PopLives #65: Don Wycherley

Every week this Q&A finds out what interesting people in music, film, fashion, theatre, literature, performance, tech stuff, and whatever else are consuming.

Don Wycherley is an Irish actor. He next stars in Gúna Nua Theatre Co’s (in association with Civic Theatre) new play FAITH, by Paul Meade, opening March 3th & touring to eight venues until March 29th – Further details here and here.

(Photo by Paul McCarthy)

What are you reading?
Only my script gets read during rehearsal – I’m currently working on Paul Meade’s new play FAITH. What can I say I can’t multi-task and total immersion is required or I would end up feeling guilty spending time with words other than those I am supposed to know by heart and deliver in two weeks time for the Irish and world premier at Civic Theatre (March 4).

Last film you saw and your verdict?
Wolf of Wall Street. I was due to go see this with my daughter recently but thankfully my blushes were spared when she went with her friends instead. The hedonistic Eighties was full on display and the movie was definitely out to shock. I met another poor dad exiting the cinema with his wife and daughter who muttered “good god I need a pint after that.” Overall I enjoyed it, though I thought it tried too hard and was way too long. Di Caprio was great as expected and so I would give it a 6 out of 10 should I have marking system in place.

Last gig/concert you went to and your verdict?
Rod Stewart. I have tickets to Dolly Parton and would choose Kenny Rogers over Garth Brooks any day.

Last stage production you saw and your verdict?
I was at The Colleen Bawn at The Gaiety with my youngest and my goddaughter. Though written many moons ago by Boucicault my young companions had no problem following all the dramatic shennanigans afoot. They were particularly taken with the drowning scene which was well done, perhaps even a bit scary. With actors like Aaron Monaghan, Ashling O’Sullivan and Rory Nolan on song it was a great night at the theatre.

Last gallery / museum / exhibition you visited and your verdict?
My eldest is studying in NCAD and I offered to take himself and his girlfriend, also an Art student, along to see the 31 Turner Watercolours on display at the National Gallery of Ireland in January. This year they were presented in their original frames and my art connoisseur companions, although impressed by the detail and the variety of vivid colours admitted it wasn’t really their collective ‘cup of tea’, so we went for a hot chocolate and shared a gingerbread man before returning home with both our cultural and sugary needs sated for a while.

You have a golden ticket to Easons, what magazine is first on your list?
Having thought hard about this: pondering certain car mags, art mags and so forth I think I am going to say Men’s Health magazine as I find myself drawn to these pricey muscly mags with promises of defined Abs in three weeks. Obviously I am having something of a midlife crisis as I continually dream of a phone call from Jim or Neil offering me the role of an Army ranger returning home to Limerick to find his family have been wiped out by a drug cartel and now its payback, demanding excrutiating boot camp training and of course the obligatory Abs. Come on lads write the script . PS: if Mens Health would like to send me a supply of their magazine I would be grateful : )

What are your most clicked bookmarks?
MyHome.ie. Old habits die hard.

Do you have a favourite podcast or radio programme?
Radio 1′s weeknight Arts Show ARENA, hosted by Sean Rocks. I’m glued to it most nights.

Give us a tip for 2014…
By adding a quarter cup of salt to a gallon of water and spraying it on your driveway you will kill off the weeds.

When you fall into a YouTube hole what’s the general subject matter of the videos you’re watching?
I end up watching idiots doing idiotic things which makes me one too I guess.

What song should we listen to right now?
Pharell Williams song ‘Happy’. It’s infectious in a good way and actually does make me happy.

Which boxset/TV series do you have on the go at the moment?
Having just finished a marathon Christmas Breaking Bad Fest., I wound down with The Bridge and have just started House of Cards. Did I mention I just joined Netflix ?

Which app do you use the most?
Currently my voice recorder which helps me learn off the lines I need to know. I record my cast-mates dialogue leaving gaps my lines that I fill in while on the Luas or at a bus stop. Lots of people just see a man talking to himself. Maybe they think I’m on the phone. I dunno.

Do you play video games or mobile platform games, and if so, what’s your favourite at the moment?
I have Clappy Birds on my iPad which has been deleted by its creator adding serious value to my ipad or so my teenager tells me and I am getting quite addicted to it. Got to 17 this morning.

What is your favourite club night of all time?
The night I asked my wife Deirdre out in Susey Street nightclub many moons ago.

What was the last country you visited and what were you doing there?
Spain in September last for crazy golf with a eclectic bunch of non-golfers, the highlight being the post-match play analysis over dinner in The Hogan Stand in San Pedro.

If you could transport one international cultural outlet to your home town, what would it be and why?
Well at the moment I would like to transport the lovely Civic Theatre in Tallaght (who is celebrating its 15th anniversary next month) to the Northside as the rehearsal commute for the upcoming ‘Faith’ is killing me.

And finally, if you check out one actor this week make it…
I would say check out Dame Dearbhla Crotty playing Mena in The Abbey Theatre production of Sive by John B Keane.

Previously on PopLives: Maser, Rubberbandits, James Wolf, Sinead Gleeson, Olwen Fouéré, Le Galaxie, Cian O’Brien, Cian Ó Ciobhain, Katie Holly, Elaine Mai, Aisling Farinella, Brendan Canty, Melanie Morris, Taylor Mac, Temper-Mental MissElayenous, Fez Fa’anana, Chris Judge, Xnthony, David Mullane, Jo Mangan, Derek O’Connor, Beardyman, Lynnette Moran, Rob Delaney, Julie Chance,  Conor O’Brien, Nial Conlan, Wallis Bird, Adrian Crowley, Tegan Quin, Ellie Macnamara, Steve Ryan, Mumblin Deaf Ro, Rick O’Shea, Grace Dyas, Mark O’Halloran, Amy Conroy, Louise McSharry, Maeve Higgins, Ray Yeates, Nialler9, Jeanie Finlay, Kevin Barry, Brigie De Courcy, John Scott, Willie White, Niall Muckian, Phil Boyle, Angela Dorgan, Roise Goan, Joshua Gordon, Mick Minogue, Eilis Boyle, Annie Mac, Ben Frow, Michael McDermott, Sinead O’Connor,  Shane Langan, Kathy Scott, Eoghan Kidney, Michael Roe, and Phillip McMahon.