After a seven-year hiatus from the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, Edmonton actor John Ullyatt is back in Hawrelak Park until July 25. He returns to the Bard's works with appearances as Banquo in Macbeth and Benedict in Much Ado About Nothing. Reflecting on his past and present Shakespearean performances, Ullyatt tells us about his five most memorable roles. (rivercityshakespeare.com)
Richard, Richard III: "It was a part I had always wanted to do. I loved playing him because he was so evil to start out with. Playing somebody with that kind of black heart, that hatred and disgust, who delights in doing horrible things, it's just as easily accessible as somebody who's in love."
Lysander, A Midsummer Night's Dream: "Playing that doe-eyed ingenue lover character has never really appealed to me. Somewhere along the road, I got cynical about playing a lover on stage. I had to get over the preconceived notion of playing those characters and just go along for the ride."
Mark Antony, Julius Caesar: "After Julius Caesar's assassination, Mark Antony has to defend himself in front of an entire nation of people who are out for blood. The experience of standing up in front of everyone and saying those lines, ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears ...' - it's so powerful."
Launce, The Two Gentlemen of Verona: "This was possibly my favourite part ever. I had a little dog, a shih tzu, on stage with me and the best part of it was that I would set this dog on stage and tell the audience how it was to leave home, how upset I was and what an ass this dog is. I really like doing the comedies. I'm a clown stuck in an actor's body."
Benedict, Much Ado About Nothing: "Benedict always talks about mistrusting women and he is kind of a ladies' man and thinks everyone is in love with him. There are redeeming characteristics to Benedict - I don't know what they are yet. My idea is that I'll make him as staunchly anti-marriage as possible, and then hopefully the payoff is bigger."
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