Michael (character)

Michael is a fictional character played by Michael MacNeil in the 2017 play, Paul Bishop is Directing a Play.

Michael is an actor and "Family Values", the play which Paul Bishop wrote, is his first lead role.

Despite having only been in one major production, Michael appears to be arrogant and self-centered, displaying a particularly antagonistic relationship with Paul Bishop.

Development and Casting
The role of Michael was created by Fritz and John Bury, originally cast as Daniel Farrow, who portrayed a similar character named "Winston" in Damned, and rewritten when the character was recast as Michael MacNeil. The rewritten version of the character shares a egotistical disposition with the original, though he would be developed into much more of an antagonist towards Paul Bishop after being recast.

The character of Michael in "Family Values" was named after the late father of Fritz and wears the same housecoat which appears in The Writer and Comfort Food.The fact that Michael MacNeil portrays two characters with the same name is purely coincidental.

Both the character of Michael and the fictionalized version of the actor purposefully bares strong resemblance to Paul for his arrogance and obsessive work habits, as a representation of himself which Paul reveals later in the play.

As part of the 2017 One Act Play Festival, the cast of Paul Bishop is Directing a Play were awarded "Best Ensemble Cast".

For his performance, Michael won the 2017 Tarsies award for "Best Emerging Male Actor".

Appearances
Paul Bishop is Directing a Play (2017)
 * "Michael" / "Michael"