Cry-Baby the musical, the Tony-nominated cult classic musical from the makers of Hairspray, tells the story of Allison, a straight-laced rich girl and member of the 'Squares' and Cry-Baby (the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks). Ditching her Square boyfriend, Allison and Cry Baby's romance intensifies gang rivalries, and the city is turned upside-down in a rollicking tale of forbidden love and teen rebellion.
The Arcola Theatre will hold the official UK premiere for this cult classic musical, and we took the opportunity to speak to India Chadwick to tell us more.
Q) Hello. Before we begin, please could you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about Cry-Baby and the character that you play?
Hi! I'm India Chadwick and I play Wanda Woodward in Cry-Baby. Wanda is a member of the Teardrops in the rough and ready Drape gang, who are the antithesis of the Squares and Whiffles (the clean cut American quartet). Cry-Baby is about the passionate, humourous and beautifully twisted lives of 1954 teenagers in Baltimore and how opposites really do attract.
Q) Cry-Baby is based on a movie - does the musical follow closely to the movie or can audiences expect some surprises along the way?
The musical takes all of the characters you know from the film and adds some new subplots and songs you will not be able to get out of your head! I think it's quite common to be skeptical about original music, but I can say with confidence that the music of this show is skillfully written and drives the story with pace and energy. The stage show, in my opinion, is more campy, upbeat and comedic, with moments which have had us bursting with laughter throughout the rehearsal process.
Q) Cry-Baby draws some slight parallels amongst other classics such as West Side Story, and Grease (which you have previously been in), has your past experience in the theatre industry and in these shows prepared you for Cry-Baby?
I was wondering who would be the first to bring up Grease! Playing a Pink Lady last year has put me physically into the style of a young 1950s woman, which has helped enormously in this process so far, especially in the choreography (rock n roll, Lindy, etc). While Marty in Grease is of a higher class than Wanda, their 'girl power' mentality at its core is very similar and they are both sassy, sexy young women who stand up for themselves!
Q) How has the rehearsal process been so far? Do you have any favourite scenes/numbers to perform?
The rehearsal process has been a whirlwind so far! Learning a show which has never been seen professionally in the UK feels like a huge responsibility and you can really feel the care for the material in the room. My favourite moments so far have been listening to Chad Saint Louis - who plays Dupree - sing Jukebox Jamboree while we dance around him (Chad's voice alone is worth buying a ticket) and I've also enjoyed rehearsing the courtroom scene this week... you'll have to come and see the show to know what I mean when I say it's chaos in the best way possible.
Q) What was it about this story that piqued your interest and made you want to audition?
I've always been a fan of the music. In fact, I auditioned for Grease with the song Screw Loose from Cry-Baby and I auditioned for Cry-Baby with my character Marty's solo (Freddy My Love) from Grease! Talk about full circle. I remember exactly where I was sat when my agent sent me the audition through for my first round. I leant over to my friend and said 'I really want to do this'. So here I am!
Q) The casting for this musical features one of the largest ensemble’s in the theatre’s history - what do you enjoy most about being part of an ensemble?
This show definitely calls for a large cast and I think it's energising on stage to have that classic, full musical theatre ensemble feel both vocally and physically. Even though we are working in unison as an ensemble, we are being encouraged to work the individual personalities of the roles into the staging of the show and develop the ensemble into a community of real characters.
Q) What can audiences expect and why should audiences come along?
Expect a fast-paced, colourful and hilarious show that mixes the classic 50s John Waters world with a playful MT charm... and also expect me in a nun costume.
Audiences should come to see Cry-Baby for its blend of unforgettable characters, high energy musical numbers and a pleasantly demented plot which is sure to put a smile on your face.
See you at The Arcola from the 6th March!
Photography by Charles Flint
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