Q & A: Will Huang, Lead Actor in Canberra Philharmonic Society’s Production of Chicago

On March 26, the curtains closed on Canberra Philharmonic Society’s production of Chicago.

I sat down with lead actor, Will Huang to discuss his role in the show and what life is like for an actor in Canberra.

Q: Congratulations on your role in a very successful production of Chicago. You played lawyer, Billy Flynn. What was your favorite thing about playing Billy?

A: Thank you! Billy Flynn was such a gift of a role in many different ways. He’s such an iconic character in musical theatre history and Chicago was one of the first shows I saw when I was younger, so I’ve loved the musical since I was a kid.

I suppose from an acting perspective, what I excited me most was having the opportunity to put a spin on Billy Flynn that I hadn’t seen before. I’ve so often seen him portrayed as Mr Slick, unflappable and unquestionable, but I think there is a darkness to his character that is often glossed over. I wanted to push the notion that he’s truly not a good person, and the challenge there was keeping him winsome to the audience without compromising on his chauvinism, narcissism and other assorted moral deficiencies. It’s really rewarding to attempt to bring something new to a well-established character and have your interpretation be so well received!

Also, I don’t think making a grand entrance every night surrounded by glitzy showgirls and big feathery fans could ever get old.

Q: When did you start acting and what was your first production?

A: I can’t remember a time when I haven’t loved singing. I was the type of kid who would lock myself in my room, crank the volume and belt my favourite tunes at the top of my lungs. When my parents conceded that this wasn’t just a phase they started sending me to lessons so I would at least sound alright doing it.

As for acting and my first production, the first instance I can remember is when I lived in Beijing and was cast as the titular kitten in my 2nd grade class production of Puss In Boots.

When I moved back to Australia, I was a member of the children’s chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in 1997. I haven’t really stopped since then, so I suppose that’s where I caught the performing bug. Applause is a hell of a drug.

Q: Of all the roles you have played to-date, which have been the most challenging and why?

A: The two roles that immediately spring to mind are Frederick Vasolt in The Burning and Felix Turner in The Normal Heart. Frederick, as a torturer in 17th century Germany at the height of the witch trials, took me to some extremely dark places as I attempted to get into the (fully-shaved) head of a very angry, twisted and thoroughly broken individual. The play did not shy away from graphic depictions of violence justified by accusations of heresy and Frederick was central to that theme. Every performance was very mentally taxing.

The role of Felix Turner was similarly devastating, but the tragedy of the character was grounded in love rather than hatred. I played a man who slowly succumbs to AIDS in 1980s New York, a terrifying period when so little was understood about the HIV virus yet it received so little attention because it was primarily affecting gay men. Apart from the play being physically and emotionally demanding, I also found it a tremendous challenge to crack the character of Felix and make him feel genuine. I don’t think I truly found him until a couple of nights before we opened, and it was a reminder that I still have a lot to learn as an actor. The Normal Heart only ran for seven performances, but I was an utter wreck by the time it closed.

Q: You have appeared in a countless number of (Canberra) stage shows and films, what is it like being Will Huang?

A: Honestly, I think it’s just like being anybody else, only instead of having weekends, I have rehearsals. Balancing my day job with my theatre and film projects means that any real down time is hard to come by, and when I do find myself with some legitimate free time on my hands I start to feel guilty for not working on something. So I spend my days flip-flopping between desperately wanting to sleep and berating myself for wasting my life, which is probably about as healthy as it sounds.

Q: Have you ever been tempted to relocate to further pursue your acting career?

A: Absolutely! I’m always on the lookout for prospects to take my career to the next level, whatever that may be. Realistically there’s very little paid work in Canberra for actors, but at the same time I was never under any delusions that choosing acting as a career would be lucrative. What Canberra does offer is an incredible theatre and film scene that provides wonderful opportunities for aspiring artists and entertainers, and I’m lucky I grew up in a community that gave me so many chances to grow as a performer. There’s no shortage of local theatre companies and indie filmmakers who are constantly producing engaging, challenging pieces. They, along with some truly wonderful and inspiring people you meet along the way, keep me motivated and absorbed in the craft while I continue to pursue whatever opportunities lie outside the city.

Q: What would be your dream acting gig (or role) and why?

A: There are so many. I’m currently obsessed with Hamilton: An American Musical, and I would kill just to be involved with a production in any way, shape or form. If I had to pick one part, I’d choose Aaron Burr. I absolutely adore his character arc and I relate with him on so many levels. He’s one of those ‘bad guys’ who is so human and well-written that you really can fully empathise with him, and he has some of the best songs in the show to boot.

Other parts I’d love to play are Berger in Hair, The Engineer in Miss Saigon, The American in Chess and Usnavi in In The Heights. I was lucky enough to cross some roles off my dream bucket list last year, with Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages and Gabe Goodman in Next To Normal. And of course, Billy Flynn was something of a dream as well.