The many faces of Jeff Hyslop

The many faces of Jeff Hyslop

By Kristin Froneman

Roll out Jeff Hyslop�s resum� and you�ll have a colourful tapestry woven by some of the biggest and brightest characters to hit the stage and screen.

A quintessential performer, Hyslop has danced, acted and sang his way on Broadway, film, TV and in some of the most famous theatres across Canada, the U.S. and overseas.

�I can�t get it out of my system,� says Hyslop about performing. �I�m still on a performing kick and love the consistency of showing face.�

Some of Hyslop�s major roles include Mike in A Chorus Line, which he acted both on Broadway and in London�s West End, Molina from Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Music Man�s Harold Hill, Jesus in Godspell and the Phantom of that illustrious opera. And that�s just naming a few.

Currently touring his one-man show, Jeff Hyslop Now!, Hyslop, who is still based in Vancouver where he grew up, just returned from performing in Oakville, Ont. and has back-to-back shows on the coast and in Vernon before he heads east again to perform in both major centres and smaller communities.

He will entertain the almost sold-out crowd at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre during the Winter Carnival on Feb. 5.

Hyslop, who lived in nearby Winfield for three years during the mid-�90s, created his current show � replete with singing and dance � with David Warrack, an accomplished pianist, arranger and composer. The two have been touring the show, which showcases some magical moments from Broadway�s greatest musicals and delves into some newer material, for over a year.

�David is a wonderful pianist and we have been friends for years,� said Hyslop. �We were in David�s studio one day and decided to put an evening together of musical history. We�re thinking about putting the punctuation mark on the show at the end of fall.�

Entering the foray as an entertainer at the age of 10, Hyslop would go on to get his equity card and performed a summer season with Theatre Under the Stars.

In the business now for 40 years, Hyslop is still as flexible as ever.

�I�ve been blessed with long tendons,� he explained about his dancer�s physique.

Hyslop keeps himself limber by stretching �on the verge of yoga� and says he is still able to bring his leg straight up so it rests alongside his head. When he finds time to relax, he reads a book or watches a movie. An admitted film buff, Hyslop recently received a DVD of Moulin Rouge as a gift and likes those old British mysteries, as well as newer quirky dramas such as Magnolia and American Beauty.

Watching a movie is a luxury for Hyslop who hasn�t really slowed down since his seven-year stint playing Jeff the Mannequin on the popular kids TV show Today�s Special, which aired in the �80s.

�I am proud of that show. I danced a lot and I would receive a lot of fan mail, some from young boys who said they took up dancing because of me.�

Hyslop also had his turn as the lead dancer and an apostle in Norman Jewison�s film version of Jesus Christ Superstar, which was shot in Israel. But it�s on the stage where he has seen most of his success.

One of his best known roles in Canada was as the Phantom of the Opera from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical of the same name. He played the part for several seasons across Canada.

�Playing the Phantom was a climactic experience and a lot of hard work,� said Hyslop who admits he still gets the jitters on occasion.

�Early on, I couldn�t wait to get out there as the Phantom night after night, but after a while you can succumb to the same thing as writer�s block. You become petrified when the words disappear. It�s frightening.�

More recently, Hyslop took on the part as conniving salesman Harold Hill in the Vancouver Playhouse production of The Music Man.

�I had a great time. I waited for the right time to play him. It�s such a multi-layered role.�

He also stepped in for an ill Brent Carver, another veteran of the Canadian stage, to perform in the theatrical version of writer Carol Shield�s Larry�s Party in Winnipeg.

�I read the book on the plane then went straight into rehearsal. This was different as many people, including myself, had never heard or seen it before, unlike The Music Man where everyone has heard songs such as (Ya Got) Trouble.�

Hyslop has no plans to slow down after the end of his one-man show. He is currently working on a new musical with Warrack, which he plans to direct and choreograph. It is based on Ann Bonnie, the first female pirate to set sail in the Caribbean circa 1720.

�She was like the first feminist and was young at 18/19. The show will follow her story as she rides to fame and a wonderful mystery will resolve when she arrives back in America. I would love to have a successful tour of it across Canada to New York and London.�

Hyslop says he would also eventually like to have a role specifically written for him and wouldn�t mind trying his hand at acting in a character-driven independent film. But those ambitions will have to wait.

Most of the tickets to see Jeff Hyslop Now! at the Performing Arts Centre are sold, however, the Ticket Seller reports there are still some available. Visit or call the centre�s Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW (7469).

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