A quick chat with Monique Sallé

Monique is one busy artist. An actor/choreographer, she’s been in hits like A Chorus Line and The Drowsy Chaperone, and she’s always a pleasure to watch on stage. We invited Monique, currently working on Squabbalogic’s Sondheim on Sondheim, to answer a few questions for us and give us an idea of what makes her tick.

Monique Salle.
Monique Salle.

How would you describe yourself? Five words or less.
A step­-ball­-changing contradiction.

When did you know you wanted to be a performer?
I’ve always enjoyed making people laugh and performing but I didn’t think I could actually pursue a performing career until I was 14. I watched the 2004 Tony Awards and thought; “I want to do that.”

What was your first theatre project – and how old were you?
My mother was a dancing teacher and my sister and I have been dancing, singing and acting like fools since we were in nappies. We did heaps of concerts and Eisteddfods but I didn’t do my first full musical production until I was 17, which was The Producers with Rockdale Musical Society. I played ‘Second Girl to Come Out Of the Filing Cabinet on the Left’. The answer to your next question; of course it’s still on my resume.

What’s your favourite movie musical?
I was fed on a diet of movie musicals as a kid (thanks mum) so I could never choose just one. Some of my all time favourites (probably just from sheer nostalgia) include; Easter Parade, Cabaret, State Fair, Meet Me In St Louis, Singing In The Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Rent, Chicago... I truly cannot pick just one, I’m sorry I have failed you.

What’s your favourite dance flick?
Step Up 2: The Streets, obviously! … I’m totally joking, my answer to this question would change every day but you’ve caught me on a Seven Brides for Seven Brothers appreciation day (yes I’m considering this a “dance flick”). Sure it’s now considered the corniest of corn, sure it’s one of the most misogynistic pieces of theatre ever created, but the choreography in this  movie astounds me every time. Three words for you; Barn Raising Dance. It’s actually genius. It makes me want to simultaneously high kick and arm wrestle a pompous guy from the next town over whilst balancing on a plank of wood. Not to mention, Tommy Rall is a machine. A sexy, dancing, sexy machine.

What is it about Squabbalogic that keeps bringing you back to them?
How to describe my love for dear old Squab… The rustic charm? The “sisters are doin’ it for themselves” spirit? I’d probably say I keep coming back to Squab for the same reason anyone keeps coming back to the theatre; pure enjoyment and irreplaceable experiences.

Best (or worst) onstage mishap?
Hmm I’ve had a few doozies but my all time favourite would have to be performing in A Chorus Line in 2012 in our Perth season. We had just finished the opening number and we were standing in the iconic line across the front of the stage. I heard a noise and thought a light was about to fall down on top of us, but no… Strutting on the stage in front of us was… a pigeon. A pigeon had flown into the theatre and had flown down from the lights and was quite stunned at first, and then just really wanted to walk around the stage. I was standing next to Ash McKenzie who was standing next to Deb Krizak (Deb is also is in Sondheim on Sondheim). I heard Ash say to Deb: “should I­” to which Deb replied: “I got this.” Deb then proceeded to walk around the back of the pigeon and effortlessly scooped up the winged creature into her hands and carried it off stage as if it were a designer purse. Deb handed the pigeon to the stage manager (who was in as much shock as the rest of us were) and walked back on. She waved to Zach, we received (and gave her) a thunderous applause, and continued on with the show. Deb then later told us that she is a bird handler. An actual bird trainer, handler type person who trains and performs with birds. I will never forget that moment for as long as I live.

Who is your performer hero?
Look, I know she gets a bad rap from “serious” musical thespians these days, and I cop it all the time for my answer to this question, but one of the reasons I’m doing what I’m doing today is in the name Idina Menzel. Her imperfections make her perfect to me and I adore her. “LEAVE BRITNEY (Idina) ALONE!” Other than her it’s the obvious; “Judy, Liza, Barbra, Bette, these are names I shan’t forget.”

Whose advice do you always take?
Probably my sister’s, Simone Sallé. The girl is on another level of creativity and talent. She is an incredible musical theatre and circus performer and is the choreographer I wish I was. If Simone told me that jumping off a bridge would improve my career I’d probably chassé pas de bourré off the bridge and chest­-belt on the way down.

What’s your best party trick?
My Marge Simpson impersonation. The weird thing is I can only do it whilst saying one line containing the 5 words “it was wearing a hat!” It’s not even a memorable Marge quote! Ask me to say anything else in her voice and I can’t do it… Don’t ask why.

Which five songs would you include in an “about me” playlist?
In no particular order;
Sing Happy –  ­ Flora the Red Menace
Schadenfreude –  ­ Avenue Q
Pretty Funny –  ­ Dogfight
Die Vampire, Die – ­ Title of Show
Think Too Much –  ­ Idina Menzel

What’s your favourite post­-show snack?
You honestly don’t have enough time to read what I would really write here. I love food a little too much, it’s my biggest flaw. One of my indulgent favourites will always be late night dumplings or most Asian cuisines, and a more realistic post-­show snack is probably… dumplings or most Asian cuisines.

What’s the best thing about independent musical theatre?
Getting to work with such a wide variety of talented people with such diverse career and personal backgrounds. There’s something about meeting and working with people in Independent Theatre which proves there is such a vibrant and unique industry in this country that is slowly but surely being noticed. No two people or two shows are alike and everyone brings such wonderful individuality to the work, it’s always a thrilling experience for me no matter what the show is.

What’s the worst thing about it?
The only thing I can think of is the time and money constraints, but that goes for most categories of life, right? We’re not working in the mines, there are worse things we could do than an independent show… or two.

Perfect way to spend a day off?
Sleeping, eating, and watching stuff. I’m a simple cosy girl, I likes what I likes.

Name something on your bucket list.
This is so weird, but I would love to meet Sandra Sully the Sydney news anchor and tell her; “I once saw you reading the news and you had a coughing fit mid sentence and politely excused yourself.” For some very strange reason that moment has stuck with me. Maybe it was the first time I saw that newsreaders are human after all, I don’t know. This was of course in a time before viral internet videos and before watching Newsreader bloopers on youtube became part of my weekly schedule.

Which movie should everyone drop everything and see ­ and why?
Someone said to me the other day that they didn’t know who Bette Midler was… Now that you’ve had 30 minutes and a glass of water to recover from that (like I needed), my answer is “The Rose”. Bette Midler’s vulnerability, strength, energy and total commitment to this role is a masterclass. Not to mention she’s a sassy minx.

Which live performance (theatre, musical theatre, cabaret, concert) should everyone drop everything and see ­ and why?
It’s not on at the moment (to my knowledge), but if it ever comes back I will be there front and centre just like I was the first time I saw it. I saw “Songs for Nobodies” at the Opera House starring Bernadette Robinson in 2011. It was an actual life changing experience. This divine woman performed a show which included perfect imitations of not one, but FIVE vocal legends including; Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas. She also created her own characters who were considered “nobodies” that had met or had somehow been touched by these well known divas. It was the most truly captivating, joyful, and utterly perfect pieces of perfection pie I have ever tasted… Theatrically speaking.

What’s your life motto?
“Do what’cha gotta do, be what’cha gotta be, yeah­eh­eh.”

Describe your current project.
From my rehearsal experience so far, the show Sondheim on Sondheim is a tribute to an arsehole. His musical phrases and harmonies are arseholes. His construction of notes and crazy chords covers the sheet music with millions of little arseholes. Stephen Sondheim writes beyond brilliant music and lyrics, and this living legend balances complexity and simplicity in the very same sentence. I along with millions of others have become a better performer thanks to this arsehole.

See Monique in Sondheim on Sondheim at the Reginald Theatre in the Seymour Centre from October 1 – 18. To book tickets, visit http://www.squabbalogic.com.au/sondheim-on-sondheim.html.

Cassie Tongue

Cassie is a theatre critic and arts writer in Sydney, and was the deputy editor of AussieTheatre. She has written for The Guardian, Time Out Sydney, Daily Review, and BroadwayWorld Australia. She is a voter for the Sydney Theatre Awards.

Cassie Tongue

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