A tale of seduction and suspense
Actress Kym Marsh stars in a new stage adaptation of the iconic film Fatal Attraction at Theatre Royal Bath. JEFFREY DAVIES chats to her about how today’s audience may respond differently from 1988 to the ‘bunny-boiler’ character, Alex
Aprovocative and intoxicating new stage thriller based on the classic 1987 Hollywood blockbuster Fatal attraction comes to Bath next week starring Kym Marsh as alex Forrest, oliver Farnsworth as her lover Dan Gallagher and Susie amy as his wife Beth.
Written by James Dearden, who based the stage play on his oscar-nominated screenplay, and tipped to be the most provocative and gripping stage play of the year, Fatal attraction is a tale of seduction and suspense that asks the question: What happens when desire becomes deadly?
When happily married New York attorney Dan Gallagher meets charming editor alex Forrest on a night out in the city, they both commit to a night of passion they can’t take back. Dan returns home to his family and tries to forget the mistake he has made, but alex has different ideas. Dan’s about to discover that love is a dangerous game. and alex has only one rule; you play fair with her, and she’ll play fair with you.
Described as ‘the definitive thriller’, why does the film and the concept still resonate with audiences some 35 years after it hit the big screen?
“Well, it’s iconic isn’t it?” a most delightful Kym Marsh told me. “For most people who have seen the movie, it’s a movie they’ll never forget. and for many reasons. it was unbelievable, it was chilling, it was sexy and it was a real thriller. it also had a stellar cast [Michael Douglas, Glenn close and anne archer] whose performances were just unbelievable. and the story was so dynamic back in the day. You were on the edge of your seat the whole time. This guy had a one-night stand, a bit of an affair, behind his wife’s back and then, suddenly, the woman he had the affair with developed a bit of an obsession for him.”
Massively successful on the big screen, has the iconic eighties thriller transferred to the stage well?
“Yes it has. The transfer to stage has been great. it’s worked really, really well. The way it’s been directed, the set and the way it’s been lit and so on, has been really well thought out. it is a great production,” the Merseyside-born singer, actress and tv presenter said with a smile.
and the plot? Still the same as the original film version or have there been some changes made here and there?
“i think the difference these days is that we look at things differently. Back in the day it was just about this lady who went crazy and was completely obsessed with a guy that she had an encounter with. But if you look at it now we would see her more as a victim in all of this. Yes she did agree to this affair; yes she does get pregnant, while he’s just like ‘well i’ve done that now’. He’s a complete narcissist. Nowadays we do look at it slightly differently because we live in a different day and age where we do ask different questions. although she is a victim, she definitely still has some mental health problems. These days we’d probably do something to help her.”
Kym continued: “There are some slight differences between the film and the stage production. We do delve a little bit more into alex’s character and i think people now come away feeling sorry for her. it’s thought-provoking, as well as being exciting and dramatic.”
“There are some changes in the script which are wonderful and breathtaking. our director Loveday ingram is just fantastic. She has such great ideas and brings something else which make it all even more exciting and brilliant,” Kym enthused.
alex Forrest. How would Kym describe her latest tour-de-force stage incarnation?
“She’s quite vulnerable actually. There is definitely some vulnerability about her. But she is also quite a strong woman in the sense that she’s very successful in business. She’s also quite powerful and very aware of her sexuality. But, as i said, she obviously does have some issues in her past which she’s not dealt with perhaps. There are really many, many layers to her. She literally goes from one thing to another and back again. She is so interesting to play. it’s a tough gig but i’m really enjoying it,” she said.
is it challenging to be taking on the oscar-nominated role that was first performed by Glenn close on the silver screen?
“Yes it’s a huge challenge. i would never, ever claim to be able to come anywhere near to filling Glenn close’s shoes. That would be ridiculous because she’s just wonderful. You have to take these characters, these roles, and make them your own. i’m not trying to copy anybody; i’m just trying to do it my way.
I think the difference these days is that we look at things differently. Back in the day it was just about this lady who went crazy and was obsessed with a guy that she had an encounter with. But if you look at it now we would see her more as a victim in all of this. Kym Marsh
Yes it is a challenge Jeffrey but, as actors, that’s what we look for.”
Of course many film-goers will remember the infamous ‘bunnyboiling’ scene from the film. Does that stark scene feature in this stage production?
“It has to doesn’t it? But the audience won’t be seeing anything graphic,” Kym assured me. A powerful role to play. How does Kym come down from the inevitable high she must surely reach on stage?
“It does take a little while to come down but then that’s probably the case for everybody doing a live performance. I don’t think you can go on stage, have the adrenalin of doing a live performance, and then just go to bed and go to sleep. It takes time to wind down from that. My part is quite emotionally and physically challenging and I do feel quite tired at the end of it. But I do get on the phone afterwards and speak to my children, my parents and my husband. That kind of levels you. That’s the reality. That’s your life really,” Kym said philosophically.
Kym Marsh is known for her work on the British music and television scene. The former singer was part of the massively successful Noughties pop band Hear’say who had two UK number one hit singles and a UK number one album. A muchloved star with TV viewers too, she played the role of Michelle Connor in Coronation Street for 13 years, winning many awards including the coveted Best Female Dramatic Performance. Earlier this year Kym appeared in Kay Mellor’s long-running BBC comedy-drama The Syndicate and has also been presenting the channel’s hit daytime show Morning Live.
Hear’say. Fond memories of singing in the pop band which was created through the reality TV show Popstars in 2001?
“I really do. We had some amazing experiences as individuals and as a group. And ultimately it’s what brought me to where I am now. I’ve been in the industry for more than 20 years and I owe that to Hear’say. I will always look back on that with really fond memories,” the star said.
And Coronation Street. It must have been great walking the Wetherfield cobbles as Michelle Connor in what is this country’s longest-running and arguably best-loved soap?
“Yes it was fabulous. I was only ever supposed to be there for four episodes but stayed for 13 years! It was another experience that I will be forever grateful for. I made such fantastic friends and I learnt such a lot. I will treasure that time forever. I’m delighted that Michelle made such an impact.”
Any chance, if you’ll forgive the pun, of the ‘rover’s return’ one day?
“They did leave the door open for me and providing that they don’t kill her off, I have no doubt that one day I will go back.”
Really, I suggested, showbusiness is in Kym’s family’s DNA.
“Yes absolutely. My maternal grandmother had a really lovely singing voice. And my dad was also in a band back in the Sixties called Ricky and the Dominant Four and they supported The Beatles at The Cavern,” Kym recalled, proudly.
Fatal Attraction is the latest grip-the-edge-of-your seat thriller from the producers of the celebrated tours of Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight and Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train.
Director Loveday Ingram said she is excited to be working on the “brilliant” new stage adaptation of the iconic film.
“It’s a gripping, fast-paced psychological thriller that deals with complicated issues of consent, trust and responsibility,” said Loveday. “The play asks some difficult questions. Audiences today will no doubt repond differently to the ‘bunny boiler’ character Alex, made famous by Glenn Close, and the debate it ignites today will be very different from 1988 as our awareness of mental health has progressed significantly.”
Fatal Attraction is playing the Theatre Royal Bath from February 8 to 12. Tickets can be booked on 01225 448844 or online at www.theatreroyal.