=================================================== BRITCOMEDY DIGEST EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Gonzo The Great And Rizzo The Rat Speak! by Madelaine Burgess, ADSMLB@ncal.kaiperm.org, and Betty Thomas, THOMASB@fmis.facmgmt.pitt.edu =================================================== Britcomedy Digest contributors Madelaine Burgess and Betty Thomas recently contacted Jim Henson Productions and were given permission to interview Gonzo the Great and Rizzo the Rat, stars of the new film "Muppet Treasure Island" Here's what the dynamic duo had to say: BD: Gonzo, Rizzo, thank you for agreeing to answer a few questions for "Britcomedy Digest" readers! First of all, what did you think of your experience in London making the film "Muppet Treasure Island?" How do projects in the UK contrast to those you've done in the States? RIZZO: I tend to judge a project by the amount of food served on the lunch table, so I would have to say that the movies we make in England are right up there. I put on about 5 pounds, so it was a good filmmaking experience for me! GONZO: To me, the big difference is that you guys drive on the wrong side of the road. But I took care of that. I made our driver drive on the right side of the road. He'll be out of the hospital soon -- good thing we were in the back seat. BD: In "The Muppet Christmas Carol" you two were basically narrators of the story. How did you like being a part of the action this time in an adventure like "MTI"? RIZZO: Well, bein' in da action can be a bit dangerous. This is the second straight movie where my tail catches fire. Just once, I'd like to get through a movie without getting my rump roasted. GONZO: I always like being in the middle of everything. You see, I love to do all of my own stunts. I'm hoping they'll give me a double for my *acting* scenes in the next movie. BD: Could you describe your impressions of working with veteran actors Tim Curry, Billy Connolly and Jennifer Saunders? GONZO: Tim Curry is a veteran? I didn't know that. What war? RIZZO: I think they mean that he's been an actor for a long time. GONZO: I didn't know they had actors in the army! RIZZO: Let's just say that working with Tim, Jennifer and Billy was a real pleasure. Not one of them ever stepped on my tail -- not once! BD: In "MTI" Gonzo and Rizzo are best mates with the adventurous lad, Jim Hawkins. I understand it is the film debut for young actor Kevin Bishop. What was it like working closely with a new talent such as Kevin? Having all the years of entertainment experience that you do, did you offer him any assistance or advice? RIZZO: Kevin is a swell kid. I think he is going to be a terrific actor. GONZO: My only advice to him comes from personal experience. Make sure you always check the net *BEFORE* they fire you out of the cannon. BD: How many times did you boys make them reshoot the food scenes? RIZZO: Those were my favorites. I made a deal with some of the crew to mess up a shot here and there so I could keep eating -- you know... "Oops, I forgot to load the film," and "Oops, the boom is in the shot... again." BD: Gonzo, it appears the cast credits list you just after Kermit and Miss Piggy. Is your influence rising among the Muppet players? Any hints of jealousy from the porcine prima donna? GONZO: Miss Piggy hasn't said anything to me... RIZZO: Miss Piggy never says anything to him. She can't stand him! GONZO: *That* must be why she hasn't said anything... BD: Finally, Rizzo... tell us... is there any truth to that old saying that "The rats are the first to desert a sinking ship"? RIZZO: That is a slur upon all my ancestors! There is no basis to the story and it is strictly a rumor that got started when my great, great, great, great, great Uncle Charlie jumped off the deck of the Titanic. He didn't know the ship was even sinking! He was just going for a swim. BD: Many thanks for taking the time to give us your thoughts. We of "Britcomedy Digest" wish you the best of success with "Muppet Treasure Island" and all your future endeavors! ============== BD REVIEWS ============== ***MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND*** Starring Tim Curry, Jennifer Saunders, and Billy Connolly by Madelaine Burgess, ADSMLB@ncal.kaiperm.org Of all the film adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island" there will probably never be one more unique than "Muppet Treasure Island." Widely released in the United States on February 16, this latest creation from Henson Productions is a visual delight; but it's almost too much costume jewelry and not enough real treasure. Stevenson's adventure story is frequently broken up by song numbers, subplots, gags and attempts to find a place for just about every Muppet from Henson's wacky closet. The result is colorful but annoyingly distracting. I found the featured tunes mostly forgettable, but some of the production numbers were fun -- my favorites were "Cabin Fever" and "Professional Pirate." The characters Gonzo and Rizzo play major Muppet roles as the companions of Young Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop). Kermit the Frog is Captain Smollet, and Miss Piggy is "Benjamina Gunn," a role created especially for her. Other human actors include Tim Curry, Billy Connolly and Jennifer Saunders. Tim Curry is a top-notch Long John Silver, giving the wily pirate villain just the right mixture of menace and heart. He also has the best singing voice, but unfortunately those rich tones grace only a couple of the Muppet musical numbers. At the screening I attended, the first part of the film seemed more entertaining for the adults, emphasizing "inside" jokes and dry humor obviously meant to go way over the kiddies' heads. Young children tended to squirm until the action picked up a bit later in the story. But all in all the film is one that both adults and children can enjoy, and makes for pleasant family fare. ***PRIVATES ON PARADE*** Starring Tony Slattery by Joanne Bowley, J.B.Bowley@hist.hull.ac.uk Perhaps you remember the 1982 film "Privates On Parade" which starred John Cleese and Denis Quilley. It told the story of a team of soldiers in 1948 Singapore and Malaya who entertain their peers (and honour us) with their musical, dance and comedy "skills." This quirky film was recently brought to the stage in a production starring Tony Slattery. Let's say first of all that it's not a comedy which everyone will enjoy. The mere fact that Slattery is starring may put some off, but if you let that stop you from seeing it you missed out on something good. The play is at its best during the musical interludes. The on-stage antics are hilarious as singing and timing in dances are misjudged to give turns a more authentic, amateurish feel. The jokes told at these times are really (a) old or (b) just plain pathetic, but in the context they seem strangely amusing and still evoke much laughter: SOLDIER 1: (wearing ball dress and lady's wig) I'm off to milk the cow. SOLDIER 2: What, in that wig? SOLDIER 1: No, in this bucket. The only time things get somewhat confusing is when the action at the camp merges with the stage show. Indeed every couple of scenes seems to be split up by the all-singing, all-dancing, all-make-up-wearing Tony Slattery in drag. Scenes at the camp are slightly more serious and quite sad at times, but most of the best comedies have sad parts. Since it is so well acted you really feel for the characters, especially in the second half after you have had the chance to gain a greater understanding of them. Tony Slattery is best known for his improvisational skills in programmes such as "Whose Line is it Anyway?" and for his acting skills in films like "Peter's Friends." Here he is cast as a very amiable, over-the-top gay actor, who's the real "nice guy" of the show. As Acting Captain Terri Dennis (who was played by Quilley in the film) he has the unenviable task of creating the show with his unwilling fellow performers and for some reason insists on referring to everyone with feminine names and pronouns, when there's only one female in the show. Most, including himself, seem to be known to him as Ada. Even when he's not the character in focus it is advisable to keep at least one eye on Tony when he's on stage so that you don't miss the weird and wonderful facial expressions that he acquires in reaction to the script. Theatre reviewers at the start of the play's run gave a "thumbs up" to "Privates on Parade" itself but a "thumbs down" to Tony. Now he's had more time as Terri Dennis, immense improvement seems to have taken place. He is now both brilliant and very believable in the role. Nicholas le Prevost (Vicar of Dibley) is also excellent as the out-of-touch Major. This play is well worth seeing, even if it is only to prove to yourself that although Tony Slattery looks nice in his normal attire, he looks just as lovely in a short dress, wig and thick red lipstick. Well, maybe. ============ ON THE NET ============ Here are a few net sites relating to performers and shows in this issue of "BD." NOTE: This is not meant to be a *comprehensive* list of every single page on these subjects so if I left something out don't whine about it, ok? :-D "Muppet Treasure Island" and "James And The Giant Peach" ---> More info can be found at http://www.disney.com The BAFTA Awards: ---> The BAFTA Awards homepage is at http://www.bafta.org Red Dwarf: ---> A nice RD page is at: http://www.borg.com/~docrain/rdwarf ---> The Red Dwarf Archives are at: ftp://toaster.ee.ubc.ca/pub/red-dwarf The Mark Thomas Comedy Product: ---> The Mark Thomas homepage is at: http://alt.venus.co.uk/markthomas Rowan Atkinson: ---> A comprehensive list of all Rowan's video and audio appearances is at: http://grove.ufl.edu/~jrm/atkinson.html ---> A couple of terrific Mr. Bean sites are at: http://www.freenet.hamilton.on.ca/~aa844 http://www.scar.utoronto.ca/~94mcfarl/bean =============== COMING UP IN BD =============== Here are some things you might see in upcoming issues of "BD." If you can help out by contributing an article, review, editorial piece, or simply have an idea for future special issues please contact the editor at ***BD Goes To The Movies ***Special focus on "The Goodies" ***Stars Of Tomorrow =================== QUOTE-O'-THE-MONTH: ================== Multimedia? As far as I'm concerned, it's reading with the radio on!" -Rory Bremner as Fred Truman __________________________________________________________________________ etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. __________________________________________________________________________ You can get in touch with other Britcomedy fans around the world by subscribing to the UK COMEDY MAILING LIST. 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