My First: Interview with Frances Ruffelle

There’s got to be a first time for everyone, even West End stars. Here’s the low-down on musicals star Frances Ruffelle and her first key show-biz experiences – including her first kiss, big break and being called scuzzy in a review!

My First audition

I auditioned for a Smarties commercial when I was 6 years old. I got it!

My First job (acting or non-acting)

My first West End theatre job (as a grown up) was in a Terence Rattigan play called The Sleeping Prince starring Omar Sharif.  I was 17 but looked 13 and I was not too happy when I arrived on the first day of rehearsals to find that they had organised a chaperone for me! I soon got that sorted and had fun performing the play at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and  I learnt some great backgammon tips from Omar in the greenroom!

My First kiss

I kissed a boy called Peter when I was 13. I thought he looked like John Travolta from Grease… well he did have the black leather jacket, the quiff and the dimpled chin.  It was after our drama class at my mum’s part time drama school called Young’uns in Wanstead.

My First time on stage

I think I was 4. My mum performed and I went on and sang with her. I was disappointed when she said I could stand in the wings and I expected giant fairy wings!

My First bad review

I can’t remember!! I don’t read reviews much… but when someone says something bad about me it usually makes me laugh. I had one that said I was scuzzy! Now that’s one of my favourite words!

My First big break

My first big break was Starlight Express. I got the job when I was 17. When Andrew Lloyd Webber told me that I’d got it, I ran out of the audition and was nearly run over – I was so surprised and scared too. “He thinks I can sing!” I was in a play at the time and not yet sure about my singing voice.

My First celebrity encounter

Mike Reid RIP and his family lived in our street when I was a kid. He was a famous comedian in those days and had a Rolls Royce with JOKEY as the number plate. He was the only person in the street with a posh car!  He was lovely but his sons would steal our bikes and eat ladybirds!

My First visit to see a show

The first show I saw was Oliver! I wanted to be a boy so I could be in it!

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Frances Ruffelle is appearing with Nigel Richards in Songs from a Hotel Bedroom, a new work of musical theatre and dance featuring the songs of Kurt Weill at the Watford Palace Theatre (14-16 October), Ipswich New Wolsey Theatre (20-23 October) and the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House, London (4-6 November).

Applause Magazine – October 1996

Published between1996 and 1997, Applause was a newsstand and subscription magazine devoted to UK theatre.

Edited by Clive Hirschhorn, it was published by ticket agency Applause and aimed to provide theatregoers with informed comment, interviews, features, reviews, and gossip about the plays and players making news in both London and New York. It also provided special offers and discounts on West End shows and event.

CONTENTS

Issue 1, October 1996

Read Applause magazine, issue 1, October 1996

OFFSTAGE – News and gossip from the West End

KILLING WITH KINDNESS Matt Wolf asks if London’s theatre critics are too soft

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – The biggest thing ever to hit the West End, Hal Lewis looks at Disney’s venture into Theatreland

HEATHCLIFF – Cliff Richard has been weathering a storm of criticism, Christopher Tookey assesses the situation

ONSTAGE – Clive Hirschhorn reviews some of the latest openings

NED SHERRIN – The musings of a wit and raconteur

APPLAUSE THEATRE CLUB – Great savings on many top West End shows

INTERVIEW – Comic actor Gene Wilder in conversation with Ronald Bergan

DICK VOSBURGH tracks down the lost Musicals

LONDON’S THEATRES – Ronald Bergan looks at the rebuilt Globe Theatre

PEOPLE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE – Alan Ayckbourn has made one of the single greatest contributions to British theatre. He speaks to Clare Colvin

SPECTRUM – A look at the ‘other’ arts

CD REVIEW – Tom Vallance has been comparing the various recordings of Sondheim’s ‘Company’

BOOK REVIEW – ‘Speak Low’ is a collection of the letters from Kurt Weill to Lotte Lenya. Reviewed by Ronald Bergan

NED SHERRIN – Extracts from his book ‘Theatrical Anecdotes’

OFFSTAGE BROADWAY – More news and gossip from America’s theatre capital

SHOWS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE – Ken Livingstone and the show that made a lasting impression

READ

LINKS

PDF: Read Applause magazine, issue 1, October 1996

ISSUU: Read Applause magazine, issue 1, October 1996