Hollywood star John Malkovich is making his English directorial debut at the Rose Theatre this September. Jane McGowan caught up with him to find out more
John Malkovich Rose Theatre Good Canary
It’s not every day a bonafide Hollywood legend decides to direct a play in Surrey. But in the case of movie star John Malkovich, that is exactly what’s happening at Kingston’s Rose Theatre this month.
In what is seen as an undisputed coup for the theatre, the award-winning actor/director has chosen to stage Zach Helm’s play Good Canary at the 899-seat venue, a move that marks the star’s directorial debut on English soil. And although it is the third time Malkovich has directed the play, it is the first time he has done so in the English language, having led the French production to great acclaim in 2007 and the Spanish version in Mexico City in 2008.
“My friend and producer, Eiji Mihara came to see it in Paris, and loved it, and wanted me to do an international tour of the English version in London,” explains Malkovich in his trademark, slightly menacing drawl.
“So he hooked up with the Rose and I came to see the space and thought, ‘yeah, it could work here’.”
Good Canary tells the story of a writer enjoying the taste of his first real success, while at home, his wife slips further into addiction and neuroses. Malkovich describes the piece as a “deceptively simple play about a couple who love each other a lot, but their relationship isn’t quite what it appears at the outset.”
The fact that such an icon is directing the play, has of course caused quite a bit of a stir.
“If people come and see it because I’m directing it, then great. I’d rather that than them not come because I’m directing it,” he laughs.
John Malkovich first found fame in the 1984 Depression-era drama, Places in the Heart. His role as a blind war veteran was universally praised, and he was nominated for an Oscar. Then came classic movies as The Killing Fields and In the Line of Fire where his role as a psychotic would-be assassin once again got the nod from the Academy.
And although he has done comedy, most notably sending himself up beautifully in the bizarre cult hit, Being John Malkovich, it is as a villain that he has had most success. In 1988, his place as one of the silver screen’s best ‘baddies’ was cemented with the role of the dastardly seducer, Vicomte de Valmont in Dangerous Liaisons. Unfortunately, it was a role that seemed to be mirrored in Malkovich’s private life when it emerged his off-screen affair with co-star, Michele Pfieffer had contributed to his divorce from actress Glenne Headly.
Headly had in fact been instrumental in Malkovich’s early career and together they had joined the burgeoning Chicago-based Steppenwolf theatre company, a group he cites as the reason he became an actor.
“Half way through college I had decided to major in theatre,” he says. “But I’m not really sure if I would’ve ever done anything with it had the kids I went to school with not started a theatre company and asked me to come along. I don’t think I ever had much design,” he sighs. “My career has been very much like the first film I produced, The Accidental Tourist. I kinda just went with the flow.”
Born in 1953 in Benton, Illinois, Malkovich is the second of five children. His paternal grandparents were Croatian, while his mother was of French, German, Scottish and English ancestry and Malkovich, who is fluent in Spanish and French, is often described as a ‘europhile’. He and his family lived for the best part of 10 years in a farmhouse in Provence and he is part-owner of one of Portugal’s hippest clubs, Casa Independente in Lisbon.
But following the recent terror attacks, Malkovich says he’s aware of a shift in attitudes since he was last in Europe.
“It’s obviously not a good time for France or Germany at the moment,” he says after a lot of thought. “And I think people should have thought more deeply about terrorism in the 80s and 90s. But they didn’t and we can’t change that. But I won’t let it change my life.”
Although Good Canary marks his directorial debut on English soil it’s not his first time directing in the UK. In 2011 he found himself being asked to direct his “great friend” Julian Sands (A Room with a View) in a celebration of Harold Pinter’s work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Malkovich threw himself into Fringe life and was even spotted amid the throngs of performers touting for business by handing out flyers for his show.
“I enjoyed that very much,” he says, suddenly enthusiastic. “I wasn’t there super long, I think I was in the middle of something else, but I now can’t remember what. But I liked being there and I like the place and hopefully some day I will get to go back.”
But for now, Malkovich is settled south of the border and is busy recasting Good Canary.
“I had cast it once, but I guess people got better offers from TV or something,” he says, returning to his laconic manner. It’s hard to tell whether he is genuinely put out by this, or whether he accepts that it’s all just part of a director’s lot. Still, I can’t say I would relish the thought of calling John Malkovich to tell him I’d had a better offer!
Good Canary is at the Rose Theatre, Kingston from September 16 – October 8. For more information visit rosetheatrekingston.org. You can also check out our review of Good Canary by clicking here
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