2007-02-07 - 11:53 a.m.

Having nailed the role of orthodox Jew last year, I�m keeping it equally natural for my next venture and am in the process of auditioning for the part of a negro slave.

Not being black is something of a setback, sure, but added to the mix is the fact that it�s a proper, olden days opera, and I will have to sing tenor (I�m naturally bass-baritone) and that it�s as part of a four part chorus (the last was unison, we all just sang the melody) so it�s almost all weird harmonics. No problem for anyone with a hint of musical talent, obviously, but this is me.

Luckily, only 1,500 people per night would see me being the whitest guy on stage, so that�s OK.