{THEATRE} A Celebration of Harold Pinter Best known for their big screen performances, John Malkovich and Julian Sands share a love of the work of Harold Pinter. Now they’re bringing that passion to the Fringe, as Anna Millar discovers
BEHIND THE HEADLINES
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THE DICK AND THE ROSE Inspired by true accounts, this production details the harsh circumstances behind mothers taking their own children’s lives. Gryphon Venues at the Point Hotel, 07531 392 327, 8–27 Aug (not 14, 21) 1.30pm, £8 (£6). Previews 5–7 Aug, £4.
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relationships are haunted by her past experiences. theSpace on Niddry St, 0845 557 0844, 8–13 Aug, 2.50pm, 15–18 Aug, 3.50pm, £5 (£3). 64 THE LIST 4–11 Aug 2011
T ogether they took on civil war in The Killing Fields and cannibalism in Hotel. Now two of Hollywood’s most prolific actors, Julian Sands and John Malkovich, are taking to the Fringe, with a salute to their favourite playwright.
A Celebration of Harold Pinter is a one-man show featuring poetry, prose and anecdotes from the pen of the late Nobel laureate. Sands, the English actor best known for his appearances in A Room with a View, Gothic and Boxing Helena, discovered Pinter at an early age. He was immediately struck by the writer’s ability to create dramatic poetry out of everyday speech. He later discovered his friend and sometime co-star Malkovich was also a fan.
‘John had acted in and directed many of Harold’s plays – he loves them,’ says Sands. ‘It was like both of us felt a strong connection to his work, totally independent of each other.’
‘IT’S A VERY PURE
While Sands had seen Pinter at a variety of events, the pair first became properly acquainted in 2005 when the playwright, who was unwell at the time, asked Sands to stand in for him at a reading of his work in London. The proviso for replacing him, explains Sands, was that Pinter worked with the actor on the presentation. EXPERIENCE, THERE ARE NO DISTRACTIONS’
to see if we could make it work into a show.’
Working around Malkovich’s other projects and Sands’ filming of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the pair started to put together a one-man show. Those familiar with Pinter’s reputation can expect sprinklings of his prose, extracts of his romantic poetry and anecdotes from both actors’ time working with him.
‘It’s thrilling to work with Harold’s writing, working with the voice and the words on the page,’ says Sands. ‘It’s a very pure experience, there are no distractions, with a set or a dramatic event: it’s just his language and my presentation of that.’
For Sands it was no surprise that Malkovich should bring out the best in Pinter’s work – and himself as an actor. ‘John has an amazing ear for Harold’s language. He’s appeared in No Man’s Land and Homecoming and had hung out with Harold a little bit.’
Sands is excited about being given the opportunity to bring some of the playwright’s later writing before an audience.
‘Harold had brilliant intellect, he had this very powerful animal magnetism, even when he was ill, and a sculptural physicality, which was very compelling. I would say that’s the thing that marks John out as similar – he has a charismatic personality, he’s a total original.’
Sands says he hopes that the show, which goes on a national tour after the Fringe, will attract Pinter followers and novices alike. ‘I’ve loved performing this work to people who have no idea who Pinter is, as much as absolute devotees like myself. ‘Whichever they are, hopefully the audience will
come on a journey of this great man’s life with us.’
A Celebration of Harold Pinter, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 6–21 Aug, 3pm, £12.50–£15 (£11.50–£14). Preview 5 Aug, £7.50.
‘It went pretty well and he was pleased,’ remembers Sands. ‘Well, as pleased as he was ever going to be without doing it himself.’ When Pinter died in 2008, and Sands read from his work at a memorial event, Malkovich got hold of a recording and began listening to it repeatedly on his iPod. The two actors had last worked together on 2001 horror flick Hotel – Sands’ character, a cannibal, had devoured Malkovich in a basement, a sin the US actor eventually forgave him for.
‘I remember he called me, very animated, and said, “What are you doing with this Pinter stuff?” I was doing readings at the time in LA, but John was keen
Salute to the master