Sinbad gets sexy

LET’S face it, until Hairspray came along, large men impersonating women only seemed to turn up in pantomime, and not a patch on the glamorous vision that is Edna Turnblad. Now the excitement is building as Michael Starke assumes Edna’s wigs and gowns for the touring version’s visit to Sunderland Empire in September... and the performer known for his girth confesses he’s going to have to wear a fat suit.

But that’s the whole appeal of Hairspray, which defies showbiz convention of having a big girl, Tracey (Noth Yorkshire’s Laurie Scarth), with big hair making it, well big.

“My career has always flown in the face of that attitude. This is much bigger (as a show) than a drag act or playing a dame.

This character is a woman. We’re not going to convince the audience totally but the great fun is that it is a tradition that a man plays Edna and never let it be forgotten that she is a woman,” Starke says.

So how did he set about creating this incredible role?

“I think the producers phone me because they thought I might be an interesting choice and I went along and we discussed it because I love the show and I thought it would be a great challenge for any actor.

Particularly, for me because the TVviewing public’s perception of me is totally different from what I have and can do in musicals.

“There was a chance to show them I could do something different and you don’t get a better chance than this. A wonderful part and I’m going to embrace it because I love it and it’s one of those parts that I think you fell you’re born to play,” he adds.

In the film version, starring John Travolta, prosthetics were used to enhance the “figure” of the well-known Hollywood star.

“I’m the only actor I know that’s had to lose weight to get these roles. I don’t think I would have been considered if I wasn’t the size I am. The great thing for me, being the size I am, I’ve very rarely been out of work and there are a lot of fat people out there to play… and we’re getting fatter. So I may soon be getting some competition. I did tell them at the audition that I wouldn’t need a fat suit, but they made me one anyway. I need the voluptuous curves and they’ve made me a suit at great cost and I went in for the final fitting recently and it’s looking really good,” says Starke, who reveals that Michael Ball lost a lot of weight playing Edna in the West End.

“So I’ll probably be unrecognisable by the end of the run. So I might have to rethink my career again as a thin man,” he says.

Starke admits that he hasn’t spent much time worrying about his look as Edna and relies on the backstage team to turn him into one of musicals fascinating females.

“Some of the costumes are out of this world and I’m so chuffed that I’m got a top make-up artist to help me and the wigs are incredible because they’ve been specially made for me. I’m the part itself. All the things you need, the support, is there as actor. It’s not like having to go out and read something the convince everyone you’re a woman. The image is there right away, you just have to embrace that image and go with it. Providing you believe in it yourself is should be more or less straightforward.”

Starke debuts in his home city of Liverpool before moving on to Sunderland, where he’s never played before.

“My family and friends are going to be there in Liverpool and I suppose a lot of people are going to expect fireworks but because of the rehearsal schedule I’m not going to great a great deal of time to run the show. It’s still going to be up and running while I’m rehearsing, so I’m hoping I’m going to be ready on my first night, but it will be run-in by the time I get to Sunderland,” Starke explains.

There was confusion at one point regarding the tour with Michael Ball announcing on his BBC Radio 2 show that he was starring – but he only signed up for Manchester this week and the Edinburgh Christmas run – before Phil Jupitus was announced for the North-East and then dropped in favour of Starke.

“I’m as different from Michael Ball as Michael is from Brian Conley (who is also doing part of the tour) and I don’t think there is any added pressure. This is a great show and anyone coming in can put their own stamp on it. The producers spoke to me two years ago when I was doing Coronation Street so I knew I was on the shortlist. As soon as I was available I was asked to do it, so that’s all the encouragement you need,”

Most of us remember the actor, born Michael Clarke – there was another actor in Equity already using that name – as TV’s Sinbad in C4’s Brookside but for many years he trod the boards of regional theatres. “I did six years of that before joining Brookside for ten years,” he says.

It was while playing the brown-coated Ken Hopkirk in ITV’s North Yorkshire-set The Royal that Starke broke into the traditional show of Anything Goes and pays tribute to Middlesbrough performer Dawn Spence and singer Ria Jones, who helped him find his feet on tour.

“I probably learned more from those two guys than I’d learned in the previous 20 years. I’d done a lot of theatre, but musical theatre on that scale is such a different discipline with the three skills to think about,” Starke explains.

Next he’ll be seen in two episodes in Casualty on BBC1 playing a worried dad and then Starke plans to tour a one-man stage show next year.

“I’m going to enjoy that because it’s going to be music and impressions and some stories to tell about my career. I’ve had my mid-life crisis in my personal life, now I want one in my career,” he says.

I cheekily ask the married father of two what it’s like to have fellow Liverpool lad Les Dennis for a husband, playing Wilbur Turnblad.

“Les and I are on paths that have crossed many times over the years. He’s related by marriage to my wife (actress Lynne Francis) and we’ve always laughed about that and it’s nice to finally work with him.

He’s actually the actor in residence at the Liverpool Empire at the moment. We’ve already had long discussions about the show because it’s difficult for him with a new Edna coming in, but I think it’s going to be great fun.

“To be honest, if I lost weight I feel I’d never work again. I think Hairspray will go on for years and it’s going to be interesting to see who plays the part of Edna in the future. I’m just glad to be part of the first tour.”

But when I ask for Edna’s measurements, Starke swiftly puts me in my place. “A lady never gives her size away, you’ll have to guess.”

■ Hairspray, Sunderland Empire, September 7-18.

Tickets: £18.50- £40.50. Box Office: 0844-847- 2499 Groups (10+) 0844-372-7272.