Beryl Marsden not only looks relaxed but as she takes five minutes out from the schedule of photographers digital demands, the smiles from an adoring public and with the Fairy Godmother outfit on, she somehow retains the look, the feel of the epitome of cool. It might be a far cry from the leather look, the rebellious and so elegant teenager who wowed Liverpool audiences in the 1960s and who carried on being a woman of stature, the personification of true Merseyside grit but as she sits down next to me, it’s almost possible to believe that there is nothing that Beryl Marsden can’t do.
The Fairy God-Mother waves her wand and with the touch of magic that you would expect from Ms. Marsden, immediately through the pantomime mist is the woman who carried the hopes and dreams of a generation, who was a best friend of the Beatles and who to this day just carries off her music with sophistication, the blaze of glory in her eyes infectious and for a brief moment the conversation is caught between the rightful admiration you hold for a Merseyside legend and keeping it on track with what you have seen.
For someone like Beryl Marsden there are always many questions, only a few chances to ask them and The Fairy God-mother must take the limelight.
To be in a pantomime after everything you’ve done in your amazing life and your story has been played out to audiences here, there’s just no stopping this marvellous woman!
BM: “I don’t know what to say now! Thank you very much!”
Is it different doing a pantomime compared to what you do?
BM: “I’ve never done panto before! I’m kind of excited and I’m a bit nervous, I think standing, speaking and learning lines, the dialogue aspect of it is going to be my challenge I’m sure. Obviously singing I just love and it comes naturally to me, dialogue not so much but I like a bit of a challenge. It looks like it’s going to be great fun with the rest of the cast.”
You’ve obviously seen pantomimes before in the past, so it must be not so much daunting to you being on that side but as you say, very different?
BM: “I haven’t seen a panto in a few years even though I’ve got grandchildren so it still brings back great memories of childhood and I when I was a kid I used to think I’d love to be in a panto! See, be careful what you wish for!”
To play the part of the Fairy Godmother as well, you’re the lynchpin of the panto!
BM: “It has to be the best part, apart from being Cinderella when you’re quite young. It’s lovely to do it.”
How did you find the process of working with Lee Kelly?
BM: “I literally only met Lee a short time ago, literally when I read off a sheet of paper, I wasn’t expecting a phone call back and that was it! He’s lovely and charming and meeting all the cast as well, I think we’ll all have a great time and the audience too, you know.”
That’s the thing about the panto, it’s a two-way street, it’s not like some plays where it’s one way or the other. The panto is very much given to both.
BM: “It’s vital – the whole audience have to feel a part of the entire thing. If it was separate, it wouldn’t work at all. That’s why it’s really exciting. Even with singing, if you’re not giving 100 per cent to the audience, what’s th point? It’s quite exciting isn’t it?”
Yes, it’s exciting! You’re working with some very cool people on stage this year. Alison Crawford obviously is almost Epstein family and you are working with Calum Best –
BM: “He’s very sweet, I’ve met Lesley Butler, Michael Chatton who isn’t here, I’ve just met Buttons and some of the others today and Chris – a young man of 16 with a wonderful voice, it’s incredible.”
I don’t wish this to sound impertinent or anything but that must bring back memories for you at that age, remembering what you did, especially in Liverpool.
BM: “I was 16! I was singing at The Cavern and at the Iron Door and then skipping over to West Germany to the Star Club and that was me at 16. It’s probably slightly different in that he’s in dance school and acting and I didn’t have any of that background when I started to sing. It was just because I loved to sing.”
It shows though that ‘get up and go’ attitude from the post-war generation to shall we say the post-austerity generation, there is still this ‘I want to succeed’ desire.
BM: “Young people today are fantastic aren’t they? I very much think that there’s a lot more scope. When I first started it was very rare to have a girl in a band. You didn’t see any girls in bands doing what I wanted to do. So I think there’s more opportunity now.”
A lot of that comes through L.I.P.A. as well, there’s an awful lot of young women who are thankfully coming through their doors.
BM: “It’s not unusual to see really good singers and musicians; you really didn’t have that a long time ago.”
I know you sang for the audience that was here today, have you got many songs in the production?
BM: “I can’t tell you that – because I don’t know! (Laughter) No, really we don’t know yet!”
As the panto queen – being the lynchpin of the story behind the whole romance between Cinderella and Prince Charming, I must say you are looking exceptionally brilliant, fab, whatever you want to call it these days.
BM: “This is weird though me in a dress, I don’t own any dresses! I’ve got one dress in the wardrobe I wore about five years ago I think. I’m a tomboy and that’s it. I like to feel really comfortable so will take a bit of getting used to I think! I think I might change and become a girl!” (laughs)
I think many people will despair at the thought of losing their icon.
BM: “Don’t worry, it’s not going to happen.”
I talked about transformation earlier with Cinderella! How does this sort of transformation feel to you?
BM: “When I first saw the outfit, I thought ‘shock, horror, oh I’ve got to wear one of those dresses, what have I done. Now I’m kind of enjoying it, it’s fun, it’s like dressing up.”
That’s what panto is!
BM: “It’s dressing up, it’s over the top, it’s having fun, if you’re enjoying it then the audience is enjoying it aren’t they?”
Is there anything you can say to your prospective audiences about your debut, about what you’re looking forward to?
BM: I’m really looking forward to seeing everybody and I hope everyone will have a good time.”
Ian D. Hall