z B1 is WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1994
4111111MINEW Michael BrosHow John Malkovich during a reading for the Steppenwolf Theater Compa- ny's dramatization of Don DeLillo's novel "Libra." As a Stage Director, John Malkovich Is True to His Image By MEL GUSSOW vich since he read it, before it was published in 1988. "It addressed in a Special to The New York Times very striking way how it was that the CHICAGO — As an actor, John system doesn't work," he said, "how Malkovich repeatedly transforms we churn out people like Oswald." As himself. In his words, he can "go into for the assassination: "It's the story other people's skins." These people that won't go away. DeLillo refers to happen to include some of the strang- it in the novel as the seven seconds est, most obsessive characters in that broke the back of the American movies and theater: the volcanic century. That's not hyperbole. To me Pale in Lanford Wilson's play "Burn it was the beginning of nihilism — a This" and, last summer, the killer in huge psychic disturbance." Clint Eastwood's film "In the Line of Through the years, Mr. Malkovich Fire." In his next movie, Stephen has acquired a reputation for playing Frears's "Mary Reilly," to be filmed outsiders on the edge of violence. this summer In England, he will face From his point of view, that "says the doubly daunting task of playing more about my capabilities, or about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (opposite how I'm perceived, than about my Julia Roberts in the title role as the interests." housemaid). "It has more to do with people Preserving the prevailing Malko- feeling that I could go either way," vich image, his current theatrical the thought that in real life he could work — as director and, for the first become like his demonic characters. time, as adapter — is a dramatization Clearly there is something about of "Libra," Don DeLillo's award-win- those characters, and about Oswald, ning novel about Lee Harvey Oswald that strikes a reflexive chord. He and the assassination of President attributes it partly to the fact that he John F. Kennedy. The production is at is nonjudgmental about roles and the Steppenwoif Theater Company, "quite ready to understand how the theater that originally nurtured someone in a totally different position the talents of Mr. Malkovich and his sees the world." And of course he has friends. to make his choices from what is "Libra" has fascinated Mr. Malko- Continued on Page B6
e own material, putting scenes in and and in scenes putting material, own e
e slashing them out. "I read the book book the read "I out. them slashing e
1 1
over and over and tried to extrapolate extrapolate to tried and over and over
density of the novel, he has extracted extracted has he novel, the of density
DeLillo dialogue and also written his his written also and dialogue DeLillo The book has been thickly indexed by by indexed thickly been has book The his actors at the same time he is is he time same the at actors his
his receding hairline and making him him making and hairline receding his
reshaping the play. In his hands is his his is hands his In play. the reshaping
Normal Conspirators Conspirators Normal text: a dogeared paperback copy of of copy paperback dogeared a text: the adapter. adapter. the
which the author has written the title. title. the written has author the which
"Libra" with a makeshift cover on on cover makeshift a with "Libra"
ago, with a knitted skullcap covering covering skullcap knitted a with ago, intellectual vaudeville.") vaudeville.") intellectual look almost Asian, he is rehearsing rehearsing is he Asian, almost look
his co-producers will think about pre- about think will co-producers his
ambitious, but not entirely satisfying satisfying entirely not but ambitious, praised Mr. Malkovich's staging and and staging Malkovich's Mr. praised pressing reservations about the play. play. the about reservations pressing
senting it in London or New York. York. New or London in it senting
bra" works, then Mr. Malkovich and and Malkovich Mr. then works, bra" Ms. Metcalf's performance while ex- while performance Metcalf's Ms.
Times said it was an "intriguing, "intriguing, an was it said Times has been in its new modern home, home, modern new its in been has
provide an alternative, and some- and alternative, an provide Chicago. Today, with International International with Today, Chicago.
Hedy Weiss of The Chicago Sun- Chicago The of Weiss Hedy
Ms. Metcalf is appearing in "Libra." "Libra." in appearing is Metcalf Ms.
studio theater, a distinct change from from change distinct a theater, studio other stage assignments, many of of many assignments, stage other
success, Steppenwolf continues to to continues Steppenwolf success,
with a wide proscenium stage and a a and stage proscenium wide a with
atrical family. Between movie and and movie Between family. atrical emerged from the ensemble, and and ensemble, the from emerged
times a pipeline, to Broadway. If "Li- If Broadway. to pipeline, a times troupe moved nomadically around around nomadically moved troupe
them return to work at Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf. at work to return them the early shoestring days when the the when days shoestring early the
his companion, Nicole Peyran, and and Peyran, Nicole companion, his
they have remained an extended the- extended an remained have they
len, John Mahoney and others have have others and Mahoney John len,
mer wife), Kevin Anderson, Joan Al- Joan Anderson, Kevin wife), mer Metcalf, Gary Sinise, Terry Kinney, Kinney, Terry Sinise, Gary Metcalf,
Glenne Headly (Mr. Malkovich's for- Malkovich's (Mr. Headly Glenne
say, 'Hey, why don't you do 'Sleepless 'Sleepless do you don't why 'Hey, say, sents a homecoming and a reunion. reunion. a and homecoming a sents Along with Mr. Malkovich, Laurie Laurie Malkovich, Mr. with Along
residence in Chicago this month with with month this Chicago in residence in Seattle'?" Seattle'?" in
their two children, "Libra" repre- repre- "Libra" children, two their
made available to him. "People don't don't "People him. to available made
Trying to capture the crisscrossing crisscrossing the capture to Trying
Sitting in the theater several weeks weeks several theater the in Sitting
(The opening-night reviews reviews opening-night (The
For several years, the company company the years, several For
For Mr. Malkovich, who was in in was who Malkovich, Mr. For
Continued From Page Page From Continued
BI BI
strong influence on me," Mr. Malko- Malko- Mr. me," on influence strong
mother and symbolic father became became father symbolic and mother
have been his role of choice. As the the As choice. of role his been have calf's twinned performances as as performances twinned calf's
the focus. focus. the director worked on the play, Ms. Met- Ms. play, the on worked director
a character, Ferrie probably would would probably Ferrie character, a
Pesci. Were Mr. Malkovich to portray portray to Malkovich Mr. Were Pesci.
Ferrie acts as a kind of father figure figure father of kind a as acts Ferrie
calf, who also portrays David Ferrie, Ferrie, David portrays also who calf,
"J. F. K.," he was played by Joe Joe by played was he K.," F. "J.
to Oswald. In the Oliver Stone movie, movie, Stone Oliver the In Oswald. to
a bizarre conspirator. In this version, version, this In conspirator. bizarre a
queue, Oswald's mother by Ms. Met- Ms. by mother Oswald's queue,
ered electronic enhancement: video video enhancement: electronic ered
rehearsal and then previews, it gath- it previews, then and rehearsal film. film.
cameras and monitors, slides and and slides monitors, and cameras but he decided it was better suited to to suited better was it decided he but
directly. As the play moved through through moved play the As directly.
of characters sit at banks of micro- of banks at sit characters of phones and rise to create scenes and and scenes create to rise and phones
ered directing "Libra" as a movie, movie, a as "Libra" directing ered
the stage. Stylistically, the attempt is is attempt the Stylistically, stage. the
in some cases to address the audience audience the address to cases some in
novel can reinvent itself. The play play The itself. reinvent can novel
advantageous." advantageous."
presentational rather than represen- than rather presentational
tational. Nine actors playing dozens dozens playing actors Nine tational.
comes at you with lots of texture and and texture of lots with you at comes
with a level of irreverence that is is that irreverence of level a with
attack," Mr. DeLillo said. "He wants wants "He said. DeLillo Mr. attack,"
resident expert. "John has his own own his has "John expert. resident
Mr. DeLillo became Mr. Malkovich's Malkovich's Mr. became DeLillo Mr.
to create a stage space in which the the which in space stage a create to
mal people, which I thought Don did did Don thought I which people, mal
wonderfully in the book." book." the in wonderfully
steely-eyed men. They're sort of nor- of sort They're men. steely-eyed
a conspiracy to kill the President, President, the kill to conspiracy a silly shape of movies and fiction with with fiction and movies of shape silly
what shape would it take? It's not the the not It's take? it would shape what
and his relationship with his mother." mother." his with relationship his and
He also asked himself: "If there were were there "If himself: asked also He
saw it, "The main thread is Oswald Oswald is thread main "The it, saw
the story," Mr. Malkovich said. As he he As said. Malkovich Mr. story," the
Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf. Success brings a a brings Success
nomad back to to back nomad
"My father was art exceptionally exceptionally art was father "My
Oswald is played by Alexis Ar- Alexis by played is Oswald
At one point, Mr. Malkovich consid- Malkovich Mr. point, one At
During several trips to Chicago, Chicago, to trips several During
himself as "among the hardest-work-; hardest-work-; the "among as himself
road." He added that he thought of of thought he that added He road." ing actors," someone who is relent- relent- is who someone actors," ing
gives himself the same note: "Follow "Follow note: same the himself gives
my instinct. Follow the yellow brick brick yellow the Follow instinct. my
When Mr. Malkovich acts, he always always he acts, Malkovich Mr. When
"a receiver" who "conducts" the ac- the "conducts" who receiver" "a
tors and "waits for the idea to hit." hit." to idea the for "waits and tors
ever worked with." with." worked ever
her character shouldn't allow it! it! allow shouldn't character her
Looking back on her long Steppenwolf Steppenwolf long her on back Looking
Ms. Metcalf said his notes "are by farl farl by "are notes his said Metcalf Ms.
collaboration with Mr. Malkovich; Malkovich; Mr. with collaboration
laugh. It's probably preferable." But But preferable." probably It's laugh.
the most creative of any director I've I've director any of creative most the
A Conduit to the Actors Actors the to Conduit A
As he explained: "It's fine if they they if fine "It's explained: he As Oswald's mother, he told her that if if that her told he mother, Oswald's
Metcalf play Ferrie with a slight slight a with Ferrie play Metcalf levels of self." self." of levels
monologue, she should silence them. them. silence should she monologue, the audience laughed at her last last her at laughed audience the
speech impediment. For her role as as role her For impediment. speech dreams, visions, down to the deepest deepest the to down visions, dreams,
suggesting, for example, that Ms. Ms. that example, for suggesting,
the most specific directorial notes, notes, directorial specific most the thing is still personal. There are are There personal. still is thing
That's the whole problem. Every- problem. whole the That's
cal. I said, no, actually nothing is. is. nothing actually no, said, I cal. things that run much deeper: deeper: much run that things said. "He couldn't understand why I I why understand couldn't "He said.
wasn't. He said everything is politi- is everything said He wasn't.
affected by that," Mr. Malkovich Malkovich Mr. that," by affected
Malkovich was reminded of a conver- a of reminded was Malkovich
wall came down. "He was very, very very very, was "He down. came wall
sation he had with the film director director film the with had he sation Bernardo Bertolucci when when Bertolucci Bernardo
things they're not telling us." Mr. Mr. us." telling not they're things
"History is the sum total of all the the all of total sum the is "History
high-powered rifle in your hands and and hands your in rifle high-powered
brow.' How do you end up with the the with up end you do How brow.'
that circumstance to pressing the the pressing to circumstance that
trigger?" trigger?"
window? And how do you move from from move you do how And window?
rental help. As Faulkner said, 'the 'the said, Faulkner As help. rental
causes, which shadows every man's man's every shadows which causes, the President passing under your your under passing President the
sequence of natural events and their their and events natural of sequence
Oswald as a,bright, kind of dyslexic, dyslexic, of kind a,bright, as Oswald
could have ended up differently. I see see I differently. up ended have could
troubled boy with absolutely no pa- no absolutely with boy troubled sensitivities, proclivities and rage, I I rage, and proclivities sensitivities,
can see how, given a certain degree of of degree certain a given how, see can vich said. "But what if he wasn't? I I wasn't? he if what "But said. vich
As a director, he considers himself himself considers he director, a As
To help his actors, he gives them them gives he actors, his help To
Then he quoted the play's Ferrie. Ferrie. play's the quoted he Then
.
v v
the Berlin Berlin the
$30,000 went to the soprano Jennifer Jennifer soprano the to went $30,000
La rmore. rmore. La provides cash prizes and study grants grants study and prizes cash provides
This year's Richard Tucker Award of of Award Tucker Richard year's This
the verge of international careers. careers. international of verge the
to American professional singers on on singers professional American to
ent, a tenor, and John Packard, a a Packard, John and tenor, a ent,
baritone. baritone. American tenor, who died in 1975, 1975, in died who tenor, American
er), a mezzo-soprano: Richard Clem- Richard mezzo-soprano: a er),
Grants of $5,000 each are to go to to go to are each $5,000 of Grants
Christine Goerke, a soprano; Laura Laura soprano; a Goerke, Christine
Tucker (no relation to Richard Tuck- Richard to relation (no Tucker
Condy, a bass-baritone. In addition, addition, In bass-baritone. a Condy,
Patriarco, baritones, and Steven Steven and baritones, Patriarco, four Robert M. Jacobson Study Study Jacobson M. Robert four
a soprano: Kim Josephson and Earle Earle and Josephson Kim soprano: a
dation has awarded its 1994 Career Career 1994 its awarded has dation
Grants of $6,500 each to Marie Plette, Plette, Marie to each $6,500 of Grants play the part." part." the play
pretty barbaric and lethal. They said said They lethal. and barbaric pretty he said with a devilish smile: "He's "He's smile: devilish a with said he I was the only one mean enough to to enough mean one only the was I
Awards Music Grants Grants Music Awards
che acting. About his Hyde to come, come, to Hyde his About acting. che
Tucker Foundation Foundation Tucker him a rich environment for split-psy- for environment rich a him
role. Jekyll and Hyde should offer' offer' should Hyde and Jekyll role.
Christopher Hampton as the screen- the as Hampton Christopher
writer and Glenn Close in a cameo cameo a in Close Glenn and writer
sons" team, including Mr. Frears, Frears, Mr. including team, sons"
members of the "Dangerous Liai- "Dangerous the of members
"Mary Reilly," which will unite unite will which Reilly," "Mary
Hughes. Hughes.
kovich would play a burned-out detec- burned-out a play would kovich
have a production company with sev-, sev-, with company production a have
"Forget Me Not," in which Mr. Mal- Mr. which in Not," Me "Forget
including a movie thriller called called thriller movie a including tive, and a film about Howard Howard about film a and tive,
eral projects lined up after "Libra," "Libra," after up lined projects eral one of his oldest Steppenwolf friends, friends, Steppenwolf oldest his of one
reer decisions. He and Russ Smith, Smith, Russ and He decisions. reer
40, is taking more control of his ca- his of control more taking is 40,
minimalist. He's not a big talker, talker, big a not He's minimalist.
Clint, let's face it." it." face let's Clint,
ing him as an actor. He's a great great a He's actor. an as him ing
as a director? "In a way," he replied, replied, he way," a "In director? a as with him, which I loved. From watch- From loved. I which him, with
he learn anything from Mr. Eastwood Eastwood Mr. from anything learn he
less in his search for a character. Did Did character. a for search his in less "but not necessarily from working working from necessarily not "but
The foundation, named for the the for named foundation, The
The Richard Tucker Music Foun- Music Tucker Richard The
In June, he is to begin work on on work begin to is he June, In Increasingly, Mr. Malkovich, now! now! Malkovich, Mr. Increasingly,