John Malkovich coming to Dublin's National Concert Hall

Words: Caroline Foran

Now this one's definitely to go down in your diary. Travelling around the world since 2010, John Malkovich's most anticipated stage play to date finally stops off at Dublin. The Hollywood actor, of all people, will take to the National Concert Hall stage on the 27th of May where he'll play the role of Jack Unterweger, a convicted murderer from Austria in The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer.

This intriguingly entitled play is said to blend traditional theatre with opera (expect music from Vivaldi, Hayden, Mozart among others) and comedy, an unusual combination typical of someone like Malkovich. In this exciting role, he returns as the dead Unterweger who, upon becoming the prime suspect in a trial involving 11 murdered prostitutes, flees from Vienna only to be arrested in America and then extradited back to Austria where the reality of his crimes cannot be escaped.

The play's website warns viewers to expect the unexpected: "When a dead serial killer returns to the stage to present his autobiography in a public reading, a comedy is not exactly what we are in for; but what are we demanding, anyway, if we are waiting to see a new opera/play about a murderer of women, for an orchestra on period instruments, two sopranos and one actor? The forecast changes completely if we learn that John Malkovich is going to play the role of Jack, who is launching his "Confessions of a serial killer". Now we definitely expect the unexpected."

Having not yet seen it, we can safely assume there's no better man than Malkovich to take on the role of someone whose "appeal and charisma predestined him as seducer". Appeal and Charisma are two things Malkovich has in spades.

The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer was written and directed by Michael Sturminge. On the night, the show will be conducted by Hartin Haselock with sopranos Louise Fribo and Marie Arnet taking lead vocals.

"This is an exciting departure for The National Concert Hall to be presenting such an eclectic and raw musical theatre piece starring the internationally renowned and charismatic John Malkovich. Having played in more than 65 movies as well as directing and producing film, Malkovich is undoubtedly one of the most important actors on the screen today and we are thrilled that he will be performing on our stage." - Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall.

For more information visit http://www.theinfernalcomedy.org/

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Thursday 10th May 2012 | Theatre

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Comments

• ShankillDublin

  He's a right wing nutjob.... Don't give him your money.

  Posted 13:55 | Mon 14th May 2012

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