On the evening of November 20th, 2010,
at the ASU Gammage Theater in Tempe, AZ -
We, The Cosmiks (L.G. Wise and Cosmik Dan), made it just in time for the start of the show ("How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical"), as guests of Stefán Karl, 'The Grinch'. A pretty big crowd attended. Had a cat-bird's eye view of the stage, no heads in the way. A giant white glowy Christmas wreath hovered above the curtain. The next thing we heard was a voice over the speaker telling everyone to turn off their cells and don't use any recording devices - or "THE GRINCH MIGHT JUST COME AND GET YOU!" It was Stefán's voice, of course, and he ended with a Grinchy Rotten Laugh!
Stefán was in the show alot more often than expected, much to our delight. His numbers were the very stuff of entertainment! It isn't the songs themselves, but the way - That Rottenific Way - That he does them! Bringing everyone with whom he performs to do their best.
During the scenes with The Grinch, one could not help but notice how many Robbie-isms Stefán displayed! Seemed he was just wearing another disguise! Bits from Miss Roberta, Glanni, and even a big "FOREVERRRR!" - One of the most memorable moments was The Grinch's duet with Cindy Lou Who. To see a little Who kid melting The Grinch's icey heart, one can only say "Awwwwww..."
If there was a special song made just for Stefán (or Robbie) to which he can sing and dance, it's "One Of A Kind". Some of the lyrics have not so much relation to The Grinch, but to Stefán himself! I think it fits him beautifully. It was hypnotic watching him leaping, girating, slinking, and bringing such wit-slice to the room! I especially liked the sparkly green curtain behind him - Choice! "Let's see some GREEN!" says The Grinch.
A few people in the audience shouted "Robbie Rotten" toward Stefán whilst, as The Grinch, he was mouthing the word "Christmas", and trying to get the audience to shout back.
At the show's end, 'theater snow' and 'confetti' fell from the ceiling!
We met Stefán after being invited into the office behind the stage-door by one of the cast members. We were in the midst of showing our press tags when Stefán came pelting down the corridor and popped into the room! Apparently, he heard that we were representing LTP. I said "Hi Stefán, I'm Laila!". He said, in a deep loud voice, "Oh YOU'RE LAILA! Nice to meet you!" - With a hearty hand-shake.
(Although we had conducted some interviews in the past, we had never actually met in person until this moment).
Stefán then shook hands with Cosmik Dan and Dan said, "I'm Dan Stefan, just like your name, only you spell it in the front and I spell it in the back." Stefán laughed.
The next moment, we were out the stage-door and flailing away with fans and an interview at the same time...
SK:
So, where are you traveling from - Long?
CD:
Nah, nah, we're not far away.
LTP:
Traveling from -
SK:
You live here?
LTP:
- Oh no, just Tempe, we're right down the way, yeah.
CD:
Yeah, y'know.
SK:
You just live right here.
CD:
Right down the street, yeah.
LTP:
Yes, right here, yeah.
SK:
Oh really?
LTP:
Yep.
SK:
We're leaving tomorrow for HOUSTON.
CD:
Oh wow!
SK:
All the way to Houston, Texas.
CD:
Fantastic!
SK:
Then we go - Oh you have my orange chair on your head. (laughs)
CD:
Yeah, she wore that on purpose.
LTP:
Yes I did. (laughs)
SK:
We travel to Houston uhh tomorrow, and then uhm...
CD:
She wanted to do a quick interview, I don't know if you have time for that?
SK:
Yeah, yeah, we can do a quick one, um I'm actually going...
LTP:
Where do you wanna do that?
CD:
After you do this, then you can do the interview.
LTP:
After you do this stuff, yeah.
SK:
No no, let's do it right now, yeah. 'Cause you see I plan to run out. Yeah, yes I can.
LTP:
Alright.
CD:
You can do autographs too.
LTP:
Okay, Have you seen the cartoon with Boris Karloff of "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" - What did you think of Mr. Karloff's performance?
SK:
I have seen it - I loved it! And I use alot from the cartoon, yeah -
LTP:
I noticed.
SK:
I do use alot from it.
LTP:
How would you compare the Grinch costume with the Robbie Rotten costume, is one more difficult to get into than the other?
SK:
This one is a little more un-comfortable. What's all the police doing here?
(Police are around the perimeter of the gathering.)
LTP:
(laughs) Yeah, really?
SK:
Yeah.
FAN:
We were having too much fun watching you!
SK:
I think so, yeah. I don't know, something happened.
(fan walla)
LTP:
Do you think you'll ever do Robbie Rotten again, if offered a movie part and enough money, say?
SK:
No. I'm done with Robbie.
LTP:
Ohhhhh...
SK:
Now let's all move - Move - Let's all move forward. (laughing)
LTP:
Ok alright.
FAN:
My god - Robbie Rotten?! (frantic giggling)
SK:
Yeah! There you go. Another bad guy right there for you! Yeah, let's do a Robbie face, right? (fan snaps a picture) There you go!
FANS:
(hysterical laughter)
SK:
Excellent!
LTP:
What do you think of Arizona, and have you had a chance to see any of the scenery out here?
SK:
Yeah, love Arizona. Went to the desert the other day - Fabulous - To a place called Roadrunner, it's like a restaurant, yeah! Loved it.
LTP:
Ok, um, did you see any of the scenic places in California, such as Joshua Tree National Park?
SK:
Oh yeah! Yeah!
LTP:
Yeah you been to Joshua?
SK:
Yeah yeah yeah yeah, I've been to Joshua Park -
FAN:
LazyTown!
SK:
- uh just trees - Yeah many times.
LTP:
(reaches into a bag) Ok, before I continue, I just wanna give you this.
SK:
Yeah?
CD:
It's a present for you.
LTP:
Yeah, it's a present.
SK:
A present for ME?!
LTP/CD:
Yes it is!
SK:
Oh, 'BAD CANDY'!!! (laughs)
LTP:
(laughs)
CD:
'Bad Candy'.
LTP:
Yeah!
SK:
I love it! Thank you so much, thank you so much, thank you so much! Thank you so much! It was nice seeing you guys!
(Stefán gives shorter answers after he gets the 'Bad Candy' - Probably because he wants to run away and taste it!)
LTP/CD:
A few more questions! C'mon, c'mon!
SK:
Ok, ok.
LTP:
Are there any places in America that remind you of Iceland?
SK:
No.
LTP:
If you hadn't been a success as an actor/comedian, what other profession would you have chosen?
SK:
Pilot.
LTP:
Ok. What do you usually do at the airport when you're waiting for a flight?
SK:
Watch the airplanes, hehehe
LTP:
Did you know that guys who wear big wrist-watches are usually airplane pilots?
SK:
Yeah.
LTP:
Do you think the Icelandic volcanic ash that fell over Europe caused a bad attitude toward Iceland?
SK:
No, absolutely not.
LTP:
Alright. Will you be doing the Grinch tour perenially from now on?
SK:
I don't have a clue.
LTP:
Uhh, are you allergic to any kind of flowers?
SK:
Uh, no.
LTP:
Is the Grinch another aspect of your personality or is it just a part that you're playing?
SK:
It's me. And it's all of us, right?
LTP:
(laughs) Ok, there's just a couple more - Based on your research of candy, do you have a favorite 'bad candy', like the really worst?
SK:
Well, I have to taste this one before I can answer that question.
LTP:
That's Boogers - by the way.
SK/LTP:
(laughs)
LTP:
Any upcoming movie roles and/or voice over parts that you're considering?
KID FAN:
He's from LazyTown!
SK:
Alot!
LTP:
Really?
SK:
ALOT. But we can't talk about that right now.
LTP:
Wow, okay. What's a good name for a purple frog?
SK:
Uh, 'Stefán Karl'.
CD:
Alright!
LTP:
Ok, you got it!
CD:
We're gonna see you later, man!
SK:
Yeah, absolutely! Thanks so much guys!
 Thank You Stefán!
© 2010 L.G. Wise (X RADAR Publ.)
All Rights Reserved
No part of this article/interview can be used, reprinted, copied or stored in any medium without the publisher's authorization.
back to top
|
