Interview: Music and memories Upstairs at the Gatehouse

Deb Filler discusses her show Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me

From growing up in a Jewish immigrant family in New Zealand to travelling to the USA and Canada, Deb Filler has seen the world. This month she is coming to London with her autobiographical show Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me, playing at Upstairs at the Gatehouse. This comical musical meander relates some of her life story, including anecdotes involving meeting seriously high profile stars in unusual circumstances. We were keen to know more so pulled her in for a chat.

Hi Deb. Thanks very much for stopping by to tell us about your show. You’re performing in Highgate, but you’re not from around these parts originally are you?

Hello Everything Theatre! Thanks for asking. No, I’m not exactly from these parts, however the frequency that people say “Sorry” in London is on par with my home country ‘New Zilnd’ where there are several “Sorries” per sentence. There are lots of connections actually: the ease of the locals, the pride in being cultural, the extraordinary number of people who love the theatre and also so many locals both here and there who are incredibly supportive of this project, ten years in the making. I feel very bolstered and incredibly fortunate that London, the world centre of theatre, is where my world premiere is taking place. Though I have workshopped the show quite successfully in Edinburgh, Toronto, Auckland, etcetera, London is THE place. Thank heavens for erudite, theatre loving people who relish a great story.

What role did music play in your Jewish upbringing?

Music was at the heart and soul of my family and community. My German grandmother, who saved the entire family from the clutches of Hitler, favoured Opera. My dad loved classical music and also Yiddish music. He loved all music. Mum had a very sharp ear and extremely keen eye and she harmonised brilliantly. My mum wrote shows for every family party and my sister and I were the performers. Imagine, Rogers and Hammerstein’s ‘Edelweiss’ sung by a nine year old with these lyrics: 

“Matzo Balls, Matzo Balls, how I’m longing to eat you. 
Small and white, round and light, what a treat for a Hebrew!”

How did you end up travelling the world?

Both my parents were European so I knew there was a big world out there. As a younger performer I was in a successful theatre group in New Zealand, ‘Debbie and the Dum Dums’, and they encouraged me to study, to learn my craft, so I headed for New York from New Zealand, and that was quite a learning curve. I had 42 jobs in New York while supporting myself as a performer and several of them appear in this show. Having always had an appetite for stories and an interest in people, creating characters was the natural next step. We just counted 37 characters that I perform in this show. Many of them I encountered in my journey to here. 

Can you give us a flavour of what to expect from the performance?

37 characters! Music! Humour! Possibly you’ll be very moved by a couple of the stories. I play my dad who was the most extraordinary, charismatic man too. And my mum, who was my toughest critic and best support. I don’t think they thought I would choose entertainment as my career, but ultimately were super proud I did. Some of the story of how I found my own voice is the basis of this show, the highs and lows, and the journey I took to get to where I am now, which has been circuitous and, I hope, something that many will be able to relate to. We’re all survivors in our own right. The show has a universal theme and I think also a theme of redemption.

Who are some of the famous names you’ll be telling us about?

Ooh, well I don’t want to spoil some of the surprises, but you’ll meet Peter, Paul and Mary, and Joni Mitchell of course, Leonard Bernstein who was such a powerful influence and that story is almost unbelievable, but it’s word for word true, as are all the stories. Gobsmacking. Oh, don’t forget Leonard Cohen. We ended up as friends for many years. That story is just FANTASTIC. Many of the places I go and people I meet don’t come from any kind of sycophantic journey, they come from a kid who just kept taking chances – and I hope I am still that person!

What was it that prompted you to put pen to paper and make your stories into a show?

I think these stories are just so imbued with HOPE and with LOVE and I believe we need those things right now, we need them badly. We also need to laugh and to share joy because when we are laughing, we’re fully open and that is such an ideal state. Laughter equals pleasure. And release. The more the merrier eh? I think also, the stories you’ll hear are incredibly special and unforgettable and I wanted to share them for those reasons too. I venture to guess you won’t forget them, ever. I certainly haven’t! 

You’re playing Upstairs at The Gatehouse into February, but do you and the show have travel plans after that? We have interest from Ireland, Australasia and Canada. I’m not sure about the US right now but I wouldn’t say no to a New York run and this show has New York all over it. But first: London!

Thanks very much to Deb for chatting about what promises to be a brilliantly entertaining evening.

Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me runs at Upstairs at The Gatehouse from Tuesday 20 January to Sunday 1 February.