Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Eminent British actor Richard O'Callaghan will star as Pope John Paul I in the world tour of The Last Confession, which opens in Toronto in April 2014 before touring to Los Angeles, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.
Brian Bedford had originally been announced to perform the role. But Mr. Bedford has been advised by his doctors not to continue in the production due to illness. He is currently in hospital receiving treatment.
Richard O'Callaghan created the part of Pope John Paul I in the London production of The Last Confession at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Starring opposite David Suchet (internationally famous for playing Hercule Poirot in the award-winning TV series of the same name), he received excellent reviews in the Haymarket production.
"Richard O'Callaghan is excellent!" - Georgia Brown, Mail On Sunday
"Richard O'Callaghan is impressive as the kind and unworldly John Paul." - Fiona Mountford, London Evening Standard
"Richard O'Callaghan as Pope John Paul shows the Pope as a powerful man intent on reform. His is an exceptional performance." - Paul Callan, Daily Express
Mr. O’Callaghan is delighted to once again co-star with Mr. Suchet on this exceptional new thriller.
Richard O'Callaghan has starred in numerous London productions, including: Amadeus at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Butley at the Criterion Theatre, Three Months Gone at the Royal Court Theatre, Twelfth Night at Regent’s Park Theatre and Titus Andronicus at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Producer Paul Elliott said: "It is a great shame that Brian Bedford cannot be with us for this unique adventure; we wish him a good and swift recovery. We are fortunate and excited to have Richard O'Callaghan reprising his acclaimed London performance."
Written by Roger Crane, The Last Confession is a thriller that delves into the most highly guarded institution in the world to explore the mystery shrouding the sudden death of Pope John Paul I in 1978.
Found dead just 33 days after being elected, suspicions were aroused when it was revealed that, on the evening before his death, the new Pope had warned three of his most influential but hostile Cardinals that they would be replaced. The Vatican refused to conduct an official investigation into the death. Cardinal Benelli (played by David Suchet) was the only one to challenge the dead Pope’s enemies and to launch his own investigation.
The Last Confession
The Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. West, Toronto
April 18 - June 1, 2014
Performances: Tue-Sat 8 PM; matinees Wed, Sat & Sun 2 PM
(No performance Sat April 19 at 2 PM)
The running time is 2 hours 15 minutes, including one intermission.
Tickets $35 to $119
Available online at mirvish.com
By phone 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333
In-person at the theatre box office
The Last Confession is the final show in the Mirvish 2013-14 Subscription Season
Facebook.com/Mirvish twitter.com/Mirvish
Photo: Richard O’Callaghan as Pope John Paul. ©2013 John Haines.
2014-02-03
Toronto: Richard O'Callaghan replaces Brian Bedford in "The Last Confession"