The Motherfucker with
the Hat explores addiction
Lead actor and co-producer Joshua Bilbao speaks of the play in a Q&A
By Irwin Rapoport
March 14, 2024
The Motherfucker with the Hat, a House of Actors production, is being performed at the Mainline Theatre between March 12 and 17. The drama, set in New York City, features a cast of five of Montreal’s up-and-coming actors performing the highly charged characters of the award-winning play by Stephen Ady-Guirgis. This is very much a return to form for the production team at House of Actors and director Rahul Gandhi, winner of the 2022 Broadway World Award for their production of another Adly-Guirgis play, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train.
The premise of the irreverent American dramedy, from its press release, is thus:
“A young couple of New York addicts seem to be getting the hang of life when Jackie gets home from prison to announce to his girlfriend Veronica that he got himself a legitimate job. Their joyful jumping into their future snags sharply when Jackie spots a hat – a man’s hat – a hat that ain’t his hat – in their apartment. We follow Jackie seeking the support of Ralph D., his condescending addiction recovery sponsor, who manages to help keep his marriage with his wife Victoria afloat. Rounding out this story’s cast is Jackie’s cousin Julio, who has seen his lowest points of addiction and criminality, and hasn’t seen the lowest yet.”
Addiction lies at the heart of this play: addiction to drugs, alcohol, appearances, and love… All of them have something that they desperately crave, and it’s likely to leave us wondering, “Am I an addict? Or, have I ever been an addict?
– Joshua Bilbao, producer and actor, The Motherfucker with the Hat
Gandhi, an established director, is keen to challenge audiences.
“These are not kind people, these are not ‘good’ people whom we watch in The Motherfucker With the Hat,” he said. “Addiction, adultery, and a community cannibalizing itself are the grounds for this dark comedy. Its grimy, vulgar, and dim surface should be uncomfortable for you, yet connecting to these characters below the surface, something you may never admit even to yourself will be uncomfortable for you. If you let it.”
The play stars Joshua Bilbao as Jackie, Evan Pavlou as Ralph D., Emilie Rachel as Veronica, Eman Belanger as Cousin Julio, and Lily Maclean as Victoria.
Guirgis drew from his own life experiences in writing 2000’s Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, a play about two prison inmates, one who has found faith and the other for whom faith has become a subject of anger and confusion. Guirgis, himself a lapsed Catholic, had worked in a prison as a violence prevention specialist.
Founded in 2016, House of Actors has built an inspiring community of performing arts practitioners, from passionate community actors to seasoned professionals.
The program for the play provides some background information about Joshua Bilbao:
“Joshua Bilbao is a multidisciplinary Mexican/Canadian artist born in Taiwan and raised throughout North America. Jumping into the world of show business in his early twenties has led him to train under the direction of acting coaches such as Bernard Hiller, Tom Todoroff, Austin Pendleton and Mary Lou Rosato. Bilbao also completed a two-year acting program at the Tom Todoroff Conservatory with extensive work on voice, speech, movement and Shakespeare in New York City.”
“In addition to his training, Bilbao has always taken pride in being a creator. He produced and starred in his first theatre production, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, which won Best Direction at the Broadway World Awards. He has also produced, directed, written, and starred in several short films and music videos. One of his most recent projects was The Wild World Itself, a short film on which he served as both an actor and producer, which had its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival. With multiple projects on the horizon, Bilbao is excited to continue exploring the world of arts and culture through his curiosity.”
Bilbao spoke of the play and his career and acting style in the following Q&A:
WM: How does this role differ from the role you played in Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, also by Guigis, and how is it similar?
Bilbao: I love this question! Playing both Angel Cruz in Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, and Jackie in The Motherfucker with the Hat has been such a profound experience for me. I can connect to both of them in different ways, and they have both taught me a lot.
I always described Angel as the version of me that never found the light, meaning he gave me an opportunity for personal introspection regarding choices not taken and alternate paths that would have shaped my identity differently.
Jackie, on the other hand, I like to say is the expression of my demons. He has served as a reflection of my internal struggles, insecurities, and complexities that often remain hidden beneath my surface. He has offered me the opportunity to face the parts of myself that might not be visible in day-to-day living.
Nevertheless, the shared background, environment, and manner of expression between the two characters is what connects them the most despite their apparent differences.
WM: What sparked your interest in being an actor, and how would you describe the process of taking on the various roles you portray?
Bilbao: It was around the time I moved to Montreal that I developed an interest in acting. I was about fourteen years old and I was having difficulty speaking French. So, to gain confidence in my French-speaking ability, my teacher at the time advised me to enrol in a theatre class. Not only did my French get better, but I also became interested in theatre. Although I wasn’t aware at the time that I wanted to be an actor, it was undoubtedly the beginning of something in me.
If I had to describe my process, it would come down to one word: research. I like to break down the many aspects and facts about the character I’m working on and start the research from there. From that point on, there isn’t a straight line. It’s all about immersing myself in the world of the character and seeing what comes up for me without any expectation.
Learning my lines also helps!
WM: Who are the actors that you look up to and why?
Bilbao: My all-time favourite actor is Robert De Niro. I am a huge fan of the gangster genre, and in my humble opinion, he is the king of gangster films.
Whether it’s in movies or my community, I do feel as if I am constantly discovering new artists that greatly inspire me. Lately, my fellow cast members from The Motherfucker with the Hat have been one of my main sources of inspiration. I couldn’t ask for a greater team to be performing this production with. Their dedication to their roles should be held as a standard when it comes to work ethic in this industry.
‘If I had to describe my process, it would come down to one word: research… It’s all about immersing myself in the world of the character and seeing what comes up for me without any expectation.’
– Joshua Bilbao, producer and actor, The Motherfucker with the Hat
WM: What’s it like being a producer of a show that you are the lead actor in?
Bilbao: It’s a very rewarding experience. I love being able to put up work that speaks to me while allowing myself to lead a show and bring together a group of people who are not just skilled but also giving and committed. I truly enjoy witnessing the collaboration that occurs when bringing people together. There is a mental shift that occurs in every project I’ve produced from “my project” to “our project” and when that shift occurs, I know we are moving in the right direction.
WM: What’s it like being directed by Rahul Gandhi, who also directed you in Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train?
One of the main reasons why this production has been successful so far is because of Rahul Gandhi. Not only is he a great friend, but he is extremely committed and generous. There’s no other director I would like to have onboard. I had to give him his flowers before talking about what it is like to be directed by him.
Rahul is kind, precise and understanding. He makes the most out of our time and always pushes us to go further with our exploration while also creating a nurturing and fun environment. I have found tremendous specificity in Jackie thanks to Rahul, and I’m sure audience members will feel Rahul’s direction throughout our performances.
‘I am excited for audience members to experience the work we’ve put in and, hopefully, get a laugh out of it. After all, this is a dark comedy.’
– Joshua Bilbao, producer and actor, The Motherfucker with the Hat
WM: Returning from Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, is Evan Pavlou. How would you describe his role and the other members of the cast?
Bilbao: Evan’s role, Ralph D., reminds me of a shady cult leader. I won’t get too much into why right now. I rather people come to see the show and make their own opinions, but I am curious to see if others would agree.
For the remaining characters, I would sum them up in one word: addiction. Addiction lies at the heart of this play: addiction to drugs, alcohol, appearances, and love. We get a peek into the lives of these folks. All of them have something that they desperately crave, and it’s likely to leave us wondering, “Am I an addict? Or, have I ever been an addict?”
WM: What’s the most fun you are having in his play?
Bilbao: Honestly, it’s working with the team. Rehearsals have been a blast. We have so much fun while also getting a lot of work done. It’s very rewarding.
WM: Why do you love working with House of Actors?
Bilbao: I love working with House of Actors because they were my first acting home here in Montreal. I’ve been working with Vanessa Lynn Rancourt, the owner of the school for the past seven years now, and she has always been very generous with her time and guidance. I am hoping that this will be one of the many more collaborations to come with HOA.
WM: Are you excited to be returning to the Mainline Theatre? How concerned are you about the dwindling of performance spaces in Montreal?
‘… what matters most is that, as independent creators, we stay engaged, support venues like Mainline, and continue to produce to maintain these fantastic performance spaces alive and well in Montreal.’
– Joshua Bilbao, producer and actor, The Motherfucker with the Hat
Bilbao: I cannot wait to do another show at Mainline Theatre! I love Mainline’s space and I’m very excited to bring yet another passion project of mine to their stage.
Many people have been concerned about Montreal’s declining number of performance spaces for some time, and it is very concerning for the future of our city. In my opinion, what matters most is that, as independent creators, we stay engaged, support venues like Mainline, and continue to produce to maintain these fantastic performance spaces alive and well in Montreal.
WM: What are you most excited about for audiences to experience in this show?
Bilbao: I am excited for audience members to experience the work we’ve put in and, hopefully, get a laugh out of it. After all, this is a dark comedy.
Images: courtesy of House of Actors
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Irwin Rapoport is a freelance journalist with Bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science from Concordia University.
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