Oliver Masucci premieres as Snape in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” In the interview he reveals what the role does to him.
Oliver Masucci (55) celebrated his premiere as Severus Snape: He is in the star cast from February 29th to March 10th for selected dates in the role in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” in Mehr! See theater in Hamburg. The actor, who also appeared in the film “Fantastic Beasts 3: Dumbledore’s Secrets”, explains in an interview what distinguishes his Snape from Alan Rickman’s (1946-2016) version from the “Harry Potter” film series.
You are on stage as Snape in the play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”. How are you feeling after the premiere?
Oliver Masucci: I’m always very relieved after a premiere. Then I have this first performance behind me and the tension falls away. That’s a wonderful feeling.
How nervous were you before your performance? Do you suffer from stage fright?
Masucci: Always. Before every performance. But I don’t suffer from stage fright. I enjoy it. Stage fright is fundamentally important in the theater because it encourages you to achieve top performance and keeps your spirit awake. The adrenaline that comes up in you basically stretches time and you can react faster because time runs slower in subjective perception.
“The role comes from playing through the text and what the text does to you,” you explained in advance of your commitment. What did the text do to you?
Masucci: He made me Severus Snape. Of course in combination with the costume, which is the same as Alan Rickman’s from the “Harry Potter” films. I will only find out what exactly is happening to me in the coming performances with the audience.
What challenges does the role of Snape bring with it?
Masucci: Standing in the right place at the right time, waving the wand correctly, saying the right thing, standing in the light and doing the right thing at the right moment so that the magic works and thrills the audience. The magical world is created primarily by the fact that many people on and behind the stage press the appropriate button at the same time.
What makes your Snape different from Alan Rickman’s version?
Masucci: Not much. Alan Rickman played Severus Snape. Now I’m inheriting him and trying to play Snape the way Rickman did back then. Because the shape of the role is quite strong. I fit in and am a small piece of the puzzle of the magical world.
You have made a one-time commitment to ten performances. Is there an extension for you?
Masucci: I’ll only play ten, but of course it can be repeated. I can no longer work like I used to at the theater. You’re very tied to the location, and that can’t be reconciled with the films I make. Being in the theater from morning to evening, on Christmas and every birthday, no longer fits in with my family life. Nevertheless, theater was always the most beautiful thing for me! It opened up a new world for the guest worker child that I once was. Now I really want to experience it again. And most importantly, I find out how all the magic tricks in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” work.
What was the most magical moment in your life so far?
Masucci: The birth of my children.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
