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The Times Playlist
05-11 December 2009
by Dominic Maxwell
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Talking to … Damian Lewis about The Misanthrope

My character Alceste, is sympathetic, I think - his belief system is admirable. But then again the way in which he conveys his ideas is often outright rude. And we’ve joined him at a time where he’s unhinged by his desire for this woman, Jennifer [Keira Knightley], so it’s made him more irascible still. But it’s no use just acting angry all night, hopefully it’ll be more interesting than that!

We’re using Martin Crimp’s version from 1996, parts which have been updated for this production - which bits those are will be deliciously obvious I think, such as the reference to “shit-rich banking cronies in the City”.

Originally, in 1666, Alceste was a man of virtue set against the Parisian salons. Everyone was kissing everyone’s asses. Now it’s transposed to a modern world where nothing’s changed, really. This Alceste is a playwright, Jennifer is an American film actress, there are agents, voice coaches, journalists. Alceste lambasts that world but he is very much of that world, that’s the paradox.

In terms of learning the lines, the rhymes are a blessing and a curse. Can you improvise a rhyme if you lose your way? Actually my first job was a Moliere, School for Wives, with Ian McDiarmid. I dried twice. The words had gone, so I had to bluff my way, just making sure I rhymed the end of each line. I’ll never forget the sight if Ian, so hot in his costume that steam was coming off his face, convulsing when he realised what I was doing.