To read part 1, click here.
Cendrine Marrouat: If you could pick one line from the play, what would it be? And why?
Paul Johnson: At one point Paul says to me: “Become a child. Get back to Borneo. Get back to a time when you were connected. Go there! That’s where the joy is; that’s where the spontaneity is. It’s the everlasting; the never-ending spiral of life.” For me, I think this line reflects the thesis of the show. Being connected in the present moment – through play or whatever else might take you there – is the key to living a rewarding life.
CM: What is the greatest lesson you learnt from working with American theatre legend Paul Sills?
PJ: Paul helped me, as an actor and as a human being, to find focus on a consistent basis. I also learned from him that “focus” is an elusive target and there is no “one” method that will work time after time. He provided me with the tools to continually strive to hit that target, and those tools will always be with me, both on stage and in life.
CM: You have performed in a number of venues across North America to promote “Back to Borneo.” Have you noticed differences between Canadian and American audiences in the way your play has been received?
PJ: At this point, the only Canadian audience has been when we opened the show and ran for three nights on the Augustana campus. The biggest difference there would not be one of nationality, but rather one of familiarity. In Camrose, they know who I am – in the United States, apart from a few contacts, I am an unknown commodity. Still, I have been surprised at how well the American audience has responded to the show. It shows that the material, being centred on truth, hits on the “universal” human experience – something that transcends borders.
CM: Any favorite moment you would like to share?
PJ: I was blown away by the response from the students at Dillard University. Dillard is a predominantly African-American school in New Orleans. They were hit extremely hard by Hurricane Katrina and the campus is having a difficult time bouncing back. It was a rainy and cold night and still they turned out for the show. They were with me from the get-go, giving me a clear signal that they were connecting with me and the material. When the show finished, they responded with an immediate and boisterous standing ovation. We had a great “talk-back” session with the entire audience and many students stayed long after the whole thing was over to talk with me about the show. It was heartening to know the show had a significant and positive impact on these young men and women.
CM: What is next for you?
PJ: The show will play the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in August and I’m hoping to take it back, in the not too distant future, to a major US market (probably Los Angeles) for a longer run.
CM: Where can people find more information on you and your work?
PJ: The best place would be my website. It continues to be the most up to date source for information about the show, the tour and my responses to the many performances. As I venture into new work, this website will provide the appropriate links.
CM: Any last words?
JP: I’m really looking forward to bringing the show to Winnipeg – back to Canada – and connecting with the one who is setting this all up for me, my former student, Andraea Sartison.
End of the interview.
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Cendrine Marrouat is a freelance writer/reviewer, blogger, published author and translator living in Canada. Official Website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com
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