Upclose with Stephen Bolton
Stephen Bolton is playing Mozart’s conflicted archenemy Antonio Salieri (pictured, left) in the upcoming Hong Kong Players production of Peter Shaffer’s “Amadeus.” He talks to Sophia Chan.
HK Magazine: Tell us a bit about Amadeus.
Stephen Bolton: I think it’s an amazing play and has everything that would make a night at the theater good. Even though the movie (“Amadeus,” 1984) was very popular and won a lot of Oscars, the play is much richer and darker and the intensity of the original script, which the film adapted omitting certain elements, really comes to life onstage.
HK: How did you prepare for the role of Salieri, who was supposedly dead jealous of Mozart?
SB: The play is so well written that it was basically a case of letting the words speak for themselves. I tried to just go along with the scale of emotions and not compromise the character itself. Playing such a complex, flamboyant character like Salieri requires a lot of imagination.
HK: Are you able to empathize with Salieri’s character and the acts he commits against Mozart?
SB: Yes, what he does is understandable, because on some level everyone’s probably been through the same thing, that feeling of being “second best.” Salieri refers to himself as the “patron saint of mediocrities,” and looking through his eyes, rather than as an onlooker, it’s actually quite easy to dislike Mozart. It’s what makes the play so great.
HK: Is classical music your thing? If so, do you prefer Mozart or Bach?
SB: I do enjoy it. As my parents are both fans, I grew up listening to it a lot and I sang in quite a few concert choirs. Both composers are great, but since I’ve spent the last two months listening to a lot of Mozart, I think he just edges out Bach.
HK: What’s your view on the theater scene in Hong Kong and the opportunities available for young actors here?
SB: Hong Kong is a difficult place for English-speaking actors to make a full-time living. Most actors have to supplement it with teaching or voice-over work and small roles in local movies. It really would be great to have professional companies able to survive. The amount of passion and expertise I’ve seen here, not just from actors but also from people like directors, set designers and musicians, is unbelievable. The theater scene is developing, but support from the government would be a big help.