Why Markki loves to play ‘someone older’

MANILA, Philippines — “I think I was born in the ‘50s.” That was how 30-year-old singer actor Markki Stroem nonchalantly describes his existence. “I’m an old soul. In every project I do, I prefer to play someone who’s older. I enjoy playing more mature characters.”

Markki, however, looks younger than his age. In the stage role that he did last year — Tommy de Vito in Jersey Boys — he even had to put on weight to pass off as somebody who became known in the ‘60s.

After Jersey Boys, which he did for Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG), Markki did a dance-musical, Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko for ABS-CBN and Ballet Philippines early this year. That was set in the ‘70s.

“So, I’ve been doing roles from the ‘50s to the ‘80s,” offers the good-looking Markki, who has been tagged as today’s “Sexy Jazz Artist.”

The multi-lingual singer-actor impressively speaks six languages. Born to a Norwegian dad and Filipino mom, Markki speaks fluent Norwegian and Tagalog. At home, they talk in the vernacular. Markki’s dad worked at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and was a diplomat for a while. “So, we used to fly a lot,” he beams.

Markki studied in Germany for three years. “So, I also learned German because of the German immersion program in an International School there. Unlike the International School Manila (ISM), which focuses primarily on English, they teach you everything there in German. All classes, we had to learn everything in German. We even did our homework in German. Even Math and Science subjects, we had to do and learn in German.”

Then, Markki also had to learn Spanish. “Because that was the language I took in school,” he informs. “My grandmother is half-Spanish and she speaks the language all the time, so I took up Spanish to better understand my lola.”

When Markki moved to Switzerland for college, he had to learn French. “I was there for four years and I had to learn how to converse with them,” Markki offers. “The French rather speaks their language. The European languages come easier for me and that’s where I also get my accents and how I’m able to recreate accents. I strongly believe in education, that’s why I finished my studies.”

Interestingly, speaking European languages comes easier for Markki, especially in Hair, the rock musical he is doing for Repertory Philippines on Nov. 17 to Dec. 17 at Onstage Theater in Greenbelt, Makati City. He plays native Oklahoma farm boy Claude, who meets the energetic and irrepressible tribe of Central Park hippies on his way to enlist for the US Army.

“My character in Hair is very interesting,” Markki says. “It’s something new and controversial, especially in this day and age. Hair recreates and relives the spirit of the tumultuous 60’s. This has been such an amazing learning experience for me.”

Alternating with Markki as Claude is Topher Fabregas. “We’re putting different takes on the role of Claude,” Markki grants. “Hair is not a linear plot or story, unlike Jersey Boys, which had beginning, middle and end.

“I didn’t know much about Hair before. I saw the movie, but it was a very, very different story from the play. I read the script of the play and it’s a little bit hard to understand. The play is quite risqué. It's more focused on love, peace, freedom and happiness. There’s like one particular conflict. The story isn’t exactly a full-blown story.”

After Hair, Markki expresses his desire to do other plays like Sweeney Todd, Pippin and Dear Evan Hansen. His favorite, however, is the award-winning mystery play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which he watched in London three years ago. The five-time Tony Award-winning play was based on Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel.

“The lead character has Asperger’s Syndrome,” Markki informs. “It will be very challenging to do that. I did ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, immersed in multi-generation roles. I want to play roles that really aren’t me.”