Wayne Scott Kermond is one of Australia’s most popular and versatile performers. His starring roles in musical productions Singin’ in the Rain and Guys & Dolls had critics raving and now he is stealing the show in his own production of Candy Man.

With parents in showbiz you literally grew up performing, how long had you
been contemplating your current show Candy Man and what was behind
the idea for Candy Man?

My family has a long history in show business, during the 60s and 70s my parents were very involved in the cabaret scene. I grew up performing but it was the stage production of Singin’ in the Rain in 2002 that really brought the public’s attention to my skills as a stage performer. About three years ago my wife

and I began to develop the idea for Candy Man and in a sense take control of our own destiny rather than waiting for the phone to ring. We wanted to create and produce a show that would showcase the days of the versatile performer that can sing, dance, act and interact with their audience, like in the era of my parents, and one that would allow me to showcase my own skills as a versatile performer.

At 17 my father pulled me onto the stage with him to dance with Sammy Davis Jr and only 25 years later did I realise whose presence I had been in. Sammy Davis Jr is the epitome of the versatile performer and that is how Candy Man came about.

I believe Candy Man is your interpretation of Sammy Davis Jr, not an impersonation show; what can audiences expect?

A fantastic journey through Sammy’s life told through song and dance with a fabulous eight piece band, a lit up set and incredible performers. It will be like seeing a Las Vegas Lounge Show.

I believe Sammy Davis Jr saw you perform and came back to the green room to applaud your talent – what went through your mind?

I was just dumbfounded. Sammy loved Australia and regularly visited Melbourne doing his Hilton Hotel shows. He came to see a matinee show of Guys & Dolls and afterwards came to see me, and in front of all these incredible performers that I looked up to, he said I was a cool dancer and that “we need new cats like you to keep it alive”. My wife also reminded me of this memory, which was also a contributing influence to do Candy Man.

What do you think it is about the man that has endeared so many people to
Sammy Davis Jr; he was an unlikely star considering the times he grew up in?

He also came from a show business family and really had no choice other than to be on the stage, but I think it was his raw talent and determination to succeed that attracted people most to him. Nothing got in his way; everything during those times in American history was against him. He was black, short, not so attractive, he had converted to Judaism and married a white woman, in the eyes of society during those times everything was against him but you were spellbound by his talent and professionalism. Sammy would say that for every minute spent on stage there was six hours of rehearsal to do.

Is there one particular part of the show that you really enjoy?

I really love performing this show, it is a challenge as I am on stage for over two hours continuously, but the most pertinent point of the show for me is singing Mr Bojangles, which tells the story of striving for perfection and fame and the constant fear in show business that one day you are no longer in fashion and you become a has-been. For Sammy this was a real fear that he would become Mr Bojangles, as it is a fear for most performers.

What’s next for Wayne Scott Kermond after Candy Man?
I actually haven’t thought about it, at the moment I love doing the show and meeting the audience after the show, I am really in the moment of Candy Man. I guess spending some time with my family and looking forward to the next show is next on the agenda.

This is a show you don’t want to miss!

CANDY MAN
June 16 – 27
THE ARTS CENTRE, PLAYHOUSE
100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
1300 182 183
theartscentre.com.au

Competition tickets valid for Wednesday
June 16th performance at 7:30pm