How’s the show going? It’s going great thank you! It’s going very well indeed. In regard to Jerry Springer: The Opera, the first thing anyone seems to know about it is the controversy that surrounds it. What are your thoughts on that? Do you get tired of defending it all the time? Well I don’t really defend it because I don’t think it needs defending. It’s their right to protest. We live in a society where if you don’t like something you can go out and talk about it. It’s just that I’ve only met one of these fundamentalist Christians who has actually seen the show. So I think if they’ve seen it and they want to discuss it, that’s fine. But if they haven’t seen it, and they’re just berating it for the sake of berating it – I don’t have a lot of time for that really. Of course, you’ve been over in the UK for a long time haven’t you? | "I don’t really defend it because I don’t think it needs defending. It’s their right to protest." | | Rolf Saxon. |
I have, yeah. You studied at Guildhall, is that right? Wow, yeah, that’s good research! (Laughs). I always do my research! Yeah, I’m impressed! You’re the first one! So what’s the appeal of the UK for you? It’s not the weather is it? (Laughs). Ha, no man, believe me, I come from California, it’s not the weather! I came over here for drama school and met my wife here. We just sort of ended up staying. We were intending to go back home but we never made it. You seem to have a Hollywood career in films though? I recognise you from Mission: Impossible, Entrapment, Saving Private Ryan and various others. The films I’ve done have all been over here. I’m based over here. I have worked back home, but it’s not like I have a career over there though. That’s interesting. Is it difficult to maintain the two different disciplines: being in the theatre and in film? No, not for me. Both give me something that I really enjoy, but if I do too much of one then I start missing the other. In terms of preparing for this role as Jerry Springer, did you have to watch a lot of the TV show? I did! Let me tell you, it is car crash television at its best. I loved it! Any particular challenges in playing Jerry Springer?
 | | Rolf Saxon as Jerry Springer. |
Speaking dialogue when everyone is singing around you. That’s the first time that has ever happened in my life. It’s bizarre. So you don’t have a history in musical theatre then? I’ve only done one, and then you can sing at eachother or speak to eachother, but this is an Opera. So with one exception,Ìý I’m the only one who actually speaks dialogue. The other guy only speaks for two lines, he sitting behind me right now. He’s pretty good; I have to say that because he’s here. (Laughs). Are you enjoying working with the cast? Very much so. The best thing about this show for me is the cast. This is a lot of fun. There are twelve of us all staying in these cottages. We go quad biking and all kinds of stuff together so it’s a lot of fun with these people. Have you been to Liverpool before? Yes I have, but not often. My wife is from Manchester so she has disallowed me going to Liverpool. (Laughs). Will you be making trips to all the Beatles landmarks? No, not really. That doesn’t do a lot for me, but I will be wandering around the town. I like it very much. I might go and see The Cavern, I’ve never seen that before. My brother’s a musician and he went around some years ago and said it was fantastic. But I’m not a Beatles fantatic. I’m not a singer or a musician or anything- that’s my friends and my brothers. And yet you are the one starring in an Opera? Well it’s only my second one, trust me, I’m definitely not Opera! (Laughs). Ok, well good luck with the show! Thank you, It was a great pleasure to speak to you. Jerry Springer – The Opera arrives at the Liverpool Empire Theatre from 5th to 10th June 2006, as part of its 23 week national tour. | 
