Robert Maillet makes theatre debut at La Pays de la Sagouine
Actor and retired wrestler Robert Maillet looking forward to performing at La Pays de la Sagouine
Robert Maillet has an impressive resume as a former professional wrestler and Hollywood actor, but the Ste. Marie-de-Kent man has never tried live theatre until now.
Maillet will perform on stage for the first time at La Pays de la Sagouine as part of a Christmas show called, Nöel à la Camp.
"I bring my acting instincts ... from TV and film so that's a big help and in front of a live crowd ... of course would be my background in professional wrestling," Maillet told Information Morning Moncton.
"For me that's the closest thing to theatre," Maillet said of his time in wrestling. "It was really theatre but with baby oil and body slamming."
Maillet will draw from his experience in film and in the ring for his new role in the comedy set at a New Brunswick lumber camp in the 1950s.
Nöel à la Camp tells the story of a group of workers trying to prepare for Christmas.
"And we bring comedy to it, it's kind of a nice story to set off the Christmas season," Maillet said.
Besides Maillet, the play will be performed by the cast of La Pays de la Sagouine including Luc LeBlanc.
"We have a good connection, a good chemistry together and he's a very, very funny guy," Maillet said of LeBlanc.
The two were co-chairs of the 2015 Tree of Hope campaign, which raises money for cancer research and treatment in New Brunswick.
"He just called me and asked me if I want to be part of his Christmas show and I said yes immediately. It's a big deal for me ... being in front of my home town," said Maillet.
Maillet has acted in several Hollywood movies including 300, Sherlock Holmes and The Big Bang but says he has always wanted to try comedy.
"I always thought I would be good in comedy — I have good timing so it will be fun to bring my own instincts to it. Especially working with actors who are professionals. I get to learn a lot from them."
Nöel à la Camp runs from Nov. 12 until Dec. 18 at La Pays de la Sagouine.
With files from Information Morning Moncton