And they are *still* arguing over Effie…

Following this article, the Daily Fail has more speculation on offer.

Did legal battle block premiere of Emma Thompson’s period drama Effie Gray?

In 2005, Damian O’Hare played John Everett Millais in “The Countess”, so while have no idea who ripped off whom here, I seize the opportunity to post a “Countess” picture.

Alison Pargeter and Damian O’Hare in “The Countess”

 

“I love the immediacy of theatre,” he [Damian] enthuses. “Hearing the gasp of the audience and really feeling the language is simply amazing. The writing is a million times better than most television dramas.”

Well there’s no doubt this Belfast actor will be hearing several gasps from the audience in London’s Criterion Theatre where he’ll be making history all over again.”

(Snippet from an interview for  the “Irish Abroad” newsletter by Grainne McLoughlin, 2005)

Hell On Wheels: Q&A with Damian O’Hare (Declan Toole)

AMC blog posted a Q & A with Damian O’Hare.

ONE MAN AND A BABY
(I second the motion)

“Think we’ll see a spinoff series, Declan & Rose?”

“Working with Dohn was incredible…”

Damian O’Hare, who plays Declan Toole on AMC’s Hell on Wheels, compares the show’s themes to Shakespeare and talks about bonding with fellow Irishmen Phil Burke and Colm Meaney.

All fingers crossed now for a fourth series (because let’s face it, if that episode should become the show’s finale, it would be right up there with the last episode of Lost), and if you have any extra fingers, please cross them for a return of Damian O’Hare as Declan Toole. I’m pretty certain that I’m not the only one who’d really like to see him return to Hell on Wheels.

How Gillette almost escaped to Mexico…

Greg Ellis, aka Lt. Groves in the PotC movies, has given an interview to Jim Hill, which is now available online. He talks about his work on “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” with Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin McNally and Damian O’Hare, and ponders the possibility of Groves’ return in PotC 5 (working title: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Zombies in Uniform”). You can find the interview here:

GREG ELLIS WONDERS IF HIS “PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN” CHARACTER WILL BE RETURNING FOR THE FIFTH FILM IN THIS SERIES

Here’s a small excerpt from the interview:

“And at one point, there was a semi-serious discussion among the actors that we should just keep going. Just sail on in to Mexico and then see how the locals would react as all these pirates and Royal Naval Officers came up on shore.”

I can’t help but feel that an escape of Gillette and Groves to Mexico would have made for a far better movie.

PotC 4: Interview with Greg Ellis

Greg Ellis played Lt. Groves in all “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Damian O’Hare is mentioned, and as they worked side by side, this interview gives us a little insight into the work “behind the scenes”.

“We’re boys, and we’re in a pirate movie. What’s not to love? “

Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Lt. Gillette (Damian O'Hare), Lt. Groves (Greg Ellis) and Mr. Gibbs (Kevin McNally)

 

“The Magic Toyshop”: Education Pack

I got a heads-up about “The Magic Toyshop”. Shared Experience has a new version of the education pack for this play online, which contains more information and a small interview with Damian (who got lots of praise for his role as “Finn”).

Note: The website of Shared Experience points out that “The purpose of the PDF is a printable resource, not an online readable resource.” I changed the link on the website so it does not link directly to the file anymore. Same with the link below; please scroll and save the theatre costs on bandwidth.

THE MAGIC TOYSHOP – Education Pack

As for “…and have a look at the step-by-step guide to write a review…” – heh! I’ll try my best.

Interview: Damian O’Hare in “The Irish World”

The Irish World talked with Damian about his work on “Taking the Flak”, filming in Tanzania, “The Grapes of Wrath” and driving trucks into the set…

WRATH JUSTICE

If you want to read the full article, you need to get a subscription for the online edition of The Irish World. Just invest the 50p, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a full page coverage.

If you prefer to buy the print edition at your local newsagents: it’s The Irish World dated 26 September, 2009.

“The Grapes of Wrath” video on youtube

West Yorkshire Playhouse has put the official “The Grapes of Wrath” teaser on youtube. It’s the same you can find on the website of the Chichester Festival Theatre, including commentary by director and actors, but as some people seemed to have problems getting that one to load, here’s now an alternative.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

You can see “The Grapes of Wrath” at West Yorkshire Playhouse from 3 – 14 November. I’ve added all tour dates to the side bar of this blog; if you click on the links of the individual venues, you’ll be taken directly to their respective booking sites.

In case you should still be undecided whether or not to go and see this production, you can have a look at the reviews. Please also check the websites of the various theatres for student reductions and ticket contests.

Video clips from “The Grapes of Wrath” at Chichester Festival Theatre

The formidable CFT has put a three minute clip collage plus comments of director and actors online:

CLICK HERE OR ON THE PICTURE TO SEE THE VIDEO

Damian O'Hare talks about The Grapes of Wrath at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Please allow the site some time to load; it’s well worth the wait – very impressive.

And one more “Taking the Flak” preview.

TIMES ONLINE: Taking the Flak: comedy about war reporters

“The cameraman is like the drummer in the band. And he always gets the girl,” suggested the actor Damian O’Hare before rehearsals. He went into training with Darren “DC” Conway as his mentor. DC has won awards for covering conflicts and, true to the stereotype, is never short of female company. Under DC’s tuition, Damian was soon brandishing his camera with a quiet swagger.

Quite clearly, we don’t know the same drummers…

The Royal: 7.4: “Slings and Arrows” / Another Interview of Sorts

A reminder: “The Royal” has moved from the 8pm – 9pm time slot to 7pm – 8pm.

7.4 – “Slings and Arrows”: Eric Fogle is appointed as new head porter, putting Alun’s nose out of joint. The hospital receives a letter of resignation from Dr Banner in Australia and has to appoint a partner to the practice – Weatherill believes she knows just the person, but Dr Ormerod favours Dr Burnett. [So do we. That aside, the Hulk is busy.] Elsewhere, when Lucy Baylis is involved in a horse-riding accident an X-ray reveals a more long-term problem.

“The Royal” on ITV1, on Sundays from 7pm – 8pm.

* * *

The website St. Aidan’s Royal Free Hospital has a video of the

Season 7 Feature on “This Morning”, 19 June, 2008

available. There are some interviews with the casts and “behind the scenes” snaps; 5 minutes into the feature there’s a short interview with Damian O’Hare and Kari Corbett (cute!nurse McKaig).