Writer Thomas Keneally says he doesn’t often get to hang out with the great and the good of the acting world. But Schindler’s List changed that, at least for a time.
The writer of Schindler’s Ark which was adapted to screen by Stephen Spielberg as Schindler’s List and starred Liam Neeson recounted his favourite Neeson stories to The Green Room.
One of Keneally’s favourite Liam Neeson tales:
“We were all at a party and all wearing dinner suits in this very rich house. He (Liam) came back from the loo and said to me; “Did you see the ‘damned’(except he didn’t say damned) Matisse in the hall, did you see the ‘damned’ Picasso. You get in there (bathroom) and there’s a Dega and gold-plated taps and a gold plated toilet seat.’ He said ‘When I went in there, I didn’t know whether to c**p or to pray.’”
The Australian born writer believes that studio bosses fail to exploit the Irishman’s acting talents.
“I’m a great admirer of his. In Schindler, Spielberg and he himself (Liam) managed to imbue Schindler with an edge of danger, an of out of controlness, which all the prisoners said Schindler had. They wondered when it was all going to come unstuck”
“Sadly he’s often put in films, where he plays the dutiful husband and his edge of danger isn’t exploited and I wish it were.”
A New Musical
A new musical Transport based on Thomas Keneally’s book The Great Shame opens on the New York stage this month. The musical follows the journey of four female convicts from Ireland to Australia. Transport is staged at The Irish Repertory Theatre in New York from February 7th 2014.
Listen here for the full interview with Thomas Keneally on The Green Room with Orla Barry
