“The play grabbed my attention back in 1991 because Michael had a similar background to me.”
In the play he recounts the good times and bad times of growing up with a focus on his relationship with his father. Michael also ends up serving in the army and volunteers to help the Australian troops in the Vietnam war. His own experience of war helps him understand what his dad went through and how this affected him.
“His dad was quick to temper and there is a lot of friction and tension between them. He doesn’t have fond memories of the relationship.”
Mulligan says the play is incredibly well written and constructed.
“The parallels and ironies between Act 1 and 2 are clever — it’s a masterful piece of writing.”
The audience doesn’t know if Michael is in his own head, if he is spinning a yarn at the pub or he’s recalling his life story in some kind of therapy group.
“This is very much open to interpretation and that’s one of the things I really like about it.
“When I first read it I could hear a lot of the voices of my childhood — which is why it resonated with me.
“It is very direct and can be confronting and savage in places.
“It might make you feel uncomfortable, but that is part of life — the hard and inconvenient truths.”
It is being directed by Norman Maclean, the very man who first introduced Lawrence to drama all those years ago when he was a teacher at Gisborne Boys’ High School.
He remembers Norman getting him involved in his first play at High School when he noticed him hanging around the drama department.
The pair share a special relationship that started off as teacher/student then later became mentor/mentee and has grown into a friendship.
“It’s a privilege to work with Norman — with his decades of experience and his reputation as a master of the craft.”
Mulligan reignited his love of drama when he was approached by Norman to take a role in Romeo & Juliet in 2019 at Unity Theatre.
He has gone on to do more plays with Unity including The Crucible and Weed. He then turned his hand to musical theatre with a lead role in Rock of Ages and most recently he played Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.
His wife Melissa noticed how much he got out of it, when he rekindled his enjoyment for theatre.
“My wife noticed that it was good for my mood and demeanour even though it has a heavy time commitment. It’s good to have a creative outlet, something outside of family and work.”
Mulligan likes a challenge so tackling a one man play with a large script appealed to him.
“It is my job to make Michael’s story real. I want the audience to feel like the moment actually happened and is relatable.”
Audiences can expect a roller coaster journey with lighter moments of humour and emotional content. But the themes and human experience are universal.
When he isn’t busy with a play or musical production he works as a youth mentor for Atawhai Trust.
He has four children and spent a decade in the New Zealand Police.
He has also worked as a chef and was a stay-at-home dad, which he thoroughly enjoyed, during Covid.
