We chat to Lewis Griffiths, 31, who is originally from Benfleet, in his dressing room at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion just before he is due to go on stage with the touring production of Dirty Dancing. The show has come directly from London’s West End and Lewis fills us in on his part in Jersey Boys as Nick Massi, how he got the iconic role of Johnny Castle made famous by Patrick Swayze in the movie and how, in the future, he’d love to appear on tv as another iconic figure!
Lewis speaks to Kim Tobin
Lewis speaks to Kim Tobin
The first time we saw you was when Jersey Boys came here last February and I can remember thinking, “Ooh I like him, he’s good!” What I liked about that is that you brought your own personality to the role as well.
Well, the thing about Nick Massi is that out of the 4 of them, he's the least known and the least enigmatic. So as far as playing him is concerned, you have to approach it from a 50/50 point of view. You have to put in half of your own personality (at least I did anyway) and half of what you think Nick was; because he’s not easy to research, you can’t find out much about him, what his habits were; mannerisms and traits, apart from the fact that he’s always desperate to start his own group!
Jersey Boys was such a fantastic show for me, I loved it, especially bringing it home to Southend but now it’s a completely different experience bringing Dirty Dancing home because with Jersey Boys I was one of four and now I’m the lead! [laughs]
Do you feel the pressure of that?
Sometimes, yes but always when I hear Time of My Life because I know what’s coming and so do the audience. You know a lot of what we do in the show could be forgivable as long as we nail that lift.
How long did it take to rehearse the lift?
Every day! Every day and all day in rehearsals. We had to practice it so that it became second nature. Katie (Hartland), who plays Baby, and I had to become used to each other’s bodies and know where to balance, where to push, where to counter-balance because you know its not an easy lift.
Does that mean that you’ve needed extra fitness training at all?
I did at first but then I quickly realised that this show is, in itself, a work-out. I actually cancelled my gym membership because I don’t need it! I’m actually really busy throughout the show and when I’m not on stage, I’m off stage changing, mopping my brow, getting some water and running back on stage - it’s a very, very busy show!
A lot of people are expecting to see the film on stage, is that pretty much what it is?
It is every bit the film, as well as the iconic bits. I mean it’s not Dirty Dancing without the water melons.
Oh yes, I saw a picture of you on Twitter with just a water melon!! (Click here for pic!)
Oh yeah, my girlfriend wasn’t too happy about that but that was for Gay Times Magazine. The producer said, “Are you alright with this?” and I thought well, I don’t really have choice. [laughs]
In for a penny..
In for a pound, absolutely! I think it shifted a few copies of Gay Times and possible a few tickets for the show! [laughs] There are parts of the show where people get an eyeful and there are parts of the show where people get their iconic moments, like the lift, like the line and [laughs] there are water melons aplenty!
Hahaha…So the show is obviously predominantly dance based. Am I right in assuming that dance wasn’t your strength when you went into the show?
No, no (it wasn't). I can’t speak on behalf of Katie but I do know that the breakdown from the creatives was that they wanted to bring in actors and Katie is definitely an actress and a very good dancer as am I, but we’re not what you’d call technically trained dancers. Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze nailed their parts and made them so iconic, and so not to plagiarise their work but to emulate that feeling in the characters, the producers didn’t want the acting side of things to suffer, so they brought in actors who could dance as opposed to trained dancers who could fill scenes. I’m grateful that the producers have realised that.
Well, the thing about Nick Massi is that out of the 4 of them, he's the least known and the least enigmatic. So as far as playing him is concerned, you have to approach it from a 50/50 point of view. You have to put in half of your own personality (at least I did anyway) and half of what you think Nick was; because he’s not easy to research, you can’t find out much about him, what his habits were; mannerisms and traits, apart from the fact that he’s always desperate to start his own group!
Jersey Boys was such a fantastic show for me, I loved it, especially bringing it home to Southend but now it’s a completely different experience bringing Dirty Dancing home because with Jersey Boys I was one of four and now I’m the lead! [laughs]
Do you feel the pressure of that?
Sometimes, yes but always when I hear Time of My Life because I know what’s coming and so do the audience. You know a lot of what we do in the show could be forgivable as long as we nail that lift.
How long did it take to rehearse the lift?
Every day! Every day and all day in rehearsals. We had to practice it so that it became second nature. Katie (Hartland), who plays Baby, and I had to become used to each other’s bodies and know where to balance, where to push, where to counter-balance because you know its not an easy lift.
Does that mean that you’ve needed extra fitness training at all?
I did at first but then I quickly realised that this show is, in itself, a work-out. I actually cancelled my gym membership because I don’t need it! I’m actually really busy throughout the show and when I’m not on stage, I’m off stage changing, mopping my brow, getting some water and running back on stage - it’s a very, very busy show!
A lot of people are expecting to see the film on stage, is that pretty much what it is?
It is every bit the film, as well as the iconic bits. I mean it’s not Dirty Dancing without the water melons.
Oh yes, I saw a picture of you on Twitter with just a water melon!! (Click here for pic!)
Oh yeah, my girlfriend wasn’t too happy about that but that was for Gay Times Magazine. The producer said, “Are you alright with this?” and I thought well, I don’t really have choice. [laughs]
In for a penny..
In for a pound, absolutely! I think it shifted a few copies of Gay Times and possible a few tickets for the show! [laughs] There are parts of the show where people get an eyeful and there are parts of the show where people get their iconic moments, like the lift, like the line and [laughs] there are water melons aplenty!
Hahaha…So the show is obviously predominantly dance based. Am I right in assuming that dance wasn’t your strength when you went into the show?
No, no (it wasn't). I can’t speak on behalf of Katie but I do know that the breakdown from the creatives was that they wanted to bring in actors and Katie is definitely an actress and a very good dancer as am I, but we’re not what you’d call technically trained dancers. Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze nailed their parts and made them so iconic, and so not to plagiarise their work but to emulate that feeling in the characters, the producers didn’t want the acting side of things to suffer, so they brought in actors who could dance as opposed to trained dancers who could fill scenes. I’m grateful that the producers have realised that.
Lewis with Carlie Milner who plays Penny
Were you really surprised to get the part of Johnny?
I was, because I’ve been up for the part of Robbie in previous productions but I wasn’t successful. When they called me and said they wanted me for Johnny I thought, “Oh Christ…okay..”
So you weren't sure if you could do it? But you couldn’t say no could you?
Absolutely not. My agent was very forthcoming and said, “If you do this job it’s going to do wonders for your profile as an actor and as a leading man; and I kind of relinquished a little bit and then I got through an intense week of auditions, I was ready to drop after a week of just auditioning and then they went, “Great! How would you like to play Johnny Castle?” and I just looked at my agent and said ,“Gird your loins - here we go!!”
So it’s been quite a journey then?
It most definitely has and we’re still on it.
Didn’t Eleanor Bergstein, who wrote the film and the show come along to one of your rehearsals?
She came and stayed in rehearsals for about 4 or 5 days.
Oh, that’s quite a long time?
Yeah, essentially this story is told through the eyes of Baby and, on reflection, Eleanor Bergstein is Baby - it’s her story and Baby being the key word. I mean, this show is her baby. She doesn’t have children, she has Dirty Dancing. Katie and I were rehearsing these very intimate scenes, which in the film are quite iconic and it’s the end of Act 1 in our show. We were doing these scenes in front of Eleanor and neither of us wanted to look up and look over and get any kind of reaction from her, because this is such an imperative point in the show. There was a lot of pressure on both of us but thank God she was happy.
Is she someone who’s easy to please?
No, no! As I say, this show is her baby, it’s what she’s known for; to the point where after the tragic loss of Patrick Swayze - everybody knows that Patrick sung She’s Like the Wind and that it appears in the film, even though Johnny doesn’t sing it - it’s a subliminal track in the background. In the show, after the passing of Patrick, she said no one can perform that number. So it is in the show but it’s not sung because it’s got to be in his memory. So every time I walk on stage and I hear that, I go “wow…those shoes just got bigger and I’ve gotta fill ‘em!”
I was, because I’ve been up for the part of Robbie in previous productions but I wasn’t successful. When they called me and said they wanted me for Johnny I thought, “Oh Christ…okay..”
So you weren't sure if you could do it? But you couldn’t say no could you?
Absolutely not. My agent was very forthcoming and said, “If you do this job it’s going to do wonders for your profile as an actor and as a leading man; and I kind of relinquished a little bit and then I got through an intense week of auditions, I was ready to drop after a week of just auditioning and then they went, “Great! How would you like to play Johnny Castle?” and I just looked at my agent and said ,“Gird your loins - here we go!!”
So it’s been quite a journey then?
It most definitely has and we’re still on it.
Didn’t Eleanor Bergstein, who wrote the film and the show come along to one of your rehearsals?
She came and stayed in rehearsals for about 4 or 5 days.
Oh, that’s quite a long time?
Yeah, essentially this story is told through the eyes of Baby and, on reflection, Eleanor Bergstein is Baby - it’s her story and Baby being the key word. I mean, this show is her baby. She doesn’t have children, she has Dirty Dancing. Katie and I were rehearsing these very intimate scenes, which in the film are quite iconic and it’s the end of Act 1 in our show. We were doing these scenes in front of Eleanor and neither of us wanted to look up and look over and get any kind of reaction from her, because this is such an imperative point in the show. There was a lot of pressure on both of us but thank God she was happy.
Is she someone who’s easy to please?
No, no! As I say, this show is her baby, it’s what she’s known for; to the point where after the tragic loss of Patrick Swayze - everybody knows that Patrick sung She’s Like the Wind and that it appears in the film, even though Johnny doesn’t sing it - it’s a subliminal track in the background. In the show, after the passing of Patrick, she said no one can perform that number. So it is in the show but it’s not sung because it’s got to be in his memory. So every time I walk on stage and I hear that, I go “wow…those shoes just got bigger and I’ve gotta fill ‘em!”
So you don't get to sing at all in this show?
No. The ensemble all sing and there are featured singers within the ensemble that sing the musical numbers. It would be a bit too musical if suddenly the two leads just burst into song. That’s why it’s not a musical, it’s a play with music.
You used to work at the Cliffs Pavilion didn’t you? What did you do?
I used to pull pints at the bar when I was 19. At the time David Ian had a production of Grease at the Cliffs and I’d always sneak out when I’d finished everything I had to do behind the bar. When I was waiting for the audience to come out for interval drinks, or after the show, I always used to sneak in to the auditorium and have a look at the stage and it’s really humbling that now I’ve been on it with Jersey Boys and now I’m on it as the lead and it’s just crazy!
So what are your plans after Dirty Dancing?
Well the world’s our oyster as they say and Dirty Dancing will continue, as this production has been a massive success. However, I’m getting to the point where I’m thinking I’d like a body as well as a career after Dirty Dancing, so I may have to hang up the cuban heels and leather jacket and pass the baton to another Johnny; but I will be incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved because I’ve had to work from the ground upwards. I’d love to pursue a bit more with stage plays or screen work or even vocal work would be fun.
I hear you’re a bit of a Doctor Who fan?
HUGE!!
What if there were a Doctor Who the Musical?
Doctor Whosical....haha..
Well, the director of Jersey Boys said to me once, “Listen to that voice, you should play James Bond.” Bond's a British icon and I’d love to do that but if we’re going to pick icons I’m after the Doctor…or not even the Doctor, I’d just like to appear in an episode. You got to have dreams - you’ve got to have goals!
No. The ensemble all sing and there are featured singers within the ensemble that sing the musical numbers. It would be a bit too musical if suddenly the two leads just burst into song. That’s why it’s not a musical, it’s a play with music.
You used to work at the Cliffs Pavilion didn’t you? What did you do?
I used to pull pints at the bar when I was 19. At the time David Ian had a production of Grease at the Cliffs and I’d always sneak out when I’d finished everything I had to do behind the bar. When I was waiting for the audience to come out for interval drinks, or after the show, I always used to sneak in to the auditorium and have a look at the stage and it’s really humbling that now I’ve been on it with Jersey Boys and now I’m on it as the lead and it’s just crazy!
So what are your plans after Dirty Dancing?
Well the world’s our oyster as they say and Dirty Dancing will continue, as this production has been a massive success. However, I’m getting to the point where I’m thinking I’d like a body as well as a career after Dirty Dancing, so I may have to hang up the cuban heels and leather jacket and pass the baton to another Johnny; but I will be incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved because I’ve had to work from the ground upwards. I’d love to pursue a bit more with stage plays or screen work or even vocal work would be fun.
I hear you’re a bit of a Doctor Who fan?
HUGE!!
What if there were a Doctor Who the Musical?
Doctor Whosical....haha..
Well, the director of Jersey Boys said to me once, “Listen to that voice, you should play James Bond.” Bond's a British icon and I’d love to do that but if we’re going to pick icons I’m after the Doctor…or not even the Doctor, I’d just like to appear in an episode. You got to have dreams - you’ve got to have goals!