Acting is weighty work for Moffat ing an absurdly steep, treacherous wooden staircase | NTERVIEWING JOHN Moffat at his home means scal- slick with rain and soggy leaves. Wearing heels would be madness. Here is an actor who takes the cliche ‘break a leg’ to new heights, | say to myself, puffing as | finally reach the summit 100 siairs later. But the hazards outside Moffat’s Deep Cove home are child's play compared to what one is con- fronted with inside. EVELYN &210°3 JACOB — spotlight feature Despite the comfortable, stylish surroundings, Mofiat struggles to find comfort. Pressing an ice pack against his aching back, he squats half off the couch a la Johnny Bench. Moffat is still recovering from lif- ting Nicola Cavendish on the opening aight of Blithe Spirit. Nevertheless, he talks in a friendly manner, all the while incessantly sipping on Japanese tea and puff- ing furiously on a seemingly never-ending chain of cigarettes. None of which is cause to raise an eyebrow, until through the smoke he nonchalantly remarks. “I've got cancer and I'm smok- ing.”’ Two and-a-half years ago Moffat discovered he had lymphatic cancer, a nasty disease that nor- mally ravages the entire bady. At first he thought it was a boil, but the discovery turned his life upside down. “t quit smoking right away and went on a strict macrobiotic diet,” says Moffat, who started smoking again in his role as Charles in the new Playhouse production of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, because “Coward's characters don’t do anything else but smoke and drink martinis.” Moffat lost his confidence on the stage and suffered self-pity, denial and anger. “I couldn’t work. Mentally | wasn’t into it. I didn’t know what would happen. “4 went through radiation treatments, my hair fell out and | felt tired ail the time. Some of my friends were so shaken they didn’t want much to do with me. They didn’t know what to say, but you know that you’re the same per- son.” His disease also gave him a new set of priorities. Previously caught up in the self- involved world cf acting, Moffat RESTAURANT Asan — OPEN NEW YEAR’S EVE & NEW YEAR’S DAY for Dinner Closed December 24, 25, 26 & 27th 926-4915 29 - Wednesday, December 13, 1989 - North Shore News EWS photo Mike Waketisid ACTOR JOHN Moffat: his battle with cancer has given him a new set of priorities. decided to make time tor other things. He has become more in- volved with the gay community, training as a peer counsellor with the Persons With Aids Society, where he works as a volunteer. He says he got involved because he had something to offer other people who suffer terminal ill- nesses. “Having been through some- thing tife-threatening, | wanted to make a contribution,” he says. A native of Vancouver, Moffat. 34, had his first taste of the theatre at Churchill Secondary, playing such roles as the Wicked Witch of the West and Jesus Christ in the school’s drama program. He studied theatre at Langara’s Studio 58 and made his profes- sional debut on a seven-month children’s tour with Edmonton's Citadel on Wheels company. This year he has worked almost non-stop, most recently as Roue Valmont in the Playhouse produc- tion of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Moffat says playing the role of Charles, a man tormented by his dead wife, is a challenge — “Charles goes through an inter- esting journey. Plus he’s in prac- tically every scene.”’ Moffat, a Shakespeare devotee, didn’t think he'd like Coward at first, who “seemed light and sil- ly.” But after a couple of rehear- sals he changed his mind. ‘‘! found that there is quite a technique to Blithe Spirit. There’s more substance there than | thought.” His aching back confirms that Blithe Spirit is weighty work. 1373 MARINE DRIVE, mz : WEST VANCOUVER eC Li GARDENS ~~ CHINESE RESTAURANT 119 E. 2nd Street (off Lonsdate) N. Van. eee: : From ail of us at Forster’s Emerald Park we wish you a 123 6 or 6 Goma ea Seo" ——<— “We just renovated & under New Management Come in and enjoy our Szechuan Cuisine. Try our delicious Smorgasbord Fri. Sat., Sun. from 5:00 to 9:00 pm “Free delivery/take out service /catering.” Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. nei & Seart rc OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK | LUNCH — DINNER Mon. to Sat. & Holidays 11:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. 350 EAST 2ND ST. NORTH VANCOUVER 988-8353 Order one regular price menu item - get a 2nd of equal value or less for half price with this advertisement. COUNTRY RESTAURANT AT EMERALD PARK Try our daily Lunch Specials Phone: 986-4175 Now Booking for Christmas Parties. a ie eer '