At The Mike Stand With... Michael Mellamphy

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Acclaimed actor Michael Mellamphy is more than just an experienced thespian with an unusual second name you know.

The renowned Corkman is currently in New York City preparing for his starring role alongside Laoisa Sexton in 'The Prophet of Monto', a play written by Dublin playwright John Paul Murphy, and directed by award-winning Belfast native, Des Kennedy.

Running from September 8th until the 25th, the play is presented by Solas Nua at The Flea Theater, as part of the 3rd Annual Festival of Irish Theatre (tickets cost $18 and can be obtained by calling (212) 352-3101, or at www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/768385). For more information about the play, theater or the festival, visit www.theflea.org or www.1stirish.org.

Solas Nua, incidentally, is the only group in the US which is dedicated exclusively to modern Irish arts.

Anyway, Michael, like the decent Corkman he is, was kind enough to take a few minutes out from rehearsals to answer a few dreadfully nosey questions for us 'At The Mike Stand'.

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?
Mickey Does Manhattan.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Oliver Reed, but he's dead so I suppose Lindsay Lohan's the next best thing.

When's the last time you laughed out loud?
Just now, imagining Lindsay looking like Oliver.

What act would you like to have seen perform live?
Thin Lizzy.

What team(s) do you support?
Liverpool F.C., Republic of Ireland, Cork City FORAS and The New York Yankees.

What period in history would you most like to have visited?
1603 when Othello was just getting staged would be fun.

What song would you most like to have written?
'Reet Petite' but Jackie Wilson got there first

Who or what, would make you leave a room?
Noise, smells or curfew.

What decade rules (and why)?
The '90s. It's when I was a teenager. Parties, falling in love, getting your independence and no cell-phones to keep track of your whereabouts.

What song do you most enjoy singing?
'Copacabana' by Barry Manilow.

What movie role would you most like to play?
Jim, The Waco Kid, Gene Wilders' role in 'Blazing Saddles'.

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?
Yes...

What's the first album you remember buying?
'All Mod Cons' by The Jam.

Who's your favorite Beatle?
John.

What's your favorite Christmas song?
'Let It Snow'.

Who's the most rock and roll person who ever lived?
Georgie Best.

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?
Easy... The Sex Pistols, 'Anarchy in the U.K.' and everything else by them and all their punk friends.

Who would you most like to meet/have met?
John Lennon.

What book can you read again and again?
'Animal Farm' by George Orwell.

What's the greatest album ever recorded?
'The White Album' by The Beatles.

Name your supergroup.
John, Paul, George, Ringo, Paul Weller, Kenny Dalglish, Mickey Mantle, Bertolt Brecht, Peter O'Toole and I'd make Oliver Reed carry the equipment for yelling at me.

What do few people know about you?
I fall asleep on the loo.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?
Sam Malone from 'Cheers'.

What movie can you watch over and over again?
'Blazing Saddles'.

Who's your favorite cartoon character?
Tie between Peter Griffin or Eric Cartman.

What's the greatest place you've visited?
Soweto.

What's mankind's most wonderful invention?
The Internet.

What's mankind's most irritating invention?
The Internet.

Who's the funniest person who ever lived?
My Dad (He's still very much alive, by the way).

Who's your favorite namesake?
I don't have any namesakes, but I was named after my Dad, so does that count?