John Wood and Julie Nihill to perform Bakersfield Mist at DRTCC

The duo will perform comedy Bakersfield Mist at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre later in the month.

Mr Wood said it was a play about a woman who finds a piece of art in a junk shop. She believes it’s by a famous artist and calls in an expert to authenticate the work.

However, Ms Nihill said it was also a play about gender and class and relationships.

Backersfield Mist is based on a true story. It would make the audience laugh, but also make them think, Mr Wood said.

The play is being debuted in Australia and to-date the feedback, both through reviews and the audience’s reactions, had been fantastic, Mr Wood said.

“It’s always great to get feedback and get laughs or the intake of breath or the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’,” he said.

Ms Nihill said there were lines which would get laughs one night and not the next, but her favourite part was a joke about the Vatican which never failed to get a reaction.

It had been “a long tome between drinks” since the duo had worked together, Mr Wood said, having both previously worked on television show Blue Heelers.

When he first began his career in 1970, Mr Wood said he had no desire to go into television, yet he spent half of his life in front of the camera.

“Although while I don’t have any regrets if I did have a regret it’s that I had to turn back a few movies that would have given me even more fame,” Mr Wood said.

“But fame is not the main reason you do it. Being a celebrity is a bit of a bore. It can be very intense and time consuming and there’s the invasion of privacy.

“It’s great to be recognised for what you do, but you don’t do it to seek attention.”

This performance will not be Mr Wood’s first time in Dubbo.

“John Wood has been to Dubbo Regional Theatre several times with David William’s The Club and When Dad Married Fury as well as hosting the prestigious Canberra Area Theatre Awards this year,” DRTCC manager Linda Christof said.

“He is a popular, well-known actor and coupled with Julie Nihill they are certainly a great drawcard for our 2017 Theatre Season.”

Bakersfield Mist will be at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre on July 20. Tickets are available from the box office or at the theatre’s website.