MARK HAMILL NEXT TO LEAD AMADEUS ON BROADWAY
The New York Times
August 21, 1981
It's been announced that Mark Hamill, most known for his performance as Luke Skywalker in
Star Wars and its sequel
Empire Strikes Back, will star in
Amadeus as Wolfgang Mozart, acting opposite of Frank Langella as Antonio Salieri.[1]
Amadeus originally opened in 1979 in London, then starring Simon Callow as Mozart and Paul Scofield as Salieri. The play premiered on Broadway the following year, and has since featured the likes of Tim Curry and Peter Firth as Mozart, and Ian McKellen and John Wood as Salieri.
Hamill says, while affirming his love for
Star Wars and his appreciation of the recently deceased George Lucas for casting him, that he doesn't want to only be known as a "space farmer boy." This isn't his first stint on Broadway, having portrayed the severely deformed John Merrick in
The Elephant Man earlier this year. Perhaps these Broadway performances will open up a new chapter for Hamill, but that remains to be seen. Following his run on Amadeus, Hamill is slated to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker for the third
Star Wars film,
Revenge of the Jedi.
We had the opportunity to have a brief interview over the phone with the
Star Wars star.[2]
Interviewer: You haven't acted in plays before this year, have you?
Hamill: That's right. In high school I was in the drama club, but I'm not sure that really counts.
I: What influenced your decision to make the career move?
H: It's not a complete move, I'm still doing movies of course, and might get back into television[3] after we finish filming
Revenge of the Jedi. But to answer your question--well, I'm no De Niro[4], but I guess I wanted a way to show people that I'm a decent actor, and Broadway is an obvious choice.
I: You've said you're trying to distance yourself from your role as Luke Skywalker, how else do you plan to accomplish that?
H: You're talking about the Variety interview?
I: Yes.
H: I don't think that's really what I said. It was just built up like that. I said I didn't want to only be known for my role in
Star Wars. Look at Sean Connery, he was James Bond but he also did
Marie with Alfred Hitchcock. I don't think I'm Sean Connery, but you get what I'm trying to say.
I: What has the aftermath of George Lucas' death been like?
H: It's been awful. George was a visionary, a really brilliant filmmaker. It's only been a little over a month, so the wound from his loss is still very fresh.
[1] The butterfly wings start to flap...
[2] Partially based on
this interview for characterization.
[3] If anyone has any interesting ideas for him I'd love to hear them.
[4] Who won Best Actor at the Oscars last March.