When I heard South Pacific was coming to Nashville's TPAC, February 7-12, I knew I had to chat with Hawaiian-born Cathy Foy-Mahi, who plays Bloody Mary, my hands-down favorite character from the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein Tony-winning musical. Cathy first gained national recognition in quite another role, as that of Miss Hawaii in 1974. Since then, she's gone on to star in both regional and Off-Broadway productions of both well-known and obscure theatrical pieces. She even appeared in a made-for-TV movie about Elvis. With her latest role as Bloody Mary in the current National Tour of South Pacific, Cathy is poised to steal scenes and hearts while belting out two of the show's many memorable numbers. What follows is my recent conversation with Cathy Foy-Mahi just hours before she takes to the stage at TPAC's Jackson Hall in South Pacific.
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RAPID FIRE 20 Q WITH CATHY FOY-MAHI
JONATHAN PINKERTON: This tour really just got started near the end of September with a Boston Opera House premiere. Prior to that, you were still living in Hawaii. So far, what's been the thing you miss most about the islands?
CATHY FOY-MAHI:I miss my husband's cooking!
JP: You were Miss Hawaii in the Miss America pageant system in 1974. How did your life as a beauty queen come about?
CATHY FOY-MAHI:Winning Miss Hawaii and going to the Miss America Pageantwas my first and only beauty pageant competition. I never prepared for the life of a "Beauty Queen". No "Toddlers and Tiaras "growing up!
JP: As a kid, I remember watching the Miss America pageant and thinking you girls were the epitome of grace, style and beauty. Heck, I was probably watching when you competed, though I can't say I remember. Nonetheless, I've done my homework on you and learned that you performed the song, Look What Happened to Mabel from the Jerry Herman/Michael Stewart Tony-nominated Mack & Mabel, proving you've always had a little Broadway in your blood. How did you go about deciding what you'd do for talent during the pageant?
CATHY FOY-MAHI:Well, they always say choose an up tempo crowd pleaser song for competition songs.
JP: When did you perform in your first bit of live theatre?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: The role of Emily in Our Town.
JP: You've been in everything from The King and I, Flower Drum Song and Thoroughly Modern Millie to Les Miserables, Gypsy and Kiss Me Kate. Not counting your current role as Bloody Mary, what has been your favorite role so far?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: Favorite role believe it or not , Mazeppa in Gypsy. I LOVED playing the trumpet between my legs! I did learn to play the trumpet for the role!!
JP: I love Miss Mazeppa and her big number, You Gotta Get a Gimmick! Tell me more about your time in that role?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: I had heard that Lenora Nemetz, who played the role of Mazeppa in the 2008 Broadway revival alongside Patti LuPoneplayed the trumpet during her number, so I decided I would attempt it. I was very fortunate to study under the tutelage of a very gifted musician for about a month during rehearsals, and let me tell you, it's harder than it looks. During each performance, I had an understanding with the orchestra to help me out on nights I wasn't quite hitting those more difficult notes.
JP: In 1980, you basically played yourself in the made-for-TV movie, Elvis and The Beauty Queen, while you weren't the beauty queen the title refers to, you were cast as Miss Hawaii. The film starred Stephanie Zimbalist and Don Johnson as Linda Thompson and Elvis Presley, with two of my favorite character actresses, Ann Wedgeworth and Ruta Lee in supporting roles. Now you've been cast in one of the all-time, best-loved character roles. Growing up, do you recall any TV or film actresses that you one day aspired to be like?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: My favorite actor is Tracy Ullman.
JP: You also created the role of Chah-Li in the original Off-Broadway production of Song of Singapore. For those not familiar with the whacky cabaret musical, it includes everything from hints of Casablanca to an amnesiac Amelia Earhart. What's your favorite memory of that role?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: Performing with Donna Murphy and the fabulous musicians!
JP: I've also heard that you are actually friends with Loretta Ables-Sayre, even suggesting she go out for the part of Bloody Mary when they were mounting the revival at Lincoln Center. She not only auditioned during the Hawaii casting call, but won the role, got a Tony nomination and is currently starring in the European tour. Any regrets not auditioning yourself back then?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: I have absolutely NO regrets that I didn't audition. Lorettawas destined to do that role and has made Hawaii very proud. She's a dear friend and I'm very proud and happy for her success.
JP: When you got the role in the National tour, what advice did Loretta give you about what you can bring to the iconic role?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: I had been working in a show with Lorettaand suggested she audition when they were casting for the Broadway revival. She returned the favor four years later when they were casting for the current national tour by encouraging me to audition. When I got the part, Loretta simply told me to be real and truthful to the role and to make it my own. Lorettaput her wonderful stamp on her Bloody Mary and I can only hope to follow in her footsteps and make my performance as passionate as the character deserves.
JP: South Pacific is a show filled with musical theatre classics, including Some Enchanted Evening, I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair and Younger Than Springtime. As Bloody Mary, you get to perform two numbers that are just as memorable, the hypnotically melodic Bali Ha'i and the sing-songy, but now much more darkly emotional, Happy Talk. Do you favor one over the other?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: Both songs I perform are memorable and I enjoy discovering new and wonderful things about each number at every performance.
JP: I know it's still early in the tour, but I imagine audiences are already falling in love with Bloody Mary all over again. How much does the audiences' reaction affect your performance each night?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: The audiences have been incredibly receptive. They are listening carefully to every word and seem to enjoy the journey. I have to share this about my portrayal of Bloody Mary....each night I have to darken my teeth and when the tour first began last year, I was having the hardest time getting the dark stains off my teeth at the end of the night. I called up Lorettaand asked her what to do. She said, "Vodka, no $#*@." Seriously, I just take a little vodka and swish it around in my mouth and it works. Apparently, vodka is often used on wardrobe and such to remove stains. We had to get approval for me to have it in my makeup kit and I don't keep it in my dressing room, but each night when I get out of Bloody Mary makeup, it's there.
JP: I guess it makes perfect sense that Bloody Mary uses vodka, since that's what goes into a bloody mary cocktail. Alright, one question I like to ask whenever I do a RAPID FIRE 20 Q with an actor in an ensemble cast.....If you could play another role, perform another song or be in another scene that you're not in for South Pacific, what would it be and why?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: My favorite number is Honey Bun performed by Luther Billis.
JP: I can't do an interview about South Pacific without addressing the unfortunately still-relevent themes present in the musical when it was presented back in 1949: war and racism. With both of these subjects constantly in the headlines today, what do you hope audiences come away from South Pacific having learned?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: South Pacificis about two love stories, both struggling with racism and both in the time of war. With each performance, we hope to alway honor and never forget the men and women who served, not only in the was our story takes place, but those who are currently serving as they make the ultimate sacrifice. I hope they'll also notice the energy of the characters in the play. Bloody Mary is absolutely devoted to her daughter's well-being. She'll stop at nothing to ensure her daughter's happiness. When the revival of South Pacificdebuted at Lincoln Center four years ago, the director brought a whole new energy to the work. The characters are in the midst of war and the uncertainty of tomorrow is ever-present. We hope the audience feels that energy and the underlying theme of living a meaningful life every single day, because tomorrow may be your last.
JP: Hawaii is one of the most culturally diverse places, yet, from an observer's opinion, racism doesn't seem to be as big an issue as it is in other parts of the US. What was your overall experience like growing up in such a welcoming diverse culture?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: Growing up in Hawaii, all races and religions embrace each other and work together. We're proud to be called the "Melting Pot" of the Pacific
JP: You've spent your fair share of time in another famous 'Melting Pot', New York. From the beautiful islands of Hawaii to islands of a different sort, huh? What aspect of life in New York do you consider paradise?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: I lived in Hawaii on-an-off for about eight years. You might not think of New York as having places where you can feel secluded, but there are so many. One of my favorite places to get away from the crowd is Central Park. It was often a sanctuary for me. While in New York, I met a few other native-Hawaiians and we formed a Hawaii club. We'd get together at Central Park and have traditional luaus with great food and fun. You guys have a beautiful park here in Nashville that's filled with great energy. That's one thing I noticed when I first arrived. Nashville has a wonderful charm and the energy is incredible.
JP: As mentioned earlier, you've played your share of memorable roles in some of the best-known musicals around. Is there a role you've yet to play that would be your dream role?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: I would love to have the opportunity to perform the role of Miss Hannigan in Annie.
JP: I know you've just completed work on the upcoming big-screen, big-budget action thriller, Battleship, the latest toy-to-movie project from Hasbro, the team behind mega-franchises G.I. Joe and Transformers. The film stars Liam Neeson, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna andTrue Blood's Alexander Skarsgard. What can you tell me about your role in the film?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: Working on the movieBattleship was a wonderful experience. Although my scene may end up on the cutting floor, my memorable moment was having the opportunity to work with Andrew Skarsgard, who was very charming and approachable. He allowed me to take a photo with him which somehow ended up in Perez Hilton's Blog!! But don't ask me what the alien in the movie looks like. During scenes when the alien ships were attacking, our director, Peter Bergtold us to look toward the sky and react. The aliens will be added in post.
JP: Funny you mention the photo of you and Skarsgard. While researching to do this interview with you, I ran across it online. True Blood is one of my guilty pleasure TV shows. Are there any shows you just can't miss?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: Favorite shows: True Blood ( of course!) and Boardwalk Empire.
JP: Oh, heck, only one more question. What's next for you?
CATHY FOY-MAHI: A few years ago I had an opportunity to record with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It's been a while since I made that recording, so I thought it was time I went back into the studio. I will be recording two projects, both love songs. The first will be a cd entirely of Hawaiian love songs, and the other will be Torch Songs. When deciding what to record, I found it a challenging as a woman not to do things that have been done by too many other artists. With each of these projects, I hope to perhaps introduce people to songs they may not be too familiar with.
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Until Cathy's cd's are available, she and her South Pacific cast mates will continue performing familiar songs from Tony-winning hit as she enchants audiences across the country in the role of Bloody Mary. The tour opens in Nashville Tuesday, February 7 and continues through Sunday, February 12, then it's on to Chicago from February 14-26, a one-night-only performance in Springfield, IL on February 27, Peoria on Feb. 28 & 29 and more than two dozen cities through June. To purchase tickets for the Nashville leg of the tour, CLICK HERE. For more information on South Pacific or to see it as it makes its way across the Southeast, CLICK HERE.
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