A Quick Chat With Lisa Adam

Lisa Adam Headshot
Lisa Adam

This week AussieTheatre.com catches up with Lisa Adam, currently rehearsing Fat Swan.

After receiving nominations for both Green Room and Helpmann Awards for her portrayal of Mary Delgado in Jersey Boys, Lisa performed her one woman comedy/cabaret /tribute “Amy Housewine – Back To Crack” to sellout seasons in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and finally the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Lisa has just started rehearsals for the hilarious adult pantomime Fat Swan, starring her very dear friend Trevor Ashley as Natalie Portly, alongside Lisa will be playing Mila Kuntz and Winona Right-Off.

Fat Swan opens 7th December at The Reginald Theatre at the Seymour Centre for a strictly limited season.

More information and tickers visit: Fat Swan

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress. Yes, really. So my parents enrolled me in ballet school. Yes, really.

Who is the most important person in the world to you?
I can’t pick one, so I will say both my Mum and Dad. They fly over from Perth to see everything I do. And yes, they are flying over to see Fat Swan … which makes me a little nervous!

What animal best represents you and why?
I’ve been told a meerkat. Not sure why. However, I do love Timon from The Lion King…

If you were a contestant on Deal or No Deal, how much would you need to be on offer before you walked away?
I have never watched the show.

Yes, really.

What’s the worst date you’ve ever had?
May 22, 2005.

Windows or MAC?
MAC (sorry Dad!)

Which Spice Girl was your favourite?
Sporty, without a doubt.

Who is the actor you would be most like to work alongside?
Do you mean “most likely to work alongside”?
Probably Trevor Ashley in Fat Swan. I think that’d be a safe bet.

What five songs would be the first you put a mix tape?
Depends who/what it’s for. If it’s for ME, then this is my tape:

Summer of ’69 (Bryan Adams)
Paradise By The Dashboard Light (Meatloaf – he still had it back then)
Take On Me (A-Ha)
Rolling In The Deep (Adele)
I Want You Back (The Jackson Five)?

What is the best thing about theatre in Australia?
It’s in Australia. I LOVE my country.

What is the worst thing about theatre in Australia?
There’s not enough of it.

Favourite food?
Seafood. And my Mum’s gnocchi.

What was the first piece of theatre/film/TV you ever appeared in and how old were you?
Jebus! I’m not sure I even remember. I played a scarecrow in a pantomime production of The Wizard Of Oz for my old dancing school. I think I was 9yrs old.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
A play I toured about 6 years ago. It was a 3 hander, and the guy refused to learn his lines, continuing to dry on stage night after night. He would look at me every time for help, and I would feed him his line. However, when I offered to help run lines with him off stage, he arrogantly said that it wasn’t a problem.

So the next night, when he dried yet again, and he looked at me saying “And… and… and…”, I looked back at him blankly and said “What?”.

He read the script before every show after that.

And yes, that was worse than cleaning the seals on fridge doors at a pub.

What’s the first website you visit when you come online?

Facebook. Yes, really.

Name one moment when you looked around, breathed happily and felt content.
April 2005.

Red or white?
Red.

Where is the most interesting place you have travelled?
Italy.

Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met?
Pink.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope I’m looking back on the last 5 years and saying to myself “You didn’t think it was going to happen, did you Lisa.”?

Most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you onstage?
I was doing a kid’s show, and my very dear friend was playing my brother. Just before we were to go on, he made me laugh so hard that I actually wet my pants. I had to do the whole number in pale pink overalls with piss down the front of my pants. When I came off I grabbed a chux from the props table and wiped my pants as best I could to continue with the rest of the show.

A short while later I saw the lead actor use the same Chux to wipe his face.

Not sure if this is more embarrassing for me or for him…

Thanks Lisa!

More information on Lisa’s current show visit: Fat Swan

 

Matt Edwards

Matt is a past owner of AussieTheatre, working as digital director from 2011 to 2019. He is also a performer, most recently appeared in the Australian tour of Mamma Mia! and previously in the Australian/NZ tour of CATS and Enda Markey's acclaimed production of Blood Brothers. As well as performing Matt keeps himself busy in the digital side of the arts working with web design agency Emptyhead Digital

Matt Edwards

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