe change the key so I can sing it?” But hewasn’t really having it!
So I just buckled down and keptworking on it withmy vocal coach, Matt Farnsworth, and started to get it. And then I got so excited that I askedDavid to get more and more songs added.
Q: Your ballad, “Over andOver,” is amajor momentin themovie. Did yousingit live?
A: Yeah, but thatwasn’t planned. I had recorded it in the studio already. But whenwewere on set, about to shoot the first take, David said, “Let’s try it without the playback. Let’s just let you sing.”
It’s a really emotional song about regret, the moments youwish you could take back or re-create, the loss of what you could have achieved.… I tried to put those feelings of pain and loss and rejection into the performance.
Itwas quite frightening, but therewas somuchsupport fromthe cast and crew.
Q: You’ve rarely sung on-screen, even though youstudied music performancein college. Why?
A: Idon’t know. I loved singing. Iwas in a doo-wop group when Iwas 13. We didn’t have real performances or anything, but we’d practice oldR&B songs in the neighborhood. Spinners, Commodores, Temptations, Whispers, those kinds of tracks. And I played the baritone horn in junior high, and that’s howI started first reading music. I sang in the high school choir; in college, I hadmy first experiences going abroad by performing in different cathedrals acrossLondon with the madrigal choir. I studied classical voice atUSC, and I gotmy first agent frommy first professional play, “The Beggar’sOpera.”
Originally, Iwas thinking
Iwould go domusicals on Broadway. But I guess Iwas concerned, with the Italian arias Iwasworking on, that Iwasn’t communicating to the people I knew, and that Iwasn’t going to be able to connect in theway Iwas hoping. I had a scholarship at theUSCmusic conservatory as a singer, but they also acceptedme into the acting conservatory. So I made the decision not to sing anymore, even though I told the guys at themusic department that Iwouldn’t stop. I switched to acting, and I prettymuchleft music behind.
Q: Throughout your career, youdidn’t really go out for anymusical roles?
A: No. AndifIever sang in amovie or something, I’d alwaysdo it incharacter. … That’swhy Iwas really nervous (about “Jingle Jangle”). Imean, for some reason, I used to get embarrassed if I’d sing in front of my kids. But I did get a lot of joy out of doing it. You get a different feelingwhen you really get a chance to sing. Even if the song is sad, there’s a fullness to it. I felt like a kid again. I’m so thankful toDavid for this opportunity. We’ve known each other for 10 years, butwe haven’tworked together until now.
Iwould love todosome more musicals. I also had a good timeworking onmy comedic timing andwould love to do more of that too.
Q: So, would yousay you’ve rediscoveredyour passion for acting?
A: Yeah. I can feel the magic again in everything I’ve done since then. Even if it’s a darker character, like inmyshow“Godfather ofHarlem” (on Epix), I’m enjoying the process of playing him, even though he’s not an easy character to carry. Samewith (the Aretha Franklin biopic) “Respect.”