Joaquin Pedro Valdes —PHOTO BY RUTH CRAFER
If his present initiatives don’t persuade you simply how prolific theater star Joaquin Pedro Valdes is, we don’t know what’s going to.
The newest adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s “Pacific Overtures,” which was headlined by the homegrown Filipino actor, had but to formally open late final 12 months once we requested what was up subsequent for him. Answering with unconcerned nonchalance, Joaquin mentioned, “Oh, nothing but.”
Quick-forward six months later, Joaquin isn’t nearly to tick off yet one more coveted merchandise on his bucket record, he’s additionally staking his declare as one of many London theater scene’s most sought-after heartthrobs.
In reality, Joaquin performs the Lover in each “A Tune of Songs”—operating till June 15 at Park Theatre in north London—and “The Baker’s Spouse,” the eagerly anticipated Stephen Schwartz musical that’s scheduled to run from July 6 to Sept. 14 at Menier Chocolate Manufacturing unit.
READ: From ‘Demise Notice’ to Sondheim: Joaquin Pedro Valdes on a roll
For the uninitiated, Schwartz is the 76-year-old composer-lyricist behind such musical behemoths as “Pippin,” “Godspell,” “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Enchanted” and that valuable little musical referred to as “Depraved.”
Joaquin doesn’t even get to do a lot in “A Tune of Songs,” however theater web site WhatsOnStage nonetheless singles him out and describes his efficiency and presence as “commanding,” calling his solo track “Dance for Me” as “the night’s take-home quantity.” The manufacturing follows the story of a younger spouse in a loveless marriage as she mulls over assembly her unseen admirer, merely known as the Lover (Joaquin).
Numerous music
“It’s very thrilling as a result of the music facet of it’s actually attractive,” Joaquin instructed Inquirer Leisure over Zoom. “It makes an attempt to usher in the totally different sorts of music from the Center East to Jewish klezmer music to the gypsy, flamenco and Andalusian sounds. It’s a play with plenty of music which helps create that ambiance.
“I completely adore it. I operate extra like a flamenco singer. The band, with our clarinetist, violinist and guitarist, is unimaginable. Our clarinetist makes a speciality of Azerbaijani, Center Japanese, Oriental sounds. Our percussionist is Spanish, so that you’ll hear all these totally different flavors … flamenco, rhumba, tango, and so on.
“The music is atmospheric and actually embraces you. I discovered it difficult as a result of I operate extra as a musician than an actor on this present. And there are many moments the place the band improvises, so I improvise with them vocally, as effectively. Once I began studying it and immersing myself within the Azerbaijani and Center Japanese vocals, I discovered that I liked singing it a lot!
“There’s plenty of dancing from the ladies within the solid, as a result of there are a great deal of flamenco parts to it. However my character, the Lover, sings tunes that don’t essentially push the plot ahead, so that they’re extra ‘way of thinking’ songs that arrange the scenes and feelings. And thus far, individuals have been responding effectively to them. The songs are ethereal, mystical …”
Cult following
As for “The Baker’s Spouse,” theater lovers immediately bear in mind the manufacturing for its attractive present tune, “Meadowlark.” Whereas the musical has grown a cult following because it premiered within the West Finish in 1989 (sure, the identical 12 months as “Miss Saigon”), it has but to be produced on Broadway.
“Through the years, there have been makes an attempt to revive ‘The Baker’s Spouse,’” Joaquin disclosed. “Gordon Greenberg, our director, who lately directed the Tony-nominated play, ‘The Coronary heart of Rock and Roll’ on Broadway, has been with this title for a decade or so.
“He directed a revival of it on the Papermill Playhouse in america, with Alice Ripley and Max von Essen. So, it actually means loads to him and Stephen for the Menier to stage it on Schwartz’s 76th delivery anniversary. It’s an enormous deal.
Valdes (proper) with Lucie Jones, Clive Rowe and Josefina Gabrielle on the poster of “The Baker’s Spouse” —MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY
“It’s primarily based on a 1938 French movie [by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono] a couple of scandal that rocks a small group. It wasn’t obtained effectively initially, however Gordon has been creating it for years. I met Gordon when he got here to observe ‘Pacific Overtures,’ earlier than I used to be even thought-about to audition for it. And the Menier, being so intimate [as a 200-seater venue], is ideal for such a materials. So even the performances are knowledgeable by the house.
“This model of ‘The Baker’s Spouse’ is unimaginable—like, it options a number of the greatest names in London, and I’m so humbled to be a part of it! They’re stacking it with plenty of not simply good musical theater performers, but in addition high quality actors [from straight plays] to breathe life into the textual content and the house. So, the [staging] goes to be ‘semi-immersive.’ It’s actually thrilling.”
Catalyst for change
Requested to speak in regards to the story and his character, who’s the baker’s spouse’s lover, Joaquin mentioned, “I play Dominique. The final plot revolves round a small, idyllic and fairly province in the course of France, whose residents are shaken when an older baker (Clive Rowe) and his lovely younger spouse (Lucie Jones) transfer into city.
“This baker makes one of the best bread that everyone loves. In the meantime, Dominique, my character, is the city playboy—a virile and handsome younger man who falls in love with Genevieve, the baker’s spouse. He sweeps her off her ft, and so they have an affair—and the entire city is simply modified by it! So, this affair is the catalyst for all the things that transpires thereafter.
“The central track, which I feel conveys the quintessential sound and tone of the present, is that this lovely track referred to as ‘Meadowlark’—one in every of Stephen Schwartz’s finest songs ever. As Genevieve decides whether or not she ought to keep together with her husband or run away with Dominique, she sings this fairy story a couple of meadowlark who’s torn between the king who adores her and the Solar God. It’s a good looking parable for what she’s going by means of.
Valdes in “A Tune of Songs” —PHOTO BY PAMELA RAITH
“This surprising flip of occasions causes a stir, and all people is invested on this scandal. Once you hear Dominique’s track, referred to as ‘Proud Girl’—typically each musical-theater tenor’s audition piece—it feels prefer it was initially written for somebody like Gaston from ‘Magnificence and the Beast’ … very bombastic, proud and virtually two-dimensional.
Real love
“However I had a dialog with the director throughout my audition to discover Dominique’s authenticity and reality much more—how, on the floor, he appears enticing and is all the time in management, however he’s actually only a easy man from the province.
“Swiftly, he falls in love and now you may clarify why he does what he does. It’s the primary time he’s feeling real love. He’s most likely had plenty of relationships, however that is the primary time he’s genuinely feeling it.
“Earlier than this, Dominique was all the time vilified because the youthful, hotter man, however now can be a fantastic alternative to indicate why the choice was exhausting for him to make. It isn’t only for carnal, animalistic pleasure. There’s real connection that Genevieve finds in Dominique that she most likely couldn’t discover together with her husband.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please strive once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“It’s an actual downside with very excessive stakes for all of the characters concerned! And that’s what we’re making an attempt to do. We’re fleshing out these characters, even the villagers. All of them make up the heartbeat of the story, with every solid member peeling off all of the layers of the textual content.” INQ
