The return of the native

New York-based stage, film and TV actor Joshua Spafford is set to return to Manila to star in Atlantis Productions’ first offering for 2013, PIAF by acclaimed playwright Pam Gems.

In the new version of PIAF, which originated at London’s prestigious Donmar Warehouse, Gems has reworked her classic 1978 play, vividly capturing the glamour and squalor, the rise and fall of the complex, fragile and enigmatic performer Edith Piaf, who continues to be remembered for her exceptional voice and extraordinary, troubled life. Playing Piaf is acclaimed actress Pinky Amador, who celebrates 30 years in the industry next year.

Joshua can be remembered for his numerous stage performances in the Philippines including Angels In America, Les Miserables and My Fair Lady starring Lea Salonga. In New York, he has played title roles in Richard III and Othello, among many others.

In PIAF, he will play numerous roles including Marcel Cerdan, France’s greatest boxer and love of Piaf’s life. PIAF will be directed by Bobby Garcia and will run from March 8 to 23, 2013 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

We caught up with Joshua in New York via e-mail as he prepares to return to Manila.

When was the last time you were in Manila?

“I was last in Manila briefly in 2008. It was really en route to our family home in Bacolod where I was headed to see my grandmother, the late Rep. Hortensia Starke.”

What made you leave the Philippines?

“I’m not sure if I ever truly ‘left’ in that I’ve always known that I would come home to eventually live in both the US and the Philippines, or possibly come home altogether. That said, there was no incident that triggered my moving to New York City. It was just a young man’s impulse to leave his home to learn, grow, see the world and soak in different perspectives. I wanted to work with theater creators from all over the world and have been lucky enough to have done that now.”

What are your fondest memories of Manila?

“Ha! That’s so hard to answer. I really miss the camaraderie of my friends and colleagues making theater of all sorts for years and years under various conditions. I was just a teenage kid when the late Bibot Amador took me in and as with so many others, gave me training and tutelage. It could be a hard love but when you did well there was a feeling of great pride.  A great memory for me is curtain call on opening night for Angels in America, which Bobby Garcia directed. You had this sense that we had just achieved something really special.”

What have you been doing since then?

“Well, I spent a long time developing both classical and neo-classical theater in NYC. In addition to playing the title roles of Richard III, Othello, Judas, Tamburlaine as well as Mercutio, Orsino and others, I founded a theater company developing modern verse plays. We worked with many wonderful talents including Bobby Lopez (Avenue Q), Greg Kotis (Urintetown) and others. We won a Best Downtown Theater Company Award for this. I also debuted new verse plays by Glyn Maxwell as well as Gilgamesh by Pulitzer prize- winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. I’ve been directing plenty and producing original material including a play about a relationship I had with my grandfather who came to be a suspect in the Black Dahlia Murder case. Somewhere along the way, I ventured into photography, too, photographing hundreds of actors and some of my work appearing in the NY Times, Washington Post, GQ and more. I’ve been busy!”

What made you decide to come back to Manila? How long do you plan to stay?

“I’ve been trying to come home for years now to do a project and there have been a few close calls but somehow the timing was never right. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay. I’d like to do this fantastic play and reconnect with my friends and family. If things are harmonious, I’d love to come every year to work.”

What is the first thing you plan to do when you return?

“Eat. A lot. My God, I miss good adobo. I need to find time to go to Bacolod to visit my lola’s grave, too.

What attracted you to PIAF?

“I’d always known about the play. There had been legendary performances of it (including in Manila) by great actresses, but the recent Marion Cotillard film reminded me (and everyone, I’m sure) just about how relevant a person she was. And how recognizable her path is. Put her next to an Amy Winehouse or other searingly talented but destructive creative force and you’ll see little difference. Great creative talent is often paired with darkness, sad to say.

Are you excited to work with Pinky Amador? Have you worked with her before?

“Of course! Hugely. I’m a big fan. And yes, I believe Pinky and I may have done a movie together way, way back in the day.”

What are some roles you hope to play in the future?

“Well, I always love working in the classics. I’d love to play Iago (after having played Othello in three productions), Richard II, John Proctor in The Crucible, any of the roles in Copenhagen, Art or anything by David Mamet and Arthur Miller. Bobby in Company would be pretty sweet. I’m always interested in helping develop new works. I’m a team player, I’d like to think.”

We’d like to see more of you in Manila theater!