Friday, November 21, 2008

England meets the Westons

Tonight, August: Osage County begins previews at London's National Theatre with most of its original Broadway cast intact, including Amy Morton reprising her role as Barbara Weston. To mark the occasion, check out an interview Kris Vire conducted with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company member that appeared earlier this month in Time Out Chicago.

Among other things, Vire asked whether she was done with August after London. Here's what Tony-nominee Morton, who left the Broadway run Oct. 12, had to say about that:

"You know, never say never. They’re talking about a tour. Who knows how long it will last on Broadway? Some of us might go back in, but I absolutely—my back and my neck feel so much better in the last week, I can’t even tell you! I lost about 15 pounds in New York just doing this dang play."

And on fame:

"The great thing about August: Osage County was walking out of the stage door and people saying, “This is my third time seeing it, my fourth time seeing it,” and wanting to talk about it and wanting your autograph because they loved what they saw, not because you’re famous."

And on acting:

"I mean, for as shitty as this business can be and as insulting as it can be, I still believe that acting is a noble profession. And actors get to fall in love, murder, fly, make out with people that aren’t their spouse—they get to do all this stuff on stage that everybody in the world has always wanted to do. Who hasn’t wanted to strangle their mother at one time in their life?"

4 comments:

Erika said...

Amy Morton is amazing. I saw A:OC last year on Broadway, but am dying to see it again so I hope the tour makes it to Minneapolis.

Esther said...

I'm so glad you got to see it on Broadway. Yeah, I definitely hope the tour comes somewhere near me. And you're right, Amy Morton is amazing. I think in many ways, her character symbolizes what a lot of women in the "sandwich generation" face, with all of the competing demands on their lives.

Kevin Daly said...

I'm so curious to see how our British friends take to the Weston clan...

Esther said...

Yeah, I agree with you, TAAL. I'm looking forward to checking out the British reviews.