INTERVIEW - Paul Boyd

Better known as a composer and writer, Paul Boyd has adapted numerous classic tales into successful musicals including Hansel & Gretel, The Elves and the Shoemaker and Red – The Red Riding Hood Musical.  He also walked away with the prestigious award for Best Musical in 2003 for Pinocchio, and was also nominated in the 'Best Production for Children and Young People' category at the 2007 TMA Theatre Awards.

So, as a veteran writer and composer it was no surprise when Boyd was asked to work on the adaption of Spike Milligan’s play Puckoon.  However, when asked to take a more central role, Boyd was less than forthcoming, as he explained to Thomas Magill when they caught up for a chat ahead of its opening night in London next month.

TM – So how would you describe Puckoon?

PB - I would definitely say it’s a play with music.  The entire show is underscored through-out, which means there’s music being played in every scene through-out the show.  Milligan didn’t like actors doing nothing, so in Puckoon, if you’re not in a scene, then you’re somewhere in the background playing some sort of an instrument.  All the actors can play something aswell.  I hope the music I wrote is as humorous as the words and the actors in this version. 

TM – What’s the play about?

PB – Well this is Spike Milligan’s first novel.  By the time he’d written this he had already been in The Goons and was well known for his plays and sketch work, but not as a novelist.  The background to the play is that Spike struggled to an Irish passport in the 1940’s, but he eventually got one – and he was very proud of it, and adamant right up until his death that he was Irish, despite never living there. 

So I think this gave him the idea for the novel which is set in the 1920’s around the time of the partition of Ireland.  It’s a comedy – obviously – about the totally incompetent Boundary Commission who made a mistake and drew the border through the middle of the little village of Puckoon, somewhere near Sligo.  And then, it’s just about the villagers living in a place where part of their village is in the North and part in the South.  It has funny sketches like when someone dies in the South, they have to get a visa to get buried, because the graveyard in now in Northern Ireland.  It causes absolute chaos.

TM – It sounds a scream, so is it a big cast?

PB – Well not a big cast but there’s a huge number of characters.  Milligan tried to bring everyone in the village into the play, so although there is only 6 actors – the play has hundreds of characters.  It’s hilarious as actors switch between characters and plots through-out.  But I play the writer, so only one character at the moment! 

TM – So you have it easy then.  How did you get the part?

PB – I was brought on board to write the music and was never meant to have any lines in the play.  Then the Director asked me did I fancy saying just one line, and in true Milligan style, this evolved into a fully fledged part.  I should learn to look at my Contract in more detail next time.  The other weird and really interesting thing about Puckoon is how the actors speak to the writer – that’s me – throughout the play.  So the characters knock down the fourth wall, and again this leads to even more hilarious chaos.

TM – This will be the first time Puckoon will be shown in England, following a hugely successful tour in Ireland.  How do you think it’ll go down in the West End?

PB – We’ll have to wait and see, but I reckon we’ve found our home at the Leicester Square Theatre, and that people will love the play.  My first thought is that in Ireland, people went to the play because they were familiar with Spike Milligan, as and Irishman.  But in England, I think he probably has a really strong fan base because of his work, as a poet, comedienne and artist.

TM – Were you familiar with his work before you became involved in Puckoon?

PB – Not overly.  Obviously I’d heard of him, and knew he was one of the grandfathers of comedy, but I wouldn’t have been able to quote him or tell you any of his work.  That’s in contrast to Monty Python, who I grew up reading.  I think loads of people are like me and don’t realise Spike Milligan was even influential in the Monty Python works – so he’s a real legend.

TM – Well good luck with everything at the Leicester Square Theatre

PB – Thank you.  It’s the perfect space right in the heart of the West End for Puckoon.  Not too big or too small with a bar right at the side of the stage for those Irishmen in England who I’m sure will want to come and see it.

Puckoon opens at the Leicester Square Theatre on the 8^th March.  For more information and to book tickets contact your concierge.