话剧《古怪的一对》主演Charles Mayer接受沪江英语采访实况：

Q: Felix and Oscar, are you any one of them in your daily life?

A: I’ve never seen The Odd Couple before but it is a part of western culture. It seems that couples like Oscar and Felix live everywhere. So my understanding is that I have been a Felix in an ‘Odd Couple’ before and also an Oscar; perhaps we all have!

Q: We know that the odd couple is a very famous Broadway show, it also has its Movie version, TV series, but on the other hand, most of the Chinese audiences are not familiar with it. So what is the biggest challenge to re-produce a classic like this? Do you prefer to keep it the way it is? Or add some new thing into it?

A: I watched some of the TV show and film, and the performances are outstanding and have plagued me throughout the rehearsal process. I wish I hadn’t! The play has been written for the actors to grab it and perform for audiences everywhere. We’re not trying to reproduce the TV show or film. We’re trying to reproduce what human beings do to each other.

Q: Have you add any of your own creations and ideas when you are acting? Can you tell me the details about that?

A: Yes, we’re given the script, and those are the only facts that we have. All the other details that we need to create a 3-dimensional character come from our imagination of the actor. And a brilliant playwright like Neil Simon gives the actor lots of scope to fill in the details using their imagination and talent.

Q: And what is the most challenging thing when you acting this play?

A: Working with an American accent with Americans on stage in front of Americans. It’s a beautiful challenge. It’s an American story and I love New York City!

Q: How’s it like to be a director or be an actor or actress in China? Is there any difference in your home country? What is the biggest problem you’ve ever met here?

A: Being a foreign actor in China is wonderful because there’s plenty of work for actors who act in the Western style. The Chinese style of acting is slightly different, and there are some western actors who act in the Chinese style but I prefer the Western style.

I’m very pleased that Western plays have been produced here such as Doubt and 12 Angry Men. Ad it is a mark of excellent playwriting and the standard of Chinese acting that 12 Angry Men was so good at the SDAC.