Pedro The Great Pretender

A Spanish main man

Oct 29 2004
By Gordon Barr, The Evening Chronicle

Having three plum roles in one Royal Shakespeare Company season is enough to make any actor envious.
And Joseph Millson, ex-dishy doctor in ITV's Peak Practice, is certainly enjoying his stint in the RSC's Spanish Season.

Only problem is, with three roles to play, and with the productions playing alternate nights, he sometimes has trouble remembering who he is. "I've had to give my characters little mannerisms to remember them by," laughs Joseph, during a well-earned break during The Spanish Season's Stratford run.

Joseph became a familiar TV face as Dr Sam Morgan in Peak Practice, starring in 49 episodes of the hit drama.
He won the hearts of millions of viewers as the hunky medic, even being nominated in the best actor stakes at the National TV Awards.
But he is clearly relishing his return to the theatre, and securing the three roles with the RSC.

When we meet, he's casually dressed, extremely amiable and it's easy to see why he proved such a hit on the box with his Hollywood-esque looks, chiselled features and smoldering eyes.

"It was a strange time," admits Joseph, 30, looking back on his Peak Practice days. "It took a bit of time, I'd say six months, before I started getting noticed by the public.
"I'd be on the Tube in London, and I'd catch someone looking at me, then I'd look up the carriage and people were looking at me. In the next carriage people were looking at me.
"I'm sure they probably all individually thought they knew me, but couldn't place me. It was weird.
"But I had no hassle as such. But you do get a bit paranoid about it. Every person you walk past you think is looking at you, and, of course, they're not.
"I had this minor celebrity thing going on for a while, and I don't envy those people who have it 24-7."

Joseph seems to be working 24-7 these days, taking roles in The Dog In The Manger, House of Desires and Pedro, The Great Pretender, all at the People's Theatre, in Heaton, Newcastle, from next week.

"It's great working so closely with everyone in these productions," he says. "And we haven't had time to over-analyse things. We've worked solidly for months with these productions, but we're surprising ourselves even now."

One of the Spanish Season highlights has to be House of Desires, a high-energy, albeit a tad confusing, farce which I caught a couple of months ago in Stratford.
"It's amazing, but the audiences just seem to get it," laughs Joseph. "I don't even know if we actually get it, after all this time.
"We were confused throughout the entire rehearsal. And I think some of us still are - at times!"

The actors must have loved doing this one. A three-hour justification of their art, full of in-jokes on acting and impersonation, and with the added imprint of the Spanish Golden Age to give it that added cachet. But, in truth, you’d have to be hard-hearted not to enjoy this 17th century romp, as Pedro, a social chameleon with the gift of the gab – like an Hispanic Rory Bremner crossed with Del Boy - lets loose his charms on an assorted mixture of royalty, gipsies, priests, religious fanatics, local dignitaries, actors and conmen.....

....Many of the cast who triumphed in The Dog in the Manger and House of Desires - including the excellent Simon Trinder and Joseph Millson - also feature here in this episodic offering by Cervantes, which is directed here by Mike Alfreds, founder of the Shared Experience company.

What's on Stage Review - Pete Wood 2005

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Joseph Millson makes a wonderfully neurotic aristocratic King his huge temper tantrum is marvellous.

Reviews Gate by Rod Dungate Sept 2004

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In particular, Joseph Millson was outstandingly funny in his two roles as a scurrilous, blind con-artist who is outdone by Pedro, and as the king torn between his infatuation with a beautiful gypsy and his queen's uxorial jealousy.

Curtain Up Charlotte Loverage 2005

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Joseph Millson's petulant, child-like king achieves the right, light comic touch.

This Is London Nicholas de Jongh 2004

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...this is very much a company show. Joseph Millson as a flouncing king hurling himself on cushions in amorous despair...

The Guardian Michael Billington 2004

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Among the hard-working ensemble impersonating Andalusian peasants, local officials and royalty, there are sharp performances from Julius D'Silva as a terminally stupid mayor, Claire Cox as a haughty gypsy girl, Joseph Millson as the randy king who fancies her, and Rebecca Johnson as his jealous queen.

The Telegraph Charles Spencer 2005

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It would be invidious to single out any single individual for this is a great ensemble piece, but invariably there are highlights, apart from Ramm: Rebecca Johnson gave us a very Miranda Richardson Queenie-like Queen whilst Joseph Millson as the King was a real delight.

Peter Lathan The British Theatre Guide 2004

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The RSC's Spanish Golden Age season - blessed with the most ebullient ensemble that Stratford has seen in years - rounds off with Pedro, The Great Pretender by Miguel Cervantes. Joseph Millson's gypsy-fancying King is cryingly funny, hurling himself into a frenzied pillow fight with his jealous Queen, Rebecca Johnson.

Kate Bassett The Independent 2004