PORTLAND, Ore. — On Wednesday, June 12, Portland's Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall plays host to Hollywood actor John Malkovich and "The Critic," a live show that is part music performance and part theater, where the actors are reading lines along with the music.
The special part about The Critic's tour stopping in Portland is that it will be a world premiere in North America as for the first time in its running, the show will have a full symphony orchestra.
The Oregon Symphony will join Malkovic and Aleksey Igudesman, a classically trained violinist, and perform alongside them.
So why did Portland get the nod to be the first to stage 'The Critic' with a full orchestra? KGW sat down with Malkovich and Igudesman, the show's co-creators, to talk about the upcoming show.
"Oregon, Portland, is open minded. It's kind of what it stands for," Igudesman said. "Literally one of the best audiences in the world is here."
The performance follows Malkovich as "Critic," a brooding music critic, and Igudesman as a musician who can never seem to get on the good side of the Critic's reviews and is growing tired of it. Throughout the performance, Malkovic is reading brutal and terrible reviews of real musical masterpieces. The music is intended to be the center of the story and not a colorful background noise.
The duo discussed with KGW how it was a different variation of referencing prior music critics by using real life reviews in the show, with Igudesman saying "I think, it's different, it's an alternative way of being historical."
Malkovich added, "You see, everything is in the execution of an idea. Yes, there can be bad ideas probably, and good ideas, but generally, it's in execution, it's in the work and the sensitivity."
Throughout the show, the musicians push back against 'Critic,' using humor and music to take a stand against him.
Igudesman spoke of how Malkovich was often too appreciative of the music when he was supposed to be Critic, telling KGW, "he's [Malkovich] too respectful of the music. He loves it so much. Sometimes I feel that you're a little afraid of punching too hard, right?" he said towards Malkovich.
Malkovich and Igudesman spoke very highly of one another — enemies on the stage, friends in real life.
"It's been very easy ever since we met. I think we have similar worldviews. Aleksey has a fantastic education in this," Malkovich said.
The Critic plays June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, with tickets still available.