Panto King Rufus Hound visits Fawcett’s Marvellous Museum
What a splendid surprise! Good King Nigel of Norwich popped in for a Royal Visit to Captain Fawcett’s Marvellous Barbershop Museum in King’s Lynn.
For King Nigel is none other than Fawcett chum and ‘Triumphant’ Signature Series partner in crime Rufus Hound, who’s starring in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, until 7th January 2023. Famed for his luxurious trademark whiskers, he was sporting a particularly lush ‘English handlebar’ moustache when a chance meeting led to his collaboration with the Captain. The result was ‘Triumphant’, a rather splendid Signature Series Gentleman’s Grooming range which made its debut in 2019 with a Moustache Wax. ‘Triumphant’ was such a success, six months later the range was expanded and now includes a Beard Balm, Beard Oil and magnificent Eau De Parfum with a heady fragrance reminiscent of the balmy days of Spring. The scent was inspired by Rufus riding his beloved motorcycle through England’s green & pleasant countryside.
He whizzed over to Fawcett HQ for tea with the Right Hand Man. Let’s listen in on their chat…
About the Museum…
What a place! Everything is totally in the Captain Fawcett character. Honestly, everyone should come and see what’s been created here. Has to be one of the UK’s most eccentric museums. It’s just amazing! Is it actually the Right Hand Man’s playroom?
About Captain Fawcett…
Captain Fawcett’s melange of magical moustache managers and array of oils, waxes and parfums are never far from my washbag or my whiskers. The products are fantastic, I have something for every season. Captain Fawcett is about stories. Actually everything is stories. It’s all about how well you tell that story. And Captain Fawcett does it better than anyone.
About ‘Triumphant’…
Being asked to collaborate with Captain Fawcett is one the most flattering things that’s ever happened. I met Iain Crockart at a party and we bonded over motorcycles. Then the Captain asked me what smell I’d put in a moustache wax. My answer was immediate. I ride a Triumph motorcycle in an open face helmet. On those glorious days of summer, to be on a British bike, riding through the twisty, turny B roads of the British countryside is an exceptional treat. Whizzing through little villages on a bike designed to do just that is heavenly. The combination of sunshine, flowers and williwaw arrives olfactorily but manifests spiritually. If there was one smell, I wish there more of in the world, that's it.
About Celebrity Fragrance…
When ‘Triumphant’ was mentioned in Vogue it was just unreal. I mean, I’m not Beyoncé or Ariana Grande, I’m just a bloke from the theatre who does panel shows…with his own fragrance. It feels as insane to me as it does to you, it’s brilliant and completely nuts!
About Captain Fawcett Eau De Parfums…
I like all the smells in the Captain Fawcett ranges. I wear them seasonally. I really love Triumphant when it’s baking hot summer weather. That floral smell is glorious, it makes you feel properly splendid. As winter nights draw on a bit of Booze & Baccy is fantastic. Great for when you’re sitting down, Sunday lunch, drinking a pint and eating a stew. Barberism I like for going out, evenings when you’re keeping your options open. And then bring out that incredible red bottle, Maharajah. That’s the one for some serious nighttime business!
About whiskers…
I’ve chosen to wear facial hair since I was able! I often have to shave for a role. But I can go from clean shaven to a moustache with a little flick at the end in about a month. But the full thing takes about 6 months. People with whiskers are making a lifestyle choice. We’re a more considered bunch in my humble opinion! Controversial, but I’m holding to it! As an actor, big moustaches aren’t right for every role, but I’ve been a ring master for the last year so that’s perfect. When I let my moustache grow longer I get two curls which is harder to manage. So I’m keeping it at one for now.
About Beard and Moustache Competitions…
For a bit of a lark I entered the 2008 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Brighton. It was absolutely incredible. They hadn’t reckoned on the people of Brighton getting so into it, people came to poke fun, but ended up loving it. It was so moving, over 2,000 going mad cheering when this old Bavarian guy won. He was crying, Brighton was crying! It was properly emotional. I was in the Natural Moustache category and my moustache was professionally judged by Nick Cave. That’s a sentence I never imagined saying!
About pantomime…
The roots of panto are brilliantly disruptive. They come from Roman Saturnalia, celebrating winter with all kinds of mayhem and cross-dressing. They’re shows where communities take stock of themselves, mock and laugh at their themselves. They’re about local knowledge and in-jokes. References to things like street names get the biggest laughs. They’re raucous and irreverent. Pretty subversive but life enhancing.
About theatre…
A trip to the pantomime is where most people get their first experience of theatre. They don’t have to sit quietly, they can shout and scream and have a wonderful time. Hopefully that means you’ve established the theatre as somewhere you can look to for stories that mean something, that move you. They resonate and live on. Then when you’re older, you might give Hamlet a go!
About Mark Rylance…
I think a lot about whether acting is an art or a craft. How you collectively get the rhythm right to contribute to the story and bring these disparate people, the audience, along with you. But that’s not to diminish it. You can be profoundly moved by craft. I mean, anyone who shows mastery of a craft, it can be sublime. An actor like Mark Rylance understands the craft absolutely, so then his wizardry takes hold. His Hamlet was extraordinary, the was a pause in ‘To be or not to be’ that made the audience complicit in Hamlet’s existential crisis, he made something solipsistic become universal, which is the whole point. That’s craft motherfucker!
About Norfolk…
I remembered Norwich as a good place when I was in a touring production of One Man, Two Guvnors at the Norwich Theatre Royal. Norfolk audiences are an excellent bunch. I was immediately up for coming back to do panto. I like Norfolk very much, it’s a funny old place. I could happily live in Norwich Market! It’s incredible!
And back to panto again…
Joe Tracini plays Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk. He’s a Norwich panto regular and was born to be in pantomime. It’s exhausting doing two shows a day. We only get Christmas Day off. But when people are really joining in, screaming and shouting, that’s where the energy comes from. It’s non-stop and there’s no buzz like it.
Oh yes there is…and it smells ‘Triumphant’!
Jack and the Beanstalk is playing at the Theatre Royal, Norwich until Saturday 7th January 2023. Tickets start at £10.
Image Credit:Bryony Grainger