Two-times Olivier Award winner Philip Quast has done it again by picking up the Best Actor In A Musical award for South Pacific at today's ceremony, making this a hat-trick for the actor who won in 1998 for The Fix at the Donmar and in 1991 for Sunday In The Park With George at the National's Lyttelton Theatre.
The award was presented to him by Maria Friedman after Wednesday Evenings performance 13 Feb. at the curtain call!
What is so impressive about this win is not only is Philip Quast the first actor to win three times in this category but the fact he has only been nominated three times and won on each occasion.
Transcript of Interview and pictures from Olivier Awards
Philip talking about the the romance with in South Pacific
"I think it has that notion that there is something about the fates play a part. That you can see someone, that you see, and you hear them laugh and you are in love. And I think that because romance and sex and everything is distorted, that the notions of... well, the media and movies have distorted the notion of what romance is, those things are often diluted, the chemical things. But there is something there. Just straight off. And he heard her laugh. And I believe that. I believe it's possible."
Transcript of Philip's acceptance speech and pictures of him receiving the Olivier Award
"It is rather humbling to a receive a Lawrence Olivier award on the Lawrence Olivier stage and humbling to be chosen picked out, singled out from a great ensemble seems unfair.
I would like to say thank you to Trevor. He is a wonderful director and also for his courage for the criticism he has received for doing musicals here at the national. Your National Theatre!
Thank you to David White, Stephen Brooker, for Joan Washington for everything French and I really have to a final thing is to thank Lauren. I have to thank her for her bravery, her boldness her effervescence, her verve, which I really mean has been the heart and soul of the company and thank you!"
Hat-trick for Philip Quast- London Theatre Guide February 2002
Two-times Olivier Award winner Philip Quast has done it again by picking up the Best Actor In A Musical award for South Pacific at today's Laurence Olivier Award ceremony, making this a hat-trick for the actor who won in 1998 for The Fix at the Donmar and in 1991 for Sunday In The Park With George at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre.
Quast’s triumph means that The National can also lay claim to a 2002 triple whammy with their production of My Fair Lady picking up Best Actress In A Musical thanks to Martine McCutcheon’s winning performance, and, only moments ago, the coveted Hilton Award for Outstanding Musical Production. My Fair Lady, which beat both Kiss Me, Kate and South Pacific to the prize, found its way to the West End after its sell-out run at the Lyttleton. Director, Trevor Nunn, who also found himself with an Outstanding Achievment Award this year, gave a special mention in his acceptance speech to the musical’s leading man: