FROM: From the Mouth of the Mouse Published Wednesdays
Interview: Tabitha, Haunted Mansion
Every mansion needs its hostess, especially if it's a haunted mansion, but if haunted isn't possible, then haughty will do - as in haughty accent, haughty BRITISH accent, such as that spoken by Tabitha, who once LIVED to serve...
As I'm sure you know by now, after my talking about it these past few weeks, I recently came back from a trip to Disneyland. During my time there, I made friends with some of the Cast Members working in the park, and they were kind enough to invite me to breakfast on my last morning. So, early Monday morning, before their shift started, I joined this group of long-time friends in their almost weekly tradition of eating at Mimi's Cafe for breakfast.
Of course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to snag some new interviews, and so I brought along my recorder. I'll be posting some of these "Breakfast Club" interviews throughout the next few weeks, and finish them off with the round table discussion we had at the end of the meal (after I finish transcribing that monster!).
click an image to expand and read notes:
Enter... The Haunted Mansion!
Have no reservations? You will, once you're inside.
One minute there was a line of people, and now... they're gone!
As if we couldn't tell from the screams and the scary music.
It appears that tonight the Master is having one of his affairs.
Today, though, we talk to Tabitha, who was one of the very first Cast Members I befriended during my stay. Tabitha works at The Haunted Mansion, and very much loves her job. While some folks who work there put on a terribly fake British accent to play their role, Tabitha's accent is all natural!
She was born and raised in London before moving to the United State at 19, then at 21 made her way to California, and now at 23, she's been working at Disneyland for the past year and a half.
What originally drew me to Tabitha was her commitment to her role as "Hostess" of the Mansion. It was my first night at the Park, and her acting helped set the mood for the rest of the trip. She invited us into the portrait chamber with the perfect amount of "enthusiasm" (which, as Haunted Mansion fans know, isn't really the right word for it), and played the part perfectly.
When I went on the ride again - do I need to mention how much I love that ride?! - I lingered behind, against the Ghost Host's wishes, of course, to commend Tabitha on her job. Never breaking character, her response of "I LIVED to serve..." got a chuckle out of me.
Can I just mention again how fantastic you play your part?
TABITHA: Well, thank you! It's hard, you know, because we have to be so unhappy there, and not be overly excited. It's like the one place in the park where, if you are in a bad mood, you can let it show. But I'm usually happy all the time, so playing a little bit out of character is kind of fun for me!
But that's good, though, because you really make it a point to let people know "Hey, this isn't like the other rides. This is different."
TABITHA: (laughs) Yes, it's like "You're in MY house, now!" But no, it's really great. If you think about it, the entire persona we play is so unlike Disney, so against their typical character. Because of that, I really like to make that clear.
I won't lie... the first time I was in there, you scared the hell out of me when you banged on the Portrait Room door.
TABITHA: Oh, good! (laughs) That's what I was going for! The door slides shut real quickly, and no one ever really pays attention to it. So, when the Ghost Host finishes his line, I slam the door with my palm, making that really loud noise. It startles practically everyone, and then most realize they're in a room with no doors.
It's a nice little jolt to start the attraction, I think. My own personal addition to it, you know? But, as you know, the "real chills come later..."
I've spoken to someone before that worked at the Haunted Mansion in Florida, and she used to scream when the lights go out, and you see the Ghost Host hanging from the ceiling.
TABITHA: I have a few co-workers who do that, but I feel like a lot of people expect that now. A lot of Guests scream themselves before we even have a chance to do it for them! Of course, those are the die-hard Mansioniacs. They know every beat by heart, no pun intended.
Mansioniacs... I have never heard that before. That's a great name!
TABITHA: Thanks! I made it up myself, actually. We started using it a lot to talk about the 'regulars' we see all the time.
So, you start to recognize some folks?
TABITHA: Oh, yes, absolutely. Lots of them, actually. We all have our favorites, and they're all really sweet. They love the ride as much as we do.
Have you ever been on the one in Florida?
TABITHA: No, sadly, I've never been to Walt Disney World. Or Disneyland Paris, for that matter. Only the original, here. I'd love to get out there sometime, though, and see how it's done over there. If only there was a door in our Mansion that led to a portal to the others...
Funny you mention that, because the new Mansion movie that del Toro is supposedly working on is about that!
TABITHA: Oh, good, you knew that! I was referring to that, I was hoping you would get it! Did you see the original movie? What did you think?
It was... definitely a movie.
TABITHA: (laughs) So the same reaction I had? I give them credit for trying, but they didn't really capture the spirit - again, no pun intended - of the ride. It was just too out there, and it could have been ANY haunted house that the movie was set in, really. I walked out thinking "Bloody Hell, they ruined their only chance at it..." But I'm glad they're going to revisit it, and hopefully do a better job this time around.
Did you always want to work at Disneyland, and more specifically, the Haunted Mansion?
TABITHA: Well, growing up in England, Disney was always this far off, magical kingdom, and I do mean that literally. It was across the sea, and it was sort of intangible. I'd see photos of it, obviously, but didn't think it was someplace I'd end up. I knew the movies, of course, but never what the parks were like.
When I moved to the States, one of the first things on my to-do list was to go to Walt Disney World. That didn't happen, but when I moved to California, my intial thought was "I'm going to Disneyland, and soon."
And then it just happened that I wound up living close by, and applied for a job. My first time in the park was the day I applied, actually! It was kind of a surreal experience for me, but a great one.
For the Mansion, though, I've always loved the spookier side of things, so the Mansion seemed like a natural choice. I worked in Merchandising on Main Street first before getting moved to the Mansion. I requested it a few times before they moved me, but it was worth the wait.
Aside from the banging on the Portrait Room wall, do you do anything else to get the guests in the mood?
TABITHA: When I'm loading the Doom Buggies, if I'm the person toward the end, right before you actually go IN, I look at everyone. Every once and awhile, you get a real smart ass, which is expected. You know them... "Ooooh, spoooooky!" That kind of person.
So, when they are a little ways past me, I run to their Doom Buggie, and pop up behind them as a little scare. I love it, and it's all in good fun. I'm not sure if that's OK to do or not, but it's pretty funny for everyone. Or maybe just me, I don't know, but I love it.
Thank you, Tabitha, for committing yourself to the role, and for sharing!
If you haven't done so already, please don't forget to subscribe to our podcast! We have lots more interviews coming your way, and you don't want to miss them.
If you are (or know) a Cast Member who would like to share some of their stories and be featured here on Disney Dispatch, email me at jeff@bamferproductions.com. I'd love to hear from you!
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