From Down Under, a theatrical look at Orson Welles’ career is continuing to gain attention.
“Pearls Before Swine: An Evening With Orson Welles” – an Australian one-man play written and performed by Blake Erickson – made its debut in September 2010 at the Sydney Fringe Festival, where it won top acting honors for Erickson.
Since its debut, the production has enjoyed two successful seasons in Sydney. It will soon be seen at Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne from October 16th through the 21st.
Set in 1947 before Welles left the States and headed to Europe, “Pearls Before Swine” finds the actor-director-writer pausing to reflect upon his meteoric rise to fame and his downfall in Hollywood.
Erikson spoke with Wellesnet’s Larry French in 2010 about the play. Erickson described it as “very much ‘Welles on Welles’, but an almost vulnerable Welles looking back on his fearless youth. That’s not to say that I’m one of those people who believe he’s a tragic figure, I think he created some extraordinary work in his later life. But at this stage of his career, when he was 29 going on 30, it was a difficult time for him.”
Critics have been kind to Erikson. The Sydney Morning Herald wrote, “Whisky in hand, Welles (Erickson) charms the audience. He has a mellifluous voice and natural gravitas. This quality one-man vehicle can – and should – play widely.”
Can’t catch a flight to Melbourne? Here is what Erickson has in store.