A few of my favourite things: Harold Sanditen

Harold Sanditen is a jazz and cabaret singer, who hosts the weekly Open Mic Night at London's Crazy Coqs. He is bringing his cabaret show Flyin' High to the Crazy Coqs this week before touring to the US and Paris. Flyin' High runs at Crazy Coqs from 31 March to 2 April 2015.

We caught up with him to ask a few of his favourite things.

Film?

The Color Purple – I could watch it countless times. It has some of the most beautiful acting ever – Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg give performances that always make me cry, but it is, without a doubt, one of the most affirming films ever made. Let’s not forget the music, either – "Sister" has to be one of my favourites.

Place to hang out in London?

I love taking our dog for a walk in Hyde Park. I try to walk 10 kilometres a day – since I don’t do the gym it’s my main source of exercise. I guess that’s not really hanging out, but you tend to run into the same people, so it’s quite social. The funny thing is, that you don’t know people by names – only as "Belle’s mommy" or "Charlie’s Dad". It clears my head, and I try to discover new plants or birds each day. The parakeets are the most bizarre of all – they don’t migrate, so even in the middle of winter they’re squawking. The other day I heard someone say "do they put these in the park for the tourists?" Very funny. Then there’s our garden… on a sunny day, a nap in the sun listening to music never goes amiss.

Restaurant?

My hubby and I love to have an early dinner at Barrafina in Frith Street and sit outside, no matter what the season, and people-watch while we eat. Their pan con tomate is to die for – the best I’ve ever had anywhere. I love the razor clams, ham croquetas, courgette flowers – the quail’s great, and the tuna tartare, oh and the chorizo… I really love tapas, or sharing portions – you don’t’ have to commit to one thing for the whole meal. I’m so hungry now… wish I’d answered this after lunch!

Holiday Destination?

That’s almost impossible to answer. My cabaret show, Flyin' High, is all about my love of travel – and I’ve visited 66 countries so far and counting. I realised there’s a recurring theme in Greece – I love the drama of the islands, and, as a sun worshipper, the beaches – and I even married a Greek. One of the most unique places I’ve been is Easter Island. That was a real kick – especially when I got roped into going to a local disco by a local who wanted more than a dance. He didn’t get either, just for the record! My favourite continent is definitely South America. But now that I finish typing this, I think can say that Tikal, Guatemala, was, without a doubt, the most remarkable place I’ve been. So much so, that I went twice. The sunrise from pyramid 4 is something I will never forget!

Play/Musical that you have seen?

Gypsy is for me, the best musical of all time, with West Side Story a close second. I was a theatre producer for 20 years before turning my sights to singing, and the favourite play I produced was Stewart Permutt’s Unsuspecting Susan with Celia Imrie. I commissioned it – a one woman show, which I produced both here in London as well as in New York. It was ahead of its time – written in 1995 – and about a middle class woman living in Hampshire, whose son blows up a Jewish restaurant in central London. It’s time it was revived. I had coffee with Celia this morning, and we even talked about that!

Actress/Actor?

Trite, maybe, but Meryl Streep. She inhabits every role so completely you lose her. I’d love to see her on stage – I missed that chance when I was living in New York and she did the Shakespeare in the Park season. Oh well… So many others I admire – the list would go on forever.

Theatre to Visit?

For quality of theatre, the National. I’m almost never disappointed with what I see there. I also love the Royal Court. My two locals – The Gate and Print Room, now in the Coronet cinema – deliver the goods too.

Theatre you’ve performed in?

The Crazy Coqs is my favourite venue to perform in anywhere on earth. As a cabaret singer, I need to connect with people – make eye contact, and sing to them. The room is round, so everyone is within your sight. The sound is great, and in my opinion, it’s the most beautiful music room on earth – all original Art Deco. It’s really drop dead to die for on all levels!

Song to Sing?

It’s a toss up between wanting to make people laugh or cry, and that’s a toughie. I’m a self-confessed laugh whore, so I’m kind of partial to my version of "Love For Sale" (where I admit, that just once, before I die, I want to be paid for it!) which goes into "Me and Mrs Jones", which becomes me and Mr Jones and then me and Mr and Mrs Jones – equal opportunity cheating, and my comic take on what I had seen as a very naff song. But I am also über-excited to be premiering a brand new comic song with Dame Janet Suzman. She's making her singing debut with me, in Flyin' High. We’re singing a duet of Dave Frishberg’s "Let's Eat Home" – and I even commissioned a new verse of lyrics, just for us. It’s very funny, jazzy, terrific internal rhymes, and says – after all the travels and fun you have trotting the globe, at the end of the day – can we just eat home? Who can’t identify with that?!

Flyin' High is running at Crazy Coqs from 31 March to 2 April 2015