Dreamer Marti finds himself at devilish stage

Mar 14 2009 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

Marti Pellow gives Barbara Hodgson his career latest – and some food for thought.

WE’VE got biscuits!” remarks Marti Pellow, on entering our interview room at the Leeds theatre where he was starring in The Witches of Eastwick before its transfer to Sunderland next week.

They’d immediately caught his eye, as they had mine (I’d had no lunch) but Marti doesn’t look as though he’s ever indulged in many biscuits.

At just-about-to-turn 44, the Wet Wet Wet frontman turned solo artist turned musical performer, is tanned – he spends a lot of his time in LA – and looks fit and healthy, those much documented dark days of drug-taking consigned to the past.

Likeable and chatty as we meet before the show, Marti’s strong Glaswegian accent disappears immediately – as I later find out – when he turns on the American tones and dons the sharp suit as the devilish Darryl Van Horne, seducing and corrupting all-too-willing ladies.

Based on the late John Updike’s novel, which was turned into a hit film in 1987 starring Jack Nicholson alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon and Cher, the musical revolves around three somewhat desperate housewives falling under the spell of a new man in town.

Marti loves the demands of the role and the fact live theatre is something completely different for him. “With Witches of Eastwick, you’re forever growing in it. It’s a great piece,” he enthuses. And it’s a role he’s very much made his own: “If people come to see Jack Nicholson, they’ve been misguided.”

It’s not the singer-songwriter’s first foray into the world of musical theatre. He’s successfully morphed from pop star to leading man in the musical Chicago – via his solo career and last year’s jazz-infused In A Sentimental Mood love songs album and concert tour, which stopped off at The Sage Gateshead, attracting a real mix of Wet Wet Wet fans and jazz enthusiasts.

Because he has that loyal fan base, they’ve been willing to accompany him on a journey, says Marti. It’s one which shows “a different side to me”.

After the role as Billy Flynn in Chicago took him from the West End to Broadway, Sir Tim Rice asked him to play the Arbiter in his musical Chess. Since then, “I’ve been looking for another project to do”.

The demands of singing aside – a very different discipline from pop – the role sees Marti strut, swagger, even crawl during Van Horne’s seductive destruction, before a change of tone in the show’s second half has him swearing and venting fury.

It takes true acting ability. And there can’t be many pop stars who could have made the same transition as the versatile Marti.

He says: “I think as a child and artist, I’ve always been a dreamer and always stuck true to them.

“If you’ve got a vision and dreams, you should stick with it all the way. It worked for me and I’ve no God-given right – I’m no different to the next dreamer – but mine became reality.”

Then he checks himself getting a bit deep: “I’m going to be flippant now!” But he also becomes serious when talking about Wet Wet Wet: after a split, the group famously reformed after his bandmates attended Marti’s mother’s funeral.

He says: “They supported me – a backbone for a friend. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”

They’ve recently finished their latest album. “Songwriting is what I do,” says Marti. “I’m a singer and songwriter first and foremost.” He’s looking forward to his return to the North East and has witnessed many changes here. “Newcastle feels very familiar to me,” says the man born in Clydebank. “Anywhere there’s a river going through the centre of the city, there’s an attitude that comes with that. I can relate to that.”

He first played here, he reckons, about 25 years ago, although The Sage last year was a first for him – “a wonderful experience”; Sunderland Empire will be another first. “I’ve never played Sunderland,” he says. “But you know there’ll be a great audience up there.”

As I leave, Marti gives me a kiss – and a packet of the biscuits. I’d have saved them as a memento … if I hadn’t been so hungry.

The Witches of Eastwick is at Sunderland Empire from Tuesday to Saturday. Call 08448 472 499 or visit www.SunderlandEmpire.org.uk

See video of The Witches of Eastwick at www.journallive.co.uk