A lonesome gay man obsessed with a female singer. Sounds familiar! In the case of Here You Come Again, Dolly Parton rises to the occasion for Kevin, played by Dash Kruck.
Kevin, who’s lost in Lockdown, magically meets Dolly Parton. How did you prepare for that?
It’s interesting because Kevin is dealing with being in his forties and alone. He’s in a relationship but doesn’t feel fulfilled and is questioning everything in life. His career hasn’t taken off, and he’s lost. I had a similar experience last year, thinking “Who am I?” Things like getting older, and how do I find my confidence again? So, I very much draw on the lived experience.
A familiar experience for many of us!
Yes, especially in the gay community. We kind of define ourselves by the physicality of our youth, but we don’t properly recognise the lived experiences like our compassion and wisdom. Growing up, homosexuality was still criminalised in the State where I lived. Coming from that to where homosexuality is now much accepted gives me a feeling of gratefulness. There’s a sense of history that informs how fortunate we are now.
Dash Kruck as Kevin and Tricia Paoluccio as Dolly Parton
What was your growing up like?
I grew up in the church, and my father was a pastor. It was very Christian, and I was locked into that. I was taught that gay people didn’t exist, and that they chose to be gay and immoral. When I realised I was gay, I spent many years trying to pray the gay away because it was seen as an impediment. I went to conferences and such to try and ‘exorcise’ the demons, and it was quite traumatic. For a short time, I even became a missionary, trying to prove I was doing the right thing. It took me a long time to come to terms with and find peace. I’m so grateful to be gay. I have such a wonderful life, and I can’t imagine it any other way. I believe that a peace that’s earned can be stronger than a peace that’s discovered.
“Growing up, homosexuality was still criminalised in the State where I lived.”
How did you get your start in the industry?
I grew up in Brisbane and trained at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and The Actors Conservatory. I was lucky enough to get consistent work with companies like Queensland Theatre, LaBoite and Metro Arts. There’s a huge collaborative community of artists in Brisbane who are passionate about creating work from the ground up, and I got a strong foundation in writing, directing, dramaturgy and developing new ideas. I worked on a wild range of shows – musicals, cabarets, shadow puppetry, comedy, drama, verbatim, immersive, children’s theatre, circus – from intimate drama to Shakespeare with a full symphony orchestra! Brisbane has some of the best creatives in the country. There’s something in the water!
Dash Kruck as Kevin and Tricia Paoluccio as Dolly Parton
What’s it like working with Tricia Paoluccio as Dolly?
She’s phenomenal. She says I’m the straightest gay guy she’s ever met. She calls me a ‘gait’, which is a gay straight. (Laughs). I think she’s referring to the way that I dance!v The good thing about Tricia is that she doesn’t impersonate Dolly like a tribute act – she embodies her. It’s beautiful to watch, and I pinch myself because it’s like front row tickets to a nightly Dolly Parton concert. Dolly is fastidious with how she’s presented, and she had to personally approve Tricia. I had to be approved by Dolly, too! (Laughs).
Do you get to wear rhinestones?
There are more rhinestones in this show than in a rhinestone factory! Kevin doesn’t get to wear too many because he’s stuck in the family attic in Bendigo. But it’s a great gig because I get to wear pyjamas for most of the show. But that’s not to say Kevin doesn’t get his rhinestone moment.
“I spent many years trying to pray the gay away because it was seen as an impediment.”
Were you already a fan of Dolly’s?
I’ve always loved Dolly, but I never really delved into her. I have one friend who’s a Dolly fanatic. When he found out I’d landed the role, he burst into tears. Since doing the show, and getting to research and know Dolly, I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve never found a bad thing about her. She’s one of the most incredible humans and has always stood up for people’s right to be who they are. She believes you should be ‘you’ and not try to be somebody else. Be you, because that’s who you’re meant to be and it’s what the world needs. It’s inspiring!
Dash Kruck as Kevin and Tricia Paoluccio as Dolly Parton
Apart from Dolly, who are your favourite female singers?
I fell in love with Sia back when she was making her own music in Adelaide. Breathe Me is still one of my all-time favourite songs. I think she’s a genius. I mean, the fact that she was writing incredible hits for other people, behind the scenes. Titanium became her big breakthrough because she sang the demo track, and they decided to keep her vocals. I love how she has no interest in being a celebrity. She’d rather just make incredible work.
Who has been your greatest influence in the industry?
Realistically, the greatest influence on me is working with great actors from across generations. The people who have been quietly working away in the industry for years. The greatest thing about them is what they say backstage. Just one throwaway comment that will stick in my brain and my heart. Those little pieces of information form the backbone of why and how I work.
“I’m so grateful to be gay. I have such a wonderful life, and I can’t imagine it any other way.”
What about a ‘pinch yourself’ moment?
When I was a child, I watched Jon English and Simon Gallaher in The Pirates of Penzance. I watched it over and over! Many years later, I got to work with them both in Spamalot. I also love the comedian Frank Woodley, and he was in it too. Working alongside my heroes was a true ‘pinch myself’ moment.
Do you have your sights set on any future roles?
In my career, I’ve never had a desire to chase after particular things. They’ve either come to me or turned up at the right time in my life, and every time I play a role, I learn something new. A lot of performers are go-getters for certain roles, but I’m just grateful to be doing this and to experience and grow from it. At my heart, I’m just a storyteller. I love people and humanity. I think everybody has an interesting story. Jumping into somebody else’s skin and exploring their life is what I find intoxicating. I’m aspirational, but I’ve never had the desire to be ‘the star’.
Is there a favourite part of the show for you?
My character is on a journey throughout the show, and every night when he gets to a place where he can finally understand himself, that’s a beautiful cathartic moment for me. I can very much relate to it. We should celebrate the things that are good about us, and Kevin realises that about himself. That’s my favourite part, when he owns himself and feels who he’s meant to be in the world.
Dash Kruck
Apart from the Dolly Parton music, what do you think it is about this show that resonates with audiences?
Here You Come Again is unapologetic in being what it is. Dolly isn’t interested in doing anything that doesn’t bring joy and hope to the world. People come to see Dolly, and when they see my character, it’s like, “What’s this guy doing here? Where’s Dolly?” (Laughs). But by the end of the show, the audience is cheering for Kevin. They are so behind him because they see themselves in him. He’s somebody struggling with life and his feelings of needing other people’s validation. How do you find your way through that when the world is speaking so loudly in your head? Kevin does it through Dolly Parton’s songs, and people relate to that. A lot of the time, it’s not about striving, but stepping back to look at yourself.
The show really does have a profound effect on people.
Well, when I saw it in London, I wept! It was so joyful and hit me right in the heart. A complete stranger came up to me in the foyer, a woman who didn’t know me from a bar of soap. She had tears in her eyes and said, “Wasn’t that wonderful?” She told me how she’d had a terrible couple of years holed up in her house and unable to face the world. But when she saw this gay man on stage going through his struggles, she related and said it changed her life. I think of her before every show!
For more: hereyoucomeagain.com.au
Follow Dash on Instagram @dashkruck
