Anthony Warlow is returning to the role of Daddy Warbucks in Annie for a fourth time. Photo: Daniel Boud.
Wollongong’s most iconic music theatre export has returned to the role which put him on Broadway, and as a mentor to young actors in the latest production of Annie, Anthony Warlow is passing on the professionalism and dedication he first exhibited on the Illawarra stage.
Anthony is no stranger to playing eccentric billionaire businessman Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks.
In fact, the latest Australian production will mark the fourth time he’s taken on the role.
“The first time I did it was in 2000,” Anthony said. “And when I look back now I realise, although it was a successful production, I was far too young; I was only 40.
“He has to have some sort of age to him and I feel now I’ve grown into his skin over those 25 years or so.”
He made his Broadway debut in the role more than a decade ago but discovers more about the character each time he plays him.
“Having done the role on Broadway in a very different style of production with a different director, I found certain elements of him that I hadn’t thought about earlier,” he said.
“Now I feel like I think this is the best that I’m going to bring to him as a character and I’m enjoying it immensely.”
Despite being one of the most recognisable names in Australia’s music theatre scene, Anthony doesn’t just rely on pure talent when approaching a role, even if he’s played it before.
“I love to learn; I love to find new experiences to work on,” he said. “I’m a great observer of people and things and I bring those elements into a role and I try to really inhabit the sense of the character I’m playing rather than just lip service and making the line sound good.”
His professionalism has been something he’s exhibited from a young age, growing up in the Illawarra after finding a love for singing at four, and knowing early that this was the career he wanted to pursue.
Anthony Warlow always took a professional approach to amateur theatre in the Illawarra. Photo: Arcadians Theatre Group.
He graced the stage with the Arcadians Theatre Group, Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and Theatre South, using the performance opportunities to develop the toolkit required to succeed in the industry.
“I cherish those times and also the length of time, making friends and spending three months or so working on a show once a week or twice a week and then performing it at the town hall in a smaller theatre there was vital to me,” Anthony said.
“My attitude towards being in ‘amateur theatre’ was professional.
“The way I approached the work and was learning – I was learning technique, I was learning how to move around on stage, and have it work eight times a week.”
Learning how to sustain that level of singing and performance for long runs of shows was a skill he encouraged up-and-coming performers to focus on.
“Personally, I think a classical background vocally is inherent to making a success on the commercial stage.
“You might have a certain talent to be able to sing a swing song or sing a pop song or what have you but to be able to do that eight times a week, that’s where people fall down.
“They come and they audition really well but then they get the gig and sometimes they just can’t sustain it.”
It was equally the work needed offstage that Anthony urged performers to consider.
“History, research – know the period you are working in, know the characters, know the political environment that you’re in; it makes a big difference.
“Knowledge is power.”
That groundwork has landed him some of theatre’s most iconic roles in Australia and internationally, making it difficult to pick a favourite.
“I’ve done some wonderful musicals,” he said. “Phantom put me on the map obviously; Secret Garden was a vocal joy for me just to perform.
“But strangely enough I think the dual roles of Don Quixote and Miguel La Cervantes in Man of La Mancha, which I’ve now done three times, I always joke it’s the King Lear of music theatre because you are inhabiting these three characters and the story for me is still so poignant and universal.
“It’s a tough gig but I’ve done it a number of times now and it’s a highlight in my career.”
Despite being an industry powerhouse, Anthony, who now splits his time between Melbourne and New York, is just as happy to live a quiet life as one in the spotlight.
“I give as much to my garden and my cooking as my theatre work, so it gives a full round to me really.
“I can turn off the theatre work and go straight into being Mr Domestic very easily.
“And that’s where my stress levels really drop, so I’m happy pulling out weeds and cooking a roast – that’s my joy.”
Annie the Musical is showing at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, before heading to Melbourne in July.
For tickets visit the Annie website.
