BACKSTAGE
A Real Catch MYSTERY MOMENT MIRIAM BALANESCU MEETS THE CAST OF CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, THE CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE’S LATEST PRODUCTION
ew theatre actors are bestowed with the honour of projects custom-made for them. But Patrick Duffy, renowned for his
23-28 MAY
role in global hit Dallas , and Linda Purl, whose appearances range from The Office to Happy Days , star in a new show tailored specifically for the two. “We discovered that we had a mutual friend in Bill Kenwright, a remarkable impresario and theatre producer running Everton Football Club,” Linda says. “Bill had been a mentor to my son when he was playing football in the UK – so he has a godfather status in our household.” When they sent Bill a photo of themselves, a stroke of foresight drove him to create a project for the couple – prior to them getting together in 2020. Trusting Bill completely, they agreed to star in Catch Me If You Can – a show touring the UK over 144 nights – before even reading the script. Set in the 60s, it’s adapted from Robert Thomas’ Trap for a Lonely Man , in which an argument erupts between a husband and wife isolated in the Catskills. She storms off, but on returning, her husband no longer recognises her. After arriving in London, the cast was struck down with Covid-19, forcing them to miss almost a week of rehearsal. The rest went ahead over Zoom. “We would do the whole play in our kitchen with [Scottish actor] Gray O’Brien in his living room, walking around, pretending we were on-set. We had to rehearse every day, no matter what,” Patrick recalls. Getting out on the road has been their highlight. “They were boisterous in Belfast,” says Linda. “They were contemplative in Cardiff; rowdy in Blackpool; in Darlington, they were sophisticated.” “It fits very well in the UK,” Patrick explains. “It is almost a non-entity in American theatre, with a flavour of Agatha Christie.” The play deftly balances humour with intrigue. “We’re having new revelations about the characters on a nightly basis,” Linda says. “Now that we have been on the road together and done as many performances as we have, we are all breathing as one.” “There’s not a single character that’s who they appear to be,” Patrick continues.
DON’T MISS The 25 May show will have a sign language interpreter
ALL IMAGES © JACK MERRIMAN
I’m in love with, and someone who I’m trying to figure out.” For Patrick, fellow cast member Gray (Inspector Levine) is a kindred spirit: “We share a very exclusive membership card, with him being so identified on Coronation Street . I understand we’re dealing in the same way with what the audience sees, how much we try to be different from previous roles and whether it’s part of who we are. That gives me a feeling of brotherhood with him.” Since the screen is more familiar territory for both, the duo are enjoying the feel of theatre. Backstage giggles and theatrical blunders go hand in hand with the play’s quips: one performance saw a prop-gun malfunction, triggering protocols which forced Patrick to leave the stage, while Linda remained. “I fluffed the pillows, watered the plants, and after a while decided to break the fourth wall and say: ‘Guys, this is live theatre, we’ve had a little mishap.’” Every performance so far has been marked with standing ovations. The pair think it’s down to rejoicing theatre’s return. A note sent backstage said: ‘Thank you for letting us forget about the world for two hours and making us laugh.’ Catch Me If You Can will run at the Cambridge Arts Theatre from 23 to 28 May
“We have every type of actor in this show – film, stage and television – each bringing a different approach. We trust each other to the point that there is such flexibility in our portrayals. Whichever way the wind blows onstage, you just go with it.” Being a couple in real life added an extra dimension to their off-kilter husband and wife personas. “We come to work holding hands, being lovey-dovey,” says Patrick. “The curtain comes up, then we’re like fire and water for an hour and a half. The curtain call is when we get to hold hands again and wave to the crowd. It’s so much fun to look into the eyes of a person onstage and see two people: the woman
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK MAY 2022 19
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