Guthrie Theater

Leap of ‘faith' as Guthrie Theater director takes stage as actor in Friel drama
by Jeff Baenen
Associated Press (October 15, 2009) 

MINNEAPOLIS- Director Joe Dowling is stepping into what could be a scary place at the Guthrie Theater: on stage, facing an audience as an actor for the first time in more than two decades.

Dowling makes his American acting debut as the title character - an itinerant Irish miracle-worker - in Brian Friel's "Faith Healer." Dowling, the longtime head of the Guthrie, a Tony-winning regional theatre, is also directing the production, part of a worldwide celebration of Friel's 80th birthday. The show opens Oct. 23 and runs through Dec. 6.

"It's exhausting, number one, to be up there on the (rehearsal room) floor for hours on end, working it out. But it's exhilarating on another level," Dowling said. "There's a certain kind of 'oh my God!' quality to it when youstart, but ... I am enjoying it."

Dowling had directed "Faith Healer" many times but never acted in it. He said he thought he would never do the play again after the death 10 years ago of Irish actor Donal McCann, whom Dowling had directed in the title role of Frank Hardy, the huckster who actually may be a healer.

But Dowling reread "Faith Healer" around Friel's birthday and "just fell in love with the play all over again. It's such a good play."

"And then I thought, 'Well, how do I find an actor that's not going to drive me crazy, because I'm going to be hearing this other actor, Donal McCann's, voiceall the time?"' Dowling said. "And that's how it came to me. I suddenly thought, 'Well, why don't you do it yourself, then? Then at least you can drive yourself crazy."'

Continue reading the Associated Press profile: http://tinyurl.com/APdowling

(AP Photo/Dawn Villella) 

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