In June 1997, Peck, who rarely gave interviews in his last years, sat down with Irish America Editor Patricia Harty. An edited version of that interview follows. "Will you pour?" The gentleman sitting across from me cracked a smile as I nodded and lifted the teapot, wondering if I would be able to complete the task without making a fool of myself. I felt as if I was in a … [Read more...] about Gregory Peck: A Class Act
Theater
Friel Donates His Works
Brian Friel, the Irish playwright who has had a string of successes on Broadway, starting with Tony-winning Dancing at Lughasa (later made into a film starring Meryl Streep), has presented his archived works to the National Library in Ireland. The collection includes manuscripts and early drafts of his 26 plays and correspondence with literary figures such as Seamus Heaney, … [Read more...] about Friel Donates His Works
Theatre: Stones in His Pockets
The West End hit comes to Broadway. Seth Linder talks to playwright Marie Jones. "It's just amazing, never in a million years could I have imagined it." Belfast playwright Marie Jones is talking of the imminent Broadway run of her play Stones in His Pockets, the story of two extras in an Irish village where a Hollywood film is being shot. The play, which debuted at the … [Read more...] about Theatre: Stones in His Pockets
Celebrating Beckett on Film
Dublin: From Feb. 1 through Feb. 8 the Irish Film Center's two theaters were filled with fans eager to catch the premieres of cinematic versions of all 19 of Samuel Beckett's stage plays. Nearly every screening sold out well in advance. Famous names and directors associated with the project include David Mamet, who directed a seven-minute version of Catastrophe starring … [Read more...] about Celebrating Beckett on Film
Seeing Beckett on the Silver Screen
Film adaptations of two Samuel Beckett plays Not I and Krapp's Last Tape, were screened in New York City on September as part of the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center. The films are a part of the ambitious project to film all of Beckett's 19 plays and is being produced by Michael Colgan of the Gate Theater and Alan Moloney. Eight of the plays have been filmed so far and … [Read more...] about Seeing Beckett on the Silver Screen