Topsy Turvy

Michelle Vergara Moore's acting career isn't following the traditional chronological path. What usually happens is that a graduate will find local theatre work, maybe a bit of film or television as well, and then head overseas in pursuit of brighter lights and bigger cities. Moore, though, has turned that trend on its head. After struggling to find good acting work in Australia, she headed for New York where the opportunities were greater, ultimately landing a role in the upcoming Steven Soderbergh film This Bitter Pill, alongside Jude Law and Rooney Mara. Now she's back in her home country, preparing for her professional theatre debut in Red Stitch's The Motherfucker With The Hat.

Usually people make their theatrical debut before working with one of Hollywood's most lauded directors, and Moore admits the timing is a little strange. “It's really weird,” she laughs. “At NIDA, about 95% of the training is theatre training – how to walk on stage, talk on stage, all that sort of stuff.” Moore always loved theatre during her training, but post-graduation, she couldn't land a stage role. “I think I had about three stage auditions and got through to the next round in my first year out of NIDA, but then nothing came of it. I really love theatre, so I'm excited to be doing this play.”

The play in question, the Australian debut of The Motherfucker With The Hat, is written by the admired Stephen Adly Guirgis and is being directed by David Bell, who was behind Red Stitch's Creditors last year. It's a confronting work; as Moore points out, the title “...is not the only swearing in the play.” Moore plays Veronica, a drug addict, whose boyfriend Jackie comes home from prison on parole. “Jackie's [parole is conditional on him being] completely clean of alcohol and drugs,” explains Moore. “It's basically about the relationship he has with my character, who is unfortunately a major drug addict and quite violent and excitable, and his relationship with his AA mentor.”

Moore was drawn to the energy of the play – the script alone was enough to convince her that she wanted the role. “When I read it, it was really fast-paced and bare-bones, in-your-face dialogue.” She was also amazed by the strong language. “The character I'm playing, Veronica, she has got the filthiest mouth I think I've ever heard. Some of the swearing that comes out of her mouth… I'm worried about my parents! I'll be like, 'Oh, Mum, sorry about that!'”

The Motherfucker With The Hat also offered Moore the opportunity to explore New York further, from the comfort of an Australian stage. “The characters are pretty much born and bred in New York,” she says. “Because I've lived in New York City for over a year, I can see aspects of the characters in my own experiences.” Furthermore, she knows how New Yorkers sound, and is confident that this production will avoid the trap of the failed accent.

Once this play finishes, Moore won't be heading back to New York right away. She's landed a role in the upcoming ABC series The Time Of Our Lives, which she'll be filming next. However, the US will inevitably beckons, especially since she recently signed with a high-profile talent agency in New York. For a girl whose post-NIDA experience consisted mostly of unsuccessful stage auditions, Moore is enjoying quite a stellar ride.

WHAT: The Motherfucker With The Hat