Interview: Wendy Mae Brown, starring as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost The Musical (UK Tour)

Wendy Mae Brown is currently starring as Oda Mae Brown in the UK Tour of Ghost The Musical. Ghost the Musical has already been seen by over 500,000 people and was nominated for five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards. The musical is described as “a timeless fantasy about the power of love.” 

The show follows Sam who is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next trying to communicate with girlfriend Molly through Oda Mae Brown in the hope of saving her from his murderer. Ghost the Musical is a rollercoaster ride of romance and comedy with dazzling state-of-the-art staging. 

Most recently Wendy Mae Brown played Hattie in Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic and Chichester Festival Theatre. Her other theatre credits include Rent at the Prince of Wales Theatre/Prince Edward Theatre and UK tour, To Kill a Mockingbird at Theatre Clwyd and UK tour, Cotton at West Yorkshire Playhouse and UK tour, Hey! Mr Producer at the Lyceum Theatre, Little Shop of Horrors at Oldham Coliseum and UK tour, Mamma Mia! at the Prince Edward Theatre and Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre. 

Her screen credits include Last Chance Harvey, Blackbeard the Pirate, The Roundabout, Hatfields and McCoys and Flight 93. 

Last week I caught up with Wendy to find out how she’s enjoying starring in Ghost so far, her obsession with the original 1990 film of Ghost and why she prefers working in theatre to working on screen... 

You’ve just opened the Ghost Tour in Cardiff, how is it going so far? 

It is going amazingly well so far! We’ve had some great reviews and audiences really seem to love it! Ghost is a very technical show and requires all of my energy so I really have to make sure I’m looking after myself. 

What was it that attracted you to the role of Oda Mae Brown? 

Well... for starters we nearly share the same name! I also think I’ve been leading up to this role because over the years I’ve become really into psychics! I sometimes think that you are just born to play a role. I also really love the film and as a black performer you watch anything with a black person in and think “oo – I could do that!” But back then I never thought for a minute it would be turned into a musical, despite the fact that I practically knew every single line! I heard about the show when it opened in the West End but I never got the chance to see it and then suddenly the audition for the tour came up and I thought “hmmm... that would be a fun role!” – and that was it! 

You mentioned Ghost is a very technical show, this must make it quite a challenge? 

It is extremely tricky! We have a couple of cast members who were also in the West End production and they have said that the technical side of things are actually much better on the tour. Everything is much tighter and all the main illusions, like Sam walking through doors, have been kept. I love hearing gasps from the audience, it really is quite a jaw-dropping experience! At first we had a few technical problems but now that everything is up and running it is absolutely seamless. 

What can people expect from Ghost? 

People can expect to cry, laugh – well I will make them laugh, just from the sight of my wigs – and they will believe. The show definitely makes people think, wouldn't it be lovely if you could see your loved ones in an afterlife. Although it is a magical story it is performed so realistically that it really does feel true. The music is also amazing, the ballads are stunning – I wish Oda Mae Brown could sing a ballad but Rebecca Trehearn who plays Molly steals them all! 

You recently played Hattie in Kiss Me Kate at the Old Vic which must have been a completely different experience? 

It was a really fun show to be part of! There is not a lot to Hattie so I had to make more of her. I remember knowing that I wouldn't be doing much but wanting to work with the incredible team. It was one of those shows which I could have turned down but I decided I really wanted to work with people who were at the height of their game. I was also keen to do another big old Broadway show so it most certainly ticked that box! 

You have had an incredible career, you have done everything – West End, tours, plays, musicals, film and TV. Is variety important to you? 

Yes, it is very important to me. I think of it as a steady climb more than anything else. I never went looking to be in a film but I ended up auditioning for Last Chance Harvey; Dustin Hoffman liked what he saw and that was that! The film led to other films and some TV work but I have always preferred theatre because you get to create the roles. When I was filming Doctors I remember thinking “oh god, this is like a factory”. If you asked the director what your motivation in a scene was he would just say “to get on and off honey”. In TV there are more time constraints and time is money, it is like “lunch at 13.02, finish at 13.41” whereas in theatre you have more time to put something on its feet and delve into the character – I love all that. 

What advice would you give to aspiring performers? 

Funnily enough, what you just mentioned - variety. Learn the basics really well and be good at your craft – if you are a singer be the best singer you can be. Never stop learning, go to extra classes, go and watch as much theatre as you can. You never know when you are going to get that important call and you have to be ready. 

Have you got your eye on any dream roles? 

Well in theatre I think I’m playing it now – roles don’t come much bigger than Oda Mae Brown! In terms of film I would love to play a funny sidekick, my career certainly seems to be leading that way. 

What would you like to say to everyone who has supported you throughout your career? 

Thank you, thank you! I don’t look for fans but they seem to find me! I have always seen the same faces at the stage door, a lot of Rent fans were at the opening night of Ghost which I thought was astounding! I could not believe that they remembered me from something that I did in 2002! I had no idea that they were still following my career, so I thank you all for remembering and supporting me! 

Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com 

The UK Tour of Ghost The Musical visits the New Wimbledon Theatre from 30th April until 11th May 2013. For further information, tour dates and to book tickets please visit www.ghostthemusical.com.

Follow Wendy on Twitter: @WendyMaeBrown

Photo Credit: Sean Ebsworth Barnes

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