Interviewer:
Where were you born Michael?
Michael: I was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I am the eldest
of three sons.
Interviewer:
Where did you first perform?
Michael: I think it was in
grade six. I was in a play where I played an old janitor. I remember
falling down a lot and getting lots of laughs. My teachers told
me that I should become a clown.
Interviewer:
Were you influenced at all by television as a child?
Michael: Yes, indeed. I was
fascinated by Patrick Watson's TV show, "Witness to Yesterday"
and also, James Whitmore's portrayal of "Will Rogers",
a one man play.
Interviewer:
When did you first perform as Charlie Chaplin?
Michael: It was at The Hamilton
Public Library in 1973.
Interviewer:
When did you first go on tour?
Michael: I toured Ontario
as a teenager with the Golden Seniors Band, under the direction
of the late Harold Stevens. He was a truly talented and gifted
mentor who played the saxophone and was an expert in vaudeville
routines.
Interviewer:
When did the Press first become interested in you?
Michael: When I performed
as Charlie Chaplin at the Wentworth Lodge in Dundas Ontario.
The article, "Charlie Wows Seniors", was in The Hamilton
Spectator in 1975.
Interviewer:
When did you first appear in a parade?
Michael: I was in the Hamilton
Santa Claus Parade in 1976 as Hamilton's Charlie Chaplin.
Interviewer:
You did a stint on radio at one time. When was that?
Michael: I had a daily music
show from 1977 to 1980 on station CFMU at McMaster University
in Hamilton where I played "Professor Herbert Shaver"
Interviewer:
Have you ever written a play?
Michael: Yes, I wrote and
played in "The Life and Times of Joseph F. Kenney"
at McMaster University in 1977.
Interviewer:
You perform a lot in theme parks, do you remember your
first?
Michael: Yes, that would be
Canada's Wonderland in 1985.
Interviewer:
Have you ever done commercials for TV?
Michael: Yes, I did one called
"On The Bus", for Winnipeg Transit, using the Charlie
Chaplin character. It was aired in 1987 on local television.
Interviewer:
Do you perform at busker festivals, and if so, when
was the first?
Michael: Yes, very often.
My first busker festival was at the Halifax Busker Festival in
1988.
Interviewer:
Do you perform outside of Canada? When was your first
booking overseas?
Michael: Yes, quite often.
My first performance, outside Canada was at Expo '90 in Osaka,
Japan.
Interviewer:
Have you ever done a music video?
Michael: Yes, I played the
role of a music director for the Rhinos in 1995.
Interviewer:
What made you decide to create the "Living Statue"
characters?
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Michael: The idea came to
me when I was on tour in New Zealand in 1996. I decided on the
Sir John A. Macdonald character first, because he was Canada's
first Prime Minister and "Father of Confederation".
I wanted to promote Canadian history,culture, and heritage in
a respectfully humorous way.
Interviewer:
Do you have a favourite mime performer?
Michael: No not really. I
think all of the clowns from the Silent Movies were wonderful.
Interviewer:
Do you have a favourite Movie?
Michael: Yes. The one that
stands out in my mind is "Children of Paradise", from
1946. I guess there are many others. This is a tough question.
Interviewer:
Who is your favourite author?
Michael: Ernest Hemingway.
Interviewer:
What is your favourite novel?
Michael: The Old Man and The
Sea.
Interviewer:
Do you have a favourite life quote?
Michael: Yes. It's from the
diary of Jim Elliot. "He is no fool, to give what he cannot
keep, to gain what he cannot lose"
Interviewer:
What is your favourite artistic quote?
Michael: Shakespeare, "All
the World's a stage"
