CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P15

CINDY BENSON. Cont'd from page 14

Q-You are a human drama and a storm on stage.  Where this power comes from?  Cindy: Odd, isn't it. I call it a blessing and a curse at the same time. It’s a blessing, of course, because it’s exactly what I should be doing with my life.  And it’s a curse because you have to make sacrifices. And I'll tell you a secret--I wouldn't change any of it! (Except of course, for my fee.)                                                                     Q- Do you stick to the script or do you add and change as you go?                                            Cindy: I have a writer/director--David Man--who I've been lucky enough to work with for many years, first as my acting teacher (That's where I learned much of what I know about being truthful with my audience) and then building my show "OUT ON A WHIM." (He also produced my CD. Have you heard it yet? We're very proud of it!) So anyway, since this is my own personal, one woman show script, we can add & change as much as we want. If anything strange happens to either of us or we see something peculiar or funny or infuriating, it's likely to turn into a new piece for my show.  As opposed to say, a Broadway show, like Cats or Les Miserables, you’re not allowed to change one word or musical beat in the script. However, there is some freedom to create & develop my characters, physically and emotionally.                                    Q- What was the best role you have ever played?  Cindy:  I have to say Agnes Gooch in Jerry Herman’s musical Mame. I finally got the chance to play Gooch for the first time this year, at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. I actually walked away with the show and got the most amazing review.                                                 Q- And the worst role you accepted to play?                                                              Cindy: One day on a soap opera!                           Q- What do you fear most in life?                     Cindy: Being alone when I get old. But fortunately, I have a life partner. His name is Bill. We've been together for 9 years now, so he's not going anywhere!                                                           Q- What do you talk about in your songs?             Cindy: Relationships, love, conflict, hope, faith in the human condition…                                        Q- How well do you do that?                              Cindy: The best I can.                                         Q- Have you ever written your own lyrics?        Cindy: Nope.                                                        Q- Why not?                                                       Cindy: I have certainly contributed to the writing, but I'm not a lyricist.  

 

Q- What success means to you?                                               Cindy: Making a living at my craft. And to have the comforts of a happy life.                                                                                  Q -If you were not a star today, what would you be doing today? Cindy: In some people’s eyes, I guess I’m considered a star. But I think of myself like everyone else. If I wasn’t pursuing my career as an artist, I would probably work for some humanities group. I think everything I do is about human contact.                                       Q- While you are performing, do you look at the faces in your audience?                                                                                Cindy: Oh yes! If I’m doing my one woman show “Out On A Whim”, it’s so important to connect with the audience. Having that eye contact feeds my performance. If the script or song allows me to make eye contact with the audience than by all means I will. Some scripts are written where there is a fourth wall and so you don't relate directly to the audience. You reach them because they relate to your predicament, your issues.                                                Q- Which face attracts you most? Faces that catch your attention?                                                                           Cindy: Those that make eye contact with me of course and the faces that are connecting with what I’m saying or doing and are right there with me.                                                                   Q- And then, what you do?                                                     Cindy:  I go for it! It propels me further into the work.                    Q- Who approaches you more frequently? Who express more admiration toward you, men or women?                               Cindy:  I think it's equal. Both men & women.                              Q- Why is that?                                                                     Cindy: I think the characters and the issues in my show are universal. It's about people, how foolish and how beautiful we all can be. So I think the appeal is shared by both.                                 Q- Who is your best audience?                                             Cindy: I find gay audiences to be the absolute best!                     Q-Why?                                                                                Cindy: A lot of what I do is about triumphing over adversity. They just really seem to get me.                                                         Q- What are your best qualities as an artist?                                                                                Cindy: My sensibilities, my singing voice, my physical comedy, my truth. I seem to connect with audiences, make them laugh and cry.                                                                                             Q- And as a woman?                                                           Cindy: My sensibilities. And oh yes, I have an extremely nice fibula. Q- Have you ever had any unpleasant experience on stage? Tell me about.                                                                    Cindy: On Broadway, I was playing the 200lb. tap dancing Gumbie Cat, Jennyanydots in Cats and in the middle of my big tap dancing number I broke my foot. I managed to get through the number and hobble off stage and then had to hobble right back on for the next scene. I finally hopped off on one foot and was out of the show for 2 months with a cast on my foot. Plus in my show “Out On A Whim” I had a drunk named Dale in the audience. He kept commenting on everything I was doing and rooting me on. He meant well, but …    Q- How did you deal with it?                                                 Cindy: I squashed him.                                                               Q- Any advice to all those aspiring artists who need a break? Cindy: Patience, patience, patience. It ain’t gonna happen over night. First of all, you need to believe in yourself, then you need to be committed and totally dedicated. And never stop working on your craft!!!!                   CONTINUES NEXT