By MICHELLE HERBISON
MARINA Prior refuses to meet friends for coffee if they have even a hint of a cold.
Such is the rigorous health routine of the star soprano, who also practices scales and arpeggios daily, runs to upkeep her lung capacity and eats “a lot of pineapple” for its voice-enhancing enzyme.
The “leading lady” is preparing to “redefine” herself as a solo artist in a series of intimate and informal shows around the country in Marina Prior – The Encore Tour.
“I think people will really like it because they’re used to seeing me in a musical where I’m sticking to a script and a character but this is really informal,” she said.
Prior said she would chat between playing guitar, singing folk songs and performing favourites from musicals she has starred in including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Mamamia.
“Over 30 years I’ve got lots of tales to tell now. Theatre is a very rich and interesting world and lifestyle,” she mused.
Prior offered a sneak peek of one such tale – an awkward moment while working with Richard Harris in Camelot as a 20-year-old.
“He was very famous for being a bit of a temperamental person to work with. It was only my second show and on opening night in front of all the reviewers he changed the plot.
“When my character Guinevere asks King Arthur if she can go to the jousting tournament, he has to say yes and on that night he said no.”
Prior fumbled, walking away thinking of “all these fabulous things” she could have said.
“I was such a kid, but nowadays I’d be fine. So I’ll do for the audience what I would do today.”
The mother-of-three said she was currently enjoying the “creative control” of solo performance compared with the “gypsy” lifestyle of a musical theatre cast-member.
“I love the theatre people – they’re my tribe. If you’re doing what you feel you were born to do, a great deal of life is sweet.”
She had seen Australia become more “culturally sophisticated” over the course of her career, with interest in theatre growing.
Bookings for Marina Prior at GPAC on Friday, 11 October are available at gpac.org.au.
