Brief Encounter With…Gary Amers, Star of Frank’s Closet
Gary Amers, whose face many will recognise from the recent
BBC comedy Beautiful People, is about to take on the
eponymous lead in the hit music-hall show, Frank’s Closet,
which opens at Hoxton Hall on 3 December. Featuring the songs of divas including Julie Andrews, Ethel Merman and
Karen Carpenter, this extravaganza of camp tells the story of a young man’s
pre-wedding jitters and his attempts to prepare for the future.
Here, the Newcastle-born actor, whose stage credits include
roles in Chicago and Wicked in the West
End and the part of Ephraim in the UK tour of Seven Brides for Seven
Brothers, tells WOS about the fun of stepping into Frank’s
Closet.
What attracted you to the
show?
It’s an uplifting, camp musical with a message of enjoying
your life and having a good time. It’s based upon this closet where Frank
stores his belongings. He’s bought all these dresses that were once owned by
divas – Julie Andrews, Ethel Merman, Judy Garland, Karen Carpenter, Marie Lloyd
– who’ve inspired him throughout his life. He collects things and each thing he
collects reminds him of an important moment in his life. Then he meets this guy
called Alan and says, “I’ll marry him”. But Alan says he has to get rid of his
old life and empty the closet, so he does that and takes the audience down
memory lane. By doing that he lets go of his past and learns to let love
in.
It’s clearly a very light-hearted show – but is
there a serious message to Frank’s story?
The message is that whoever you are, gay or straight, you
can just live your life and be free to be yourself. Also, that it’s important
to remember the past but that you have to let in the new.
Some of the great divas and musical theatre
moments are evoked in Frank’s Closet. Do you have to love
musicals to enjoy the show?
Absolutely not. Everyone just has a fantastic time, even if
you don’t know who all the divas are or know all the songs. It’s just
hilarious, so much fun. I didn’t know what some of them were, but I’ve just
been blown away by the whole energy of it.
Frank’s Closet was written
with Hoxton Hall in mind. Could you tell us about the connection with the
venue?
It’s one of the original music halls. There are only four
left in England. Marie Lloyd actually performed here and now she’s a character
in the show. She grew up and enhanced her career here. We’ve been rehearsing in
the venue and when you see the stage it’s actually a bit spooky because you
know that this woman, she was on this stage, she started here. It really makes
the show more special.
What’s your favourite moment in the
show?
Oh, I never like to say because I’m sure it’ll have changed
before we open! There’s so many great moments. We’re having such a
laugh.
