An interview with Bob Frazer, Director of The Pavilion

In my coverage of theatre and performing arts in general, I often don’t get the opportunity to interview up-and-coming or established actors/directors/producers. Most of the time, I am so strapped for time (as much as they are) and we never get to spend any time talking. But I had an opportunity to have an interview with Bob Frazer, a fantastic actor, family man and wonderful individual who is the director of The Pavilion, now in previews at the Firehall Arts Centre.

I sat down with Bob accompanied by his two children at the JJ Bean on 14th and Main where we enjoyed a cup of coffee and a wonderful chat. Below is my conversation with Bob. As with any unstructured interviews, our conversation ended up taking different turns than I expected, which was great.

1. Why theatre? Why did you get into this business, Bob?

Really got more into acting than theatre itself. I grew up in Penticton so theatre was the natural thing to do, and from there I fell in love with theatre. It’s 2 hours of interaction with actors and the audience. There’s nothing like it.

2. How do you gauge the audience?

Everyone comes into the theatre creating their own persona. So I think what we do as actors, what I do is to open my heart – you open your heart, you let yourself feel whatever they, the audience, feels. There’s a connection that happens between audience and actor. If that connection isn’t there, the show becomes mediocre, but when it is there, the show is magical

3. Why ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘The Last Days of Judas Iscariot’?

I grew up watching the movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, and I loved the main character – here’s this guy who goes out to do good and doesn’t work for him, but in the end, things get better. For me it was easy to play the character, because as an actor, you have things that you can access to allow you to strengthen the character you are playing. As for the stage readings for ‘The Last Days’, it was a fun show to do, and it may *possibly* come back.

4. What do you think of social media for the arts?

Well, let me confess something to you – I didn’t know much but I had to get on Facebook and learn about it – it’s great and necessary, and social media is doing things for theatre we couldn’t get to do before. But not having a smart phone and a cell phone with me, focuses me on the conversation with the person that I am sitting with.

5. So, now – tell me about The Pavilion, give me a bit of background about this play

It’s a beautiful play. It’s put together by the company I started with a great group of people. We are going to create the theatre we want. We work together again and again. Our relationships as actors originally are rather fleeting, but with this company, we want to work as an ensemble. I want to be a better actor, and Iw ant people to be better actors, like me. It’s a rather invigorating and fascinating approach.

The Pavilion presents the question “if I hadn’t made that mistake would my life be better/could it have been better”.

At this point I realized that The Pavilion has a striking resemblance with a conversation I had with my brother about a friend and our relationship a few years ago. The conversation touched me deeply.

6. Where is Bob Frazer in 2011

Death of a Salesman at the Playhouse, Richard III at Bard on the Beach and I will be directing one or two shows

7. How different is acting from directing?

I really love both but there are some plays I want to be involved in, some I want to direct. It’s different

8. What are the most challenging plays/characters you’ve done?

Well, Hamlet, Equus are two that come to mind

Thanks Bob for a most insightful interview, and to Andrea Loewen for facilitating it. I strongly suggest you check The Pavilion at the Firehall Arts Centre, which is directed by Bob Frazer. Promises to be a great show.

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