Garreth Cruikshank chats with Chris Miller about Gloveman

CM: G’day G!

GC: What is the significance of the title “The Gloveman”?
CM: A Gloveman is a football (soccer) term used to describe the goal keeper. It’s an
appropriate title, as the play revolves around Royce Reardon (Chris Argirousis), goal keeper for Coleton FC, recently awarded the Golden Gloves Award –  The Goal Keeper with the best statistics for the season and least goals scored against them (or clean sheets).

GC: What is your character, and where does he fit into the “dreams, ambition, love, lust, corruption” equation?
CM: I play Hugh Sefton, an old friend and training partner of Royce. However, I didn’t train anywhere nearly as much as Royce and we fell out because I was too busy gallivanting, womanising and getting on it – standard Miller.

I turned my hand to Club management, before getting caught up with an Asian match fixing syndicate of gamblers.

Hugh’s been clandestinely fixing matches, and has had his hand in a few of Royce’s matches. The press have got involved and I woo Royce’s sister Edith (Brinley Myer) away for the weekend to use her as a pawn to blackmail Royce, but she’s such a wholesome women and a good sort, I can’t help but fall for her.

GC: What attracted you to the play Chris?
CM: Hugh is quite a complex character. At first abrasive and dangerous, then juxtaposed with letting his guard down with Edith, before spiralling out of control and falling on his face. Finally there’s redemption at the end. He’s always changing tack. So I get to inject my style and energy into him. It’s a wonderful character arc, and so juicy.

GC: I understand the director, Michael Block, has employed a radical directing method during rehearsals. Can you tell me a bit about it?
CM: Michael is an outstanding director – nurturing, yet clear and concise. His technique is a hybrid of ‘Dropping in’ and ‘I come I go’. Basically, we never used a script in rehearsal … from day dot. We started with stage directions, moved through the space, then he would feed in a line, e.g. – when Hugh enters, you say “Congratulations Royce!”. Royce, you say “What do you want”. We then repeat this, adding lines as we go. It cooks your brain a bit, but within a couple of hours we had the entire scene blocked and lines down. Phenomenal!

“..the juice is definitely worth the squeeze”

GC: How has this rehearsal process changed, if at all, your overall approach to acting?
CM: It’s just so freeing. Also, as you go along, your character and relationships to other characters is discovered so organically. Couple this with traditional actor ‘homework’, and it’s a fantastic way to work.

GC: What has been the most challenging or difficult aspect of preparing for this production?
CM: Haha. See above – brain fried! But the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.

GC: What has been the most rewarding aspect of preparing for this production?
CM: It’s just a great team. The writer, CJ Naylor, has been excellent and, as it’s a new work, has been open to script development, yet it was a ripper script to begin with. Brinley Myer is a joy to work with – so open and vibrant. Chris Argirousis is a weapon. Matt, Ben and Janine are also wonderful and diverse in their roles. Stephen Carnell always brings the goods as producer and assistant director. I’ve worked with him plenty of times, and trust his judgement. It’s a win/win.

GC: If there was a single thing you would like audiences to take away from this show, what would it be?
CM: Follow your dreams, but its o.k. to fail … if you learn the lesson that is gifted by failure.

GC: Wise words. Thanks Chris.
CM: Thanks Garreth!