It takes more than a dress and a wig to transform Christopher Obenchain into the menacing headmaster Trunchbull in Diamond Head Theatre’s current hit show, “Matilda the Musical.”
Obenchain is becoming Hawaii’s poster boy of a man playing a woman in a hot-ticket musical. In New York, Santino Fontana won a Tony Award for portraying an actor posing as a woman to land a job in “Tootsie,” currently a Broadway fave. In Fontana’s case, he plays both Michael Dorsey and Dorothy Michaels, the he and she in the musical.
While Obenchain doesn’t get to do male and female at DHT, processing Trunchbull’s vocal dynamics was a challenge. “Initially, I heard her in my head with a low and growly voice,” said Obenchain, “but the songs are written quite high. The music led me to settle in to a higher range for her speaking voice, but I searched for spots to bring in more guttural, bass sounds into her speech. That process also helped me eke out a few more laughs from the audience.”
A high school counselor by trade, Obenchain knew (from previous roles) that costumer Karen G. Wolfe would help him create “a multitude of opportunities for characterization,” he said. “I mean, did you see those 48-DDs?,” referring to Trunchbull’s oversized, exaggerated bosom.
At 6-feet-2 and 175 pounds, Obenchain was a perfect embodiment for the bulldozing bully he portrays. “The height differential between me and the children in the cast is a great starting point for visual gags,” he said.
But initially, he didn’t know the role was played by a man. “I decided to audition before I knew that the part had been played by men in both the New York and London productions,” said Obenchain. “I hadn’t seen any stage productions of the musical, but I did remember the movie from 20 years ago.”
He knew Roald Dahl’s adult characters “are so purposefully exaggerated, I felt a male performer in the role could be just the right touch to convey her power over the children, while tempering her villainy with enough ‘camp’ for the context of a musical comedy.”
Trunchbull is the result of exacting construction. On top is a tight wig with a rather heavy bun pinned on. It requires glue to hold it to your forehead and face. Not pleasant.
“Under my dress is an amply stuffed brassiere which had me sweating buckets!” Obenchain said. “I constructed an ‘under-bra’ made from two silicone trivets that lifted the contraption off of my chest and allowed air to flow between my chest and the cotton batting. It saved my life!
“Down below is the requisite dance belt to keep my bits and pieces smashed down and a very snug pair of yoga pants. I’m very happy to unhook from it all at the end of each performance.”
Perhaps that’s far too much info to share, but Trunchbull — like Tootsie — is part of a short list of stage roles where guys play gals, including a notable George Hearn in his Tony-winning turn as Albin in “La Cage aux Folles,” and Harvey Fierstein, who played the mother Edna Turnblad in the Broadway “Hairspray” (reprised by John Travolta in the motion picture).
Another gender-bending musical, “Mrs. Doubtfire,” based on the Robin Williams comedy film, debuts this fall in Seattle en route to an expected Broadway run next year. The final cast has yet to be announced. It’s about an out-of-work actor (again) who disguises as a nanny in search of a job.
Obenchain recalled a second-grade teacher while in grade school in Virginia, who was forced into retirement after she tied up a young student with jackets and stashed him in a closet for disrupting class. “I tried to tap into what I imagined to be that teacher’s level of frustration, anger and perhaps even fear. It helped me develop a backstory for Trunchbull that involves a poor reaction to childhood bullying.”
With the rigorous running around (and busty costume), he’s lost a few pounds and his cardio fitness has increased, he said. “But I’m having a blast!”
The show has had repeated add-on performances, the final one at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8, prior to its Aug. 11 finale. For ticket information, go to diamondheadtheatre.com. …
Robert’s reflections
Robert Cazimero dwelled on the three Rs — reflect, remember and recall — in his July 18 performance at Blue Note Hawaii. He was generous, grand and gentle in a savvy stroll down memory lane.
His splendid guest acts (Raiatea Helm, Sky Perkins, Nicholas and Zachary Lum from Keauhou, plus a few more of his halau dancers) were utilized sparingly; he recalled old times at Fern Elementary School; remembered his late castmates Roland Cazimero and Leinaala Kalama Heine; saluted the likes of Don Ho and Jack de Mello, and artfully shaped a journey to the past.
Feeling unrest from the divisive and political fray involving the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea, he concluded the evening with a somber and soothing “The Beauty of Mauna Kea,” with dance by his reliable gents. Memories are made of this. …
A correction: Willie K returns to the Blue Note on Aug. 6; a mention here last week had an incorrect date and a postcard distributed at the club misstates the date.
And that’s “Show Biz.”
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
