ZENOBIA FROST asks actor STEVEN ROOKE about the challenges to be faced in playing a fat-phobic misogynist.

“Fat Pig is rather an evocative title for a play,” Rooke says right off the bat, and I have to agree. It might be easy to make assumptions about a comedy about weight, but Rooke assures me that “it’s confronting and nasty, but it’s warm and funny, too – all the good things you want in a play. You’re certainly in for a journey.”

Fat Pig is the story of Tom and Helen, his gorgeous plus-sized girlfriend. When Tom’s narrow-minded work buddies find out, all hell breaks loose for Tom, who has to decide what’s more important – love or his reputation at work.

Rooke plays Carter, whom he calls “that part of yourself that you try to deny. He wants to know everything, be in on every game, and do whatever it takes to get there.” What the Brisbane actor thought was going to be a lot of fun turned out to be one of the more challenging roles in a decade of acting professionally. Rooke delved into a darker side of himself for the play, but had to learn to “switch it off at the end of the day, go home to my wife, and not be that person.”

Fortunately for Rooke, Chris Sommers (who plays the romantic lead, Tom) was a familiar face – they’ve worked together numerous times in the past and have “a good little Batman and Robin thing going on.” However, working with someone new, Amy Ingram (Helen), raised some confronting issues. “I had to call a girl I’d only just met ‘fat’. It made for a tricky first day.” Rooke is relieved to say that “Amy brings to the role an incredibly thick skin, and amazing playfulness, freshness and enthusiasm. She brings the energy to make the piece really bubble and shine.”

The play’s writer, Neil LaBute, says that he is “looking to cause trouble on the stage.” He is responsible for numerous plays, as well as a number of films – including 2000’s hilarious Nurse Betty and this year’s American remake of the black comedy, Death At A Funeral. “Neil has this uncanny ability to take a small slice of life and honestly reflect it, and to look at the darker side of life,” says Rooke. “The show questions whether the way you think is really the right way to go.

“In the lead-up to this play,” Rooke admits, “I became very aware of my image. For a film last year, I put on about five kilos, and the costume lady started calling me ‘fatty’. It’s almost impossible in this industry not to be aware of the way you look.” It might be a comedy, but Rooke speculates that the audience might leave the theatre and think twice next time before having a laugh at someone else’s expense.

FAT PIG, presented by Queensland Theatre Company, plays at the Bille Brown Studio until Jun 26. QTIX: 136 246 / www.qldtheatreco.com.au

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*