From abc.net.au: Sir Ian McKellen is widely recognised as the best classical actor of his generation, he has a glittering array of awards including two Academy Award nominations, and he’s been knighted. Now at 68, Sir Ian has finally tackled perhaps Shakespeare’s most demanding role, King Lear, and for eight days in Melbourne, he and a stellar cast will present 10 performances of ‘Lear’ and another great classic, Chekov’s ‘The Seagull’. [More]
Category: LotR Cast News
Jonotrek writes: Since I let you know about Miranda Otto co-starring in a new television series back in back I wanted to update you with new information. ABC-TV announced on Wednesday Cashmere Mafia will premiere the first week of December. Note that there will be a special preview of the show that follows the Dancing with the Stars finale and airs the week after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday (which is good because the actual week of Thanksgiving normally is one of the lowest rated weeks all year).
Claire writes: Reviews of “In Celebration”, with Orlando Bloom in his London stage debut, have been appearing in UK newspapers.
The Observer’s critic was impressed with Orlando’s acting, and indeed the whole production. [More]
On the other hand, the Telegraph’s reviewer really didn’t like the play at all, and his opinion of Orlando definitely comes under the heading of “damning with faint praise”.
The Independent’s review feels that the play always lacked psychological depth and is now rather dated. [More]
Dated, perhaps, but still having an impact, is the opinion of The Times’ reviewer. [More]
There are more compliments, too, in The Stage, the theatrical world’s trade paper. [More]
SINGAPORE — Ian McKellen says playing the title character in William Shakespeare’s “King Lear” is more nerve-racking than his recent Hollywood film roles. Singapore is the first stop on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s international tour of “King Lear” and “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov. ” ‘King Lear,’ I’ve been seeing all my life. I mean, the great actors of my lifetime … to join their company, as it were, by playing a part that’s challenged them, is one of the great joys of being an actor who does the classics,” the 68-year-old actor said Wednesday at a briefing. “Without doubt, Lear is the one I got most nervous about.” [More]
Two years ago, director David Cronenberg and actor Viggo Mortensen had a huge triumph with the world premiere of A History of Violence at the Toronto International Film Festival. And when they stroll down the red carpet at Roy Thomson Hall before dusk on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the 2007 festival, you could be pardoned for having a flash of déjà vu. Yes, it’s another Toronto International Film Festival; another world premiere; another night at Roy Thomson Hall; and, once again, the Star has learned, Cronenberg will occupy what some regard as the most desirable slot in the festival: the early gala on the first Saturday. [More]
SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – As Gandalf and Magneto, he’s faced off fire-breathing monsters and superheroes, but actor Ian McKellen says he picks his battles when it comes to celebrity causes. The Oscar-nominated thespian stepped into a brewing debate in Singapore about decriminalising homosexual acts just hours after arriving in the city state this week as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s touring production of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear” and Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull”. McKellen, 68, was quoted in Singapore’s pro-government media urging the state to repeal its laws that make sexual acts between men a crime. [More]