Now here's a blogger with some history at Networks Theatre. Joseph, Jose Manuel Marcos Montadito de Lomo. Sadly no longer with us in Orihuela but now making a new life for himself in Madrid. Even though he's disetiquetted himself in Tuenti from any pictures where he has curly hair, we haven't forgotten his past and have included some of those pictures here. Jose played so many important parts. Amongst them, the Prince in the Prince and the Pauper, Odysseus and Dick Whittington. In fact he almost cornered the market in eponymous heroes! What's that? Oh no, he wasn't Ugly. But now you mention it...
1. What’s your name?
Jose Manuel Marcos Montijano
2. Did you have a Networks name?
Joseph or Markitosh!
3. How many shows have you appeared in?
Seventeen
4. Name them!
Welcome to Sweetville, Christmas at the Majestic Hotel, Flight, Aladdin, The Fairy Tale Mix, Ugly!, Peter Pan, The Prince and the Pauper, Romeo and Juliet, Scrooge.com, Kindertransport, Robin Hood and the Abba Silver Disc, Cinderella, Odysseus, Dick Whittington, Frankenstein and Psychedelic Cool .
IMAGE FROM UGLY, MAY 2004. JOSE IS SECOND FROM THE LEFT.
5. What was your first show?
Welcome to Sweetville (2002).
6. What are your earliest memories of the shows?
I remember that in my first show I didn't know anyone and I was very, very shy. All I had to say in the play was: “I’m a mechanic” and “So do I” but you can’t imagine how complicated it was to say those two sentences.
7. A) What is your earliest memory of Nick?
Nick before the theatre was my Networks teacher. Nick has always been the same. Yes, sometimes we were afraid of him because of his shouting but most of the time he was and he is terrific and a very funny person.
IMAGE FROM DICK WHITTINGTON, NOVEMBER 2008. JOSE PLAYED DICK.
B) What is your favourite memory of Nick?
I remember that in those classes he made us learn things by singing and dancing songs. Every song that was in the “Join In”* book was danced by the whole class. It was awesome!
*JOIN IN was written by Herbert Puchta (I’ll never forget that). That name was so funny for a boy of nine years. It still is nowadays. =)
ED: GROW UP!
C) What is your scariest memory of Nick?
I couldn’t go to the Final Dress Rehearsal before the performances of “Frankenstein”, because I had to go to Madrid. I’ll always be grateful to María Gómez who suggested we could change the rehearsal to the afternoon so I could be on time to take part. Imagine how Nick was… I’ll just say that “Revenge is a dish best served cold” and until the final moment Nick told me I had to appear on stage with some tight leather trousers with zips everywhere. I was really afraid…
8. What has been your favourite show to date?
It’s difficult to say only one, but I’ll definitely choose “Psychedelic Cool”. I think it’s the perfect show to close a phase that maybe opens someday.
9. Do you have a favourite moment in a show or memorable moment in rehearsal?
I will never forget the first rehearsal of “Kindertransport”. It was amazing how Nick introduced the entire cast to the story. Every actor with its character was involved. It was magical.
10. What is your favourite photograph of any production?
When I remember “Prince and the Pauper” it always appears a smile on my face. I think the photograph was of a final rehearsal. We had a lot of fun!
IMAGE FROM THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, MAY 2005. JOSE IS FRONT LEFT.
11. Are there any ideas you’d like to give Nick when he’s planning productions. Stories or subjects that you think might make good shows?
I’ve always talked to Nick about this and I think he could do some Tennessee Williams plays like “Cat on a hot tin roof” or “A streetcar named Desire”. Or it will be amazing to see “Rebel without a cause” at Networks but, as Nick always says, “No cars on stage!”
12. Finally can you sum up Networks Theatre in one word?
Everyone has done this while he was in the theatre, playing a character, introducing yourself into another's life, feeling that connection with the audience. The word is: ACT.
IMAGE FROM FLIGHT, JUNE 2003. JOSE IS SECOND ON THE LEFT.
