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| Atkinson gears up for Fagin role | Atkinson gears up for Fagin role |
| (1 day later) | |
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| Rowan Atkinson: 'I wouldn't claim to be a West End musical junkie' | |
| Rowan Atkinson is returning to the stage for the first time in two decades, playing Fagin in the West End production of Oliver! | Rowan Atkinson is returning to the stage for the first time in two decades, playing Fagin in the West End production of Oliver! |
| The Blackadder and Mr Bean comedian stars alongside the winners of the latest BBC reality television programme, I'd Do Anything, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. | The Blackadder and Mr Bean comedian stars alongside the winners of the latest BBC reality television programme, I'd Do Anything, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. |
| The role of the miserly criminal mastermind was one Atkinson admits he was reluctant to tackle - and producer Cameron Mackintosh spent years trying to convince the star he was perfect to pick a pocket or two. | The role of the miserly criminal mastermind was one Atkinson admits he was reluctant to tackle - and producer Cameron Mackintosh spent years trying to convince the star he was perfect to pick a pocket or two. |
| In the end it was a case of now or never... and the small matter of playing the part in his daughter's school production. | In the end it was a case of now or never... and the small matter of playing the part in his daughter's school production. |
| Fagin is a villain and it's always nice to play a villain... they are always more fun than straight guys Rowan Atkinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/raziaiqbal/2009/01/olivers_feelgood_factor.html">Razia Iqbal: Oliver's feel-good factor | |
| "Fagin is a part I felt I could play, it is a part I have enjoyed watching and have always been intrigued by," Atkinson says. | "Fagin is a part I felt I could play, it is a part I have enjoyed watching and have always been intrigued by," Atkinson says. |
| "I suddenly realised that the next time it came around I would be told old to play it... that was the clincher for me. The feeling that if I was going to do then I should do it now. | "I suddenly realised that the next time it came around I would be told old to play it... that was the clincher for me. The feeling that if I was going to do then I should do it now. |
| "Fagin is a villain and it's always nice to play a villain... they are always more fun than straight guys." | "Fagin is a villain and it's always nice to play a villain... they are always more fun than straight guys." |
| Atkinson, 54, was born in the north east of England, and, while studying engineering at Oxford University, started performing comedy. | Atkinson, 54, was born in the north east of England, and, while studying engineering at Oxford University, started performing comedy. |
| It was at the University's Experimental Theatre Club that he first met writer Richard Curtis - with whom he collaborated on Blackadder, Mr Bean, The Tall Guy and Four Weddings and A Funeral. | It was at the University's Experimental Theatre Club that he first met writer Richard Curtis - with whom he collaborated on Blackadder, Mr Bean, The Tall Guy and Four Weddings and A Funeral. |
| Great role | Great role |
| Mackintosh, who is producing the latest incarnation of Lionel Bart's classic musical, says he embarked on a long, hard campaign to tempt Atkinson onto the stage. | Mackintosh, who is producing the latest incarnation of Lionel Bart's classic musical, says he embarked on a long, hard campaign to tempt Atkinson onto the stage. |
| "I first met Rowan about 14 or 15 years ago and I asked him if he was ever going to go back to the theatre, but he had no plans. | "I first met Rowan about 14 or 15 years ago and I asked him if he was ever going to go back to the theatre, but he had no plans. |
| "I said, 'well there is a great role there for you - Fagin.'" | "I said, 'well there is a great role there for you - Fagin.'" |
| Atkinson starred in all four series of Blackadder | Atkinson starred in all four series of Blackadder |
| Mackintosh believes Rowan has "all the ingredients" for a great interpretation of the character. | Mackintosh believes Rowan has "all the ingredients" for a great interpretation of the character. |
| "What you need is a wonderful comedy actor who is rather extraordinary. | "What you need is a wonderful comedy actor who is rather extraordinary. |
| "All the best Fagins in musicals are people who have an odd take on life, have a marvellous physicality, and who can seemingly be will-o'-the-wisps." | "All the best Fagins in musicals are people who have an odd take on life, have a marvellous physicality, and who can seemingly be will-o'-the-wisps." |
| He adds: "I always could tell there was more than a passing interest with him, but not enough to make him commit to doing it." | He adds: "I always could tell there was more than a passing interest with him, but not enough to make him commit to doing it." |
| Reinventing the wheel | Reinventing the wheel |
| Atkinson's low-key stint playing Fagin at his daughter's school piqued his interest in the role "more than he knew", Mackintosh says. | Atkinson's low-key stint playing Fagin at his daughter's school piqued his interest in the role "more than he knew", Mackintosh says. |
| But it was Atkinson's previous outings on the West End stage - in particular his long-running, award-winning, one-man show, Rowan Atkinson In Revue - that made him reluctant to commit to the part. | But it was Atkinson's previous outings on the West End stage - in particular his long-running, award-winning, one-man show, Rowan Atkinson In Revue - that made him reluctant to commit to the part. |
| "I did quite a few West End shows in the 1980s and I enjoyed doing them, but I think I did the last one for too long," he says. | "I did quite a few West End shows in the 1980s and I enjoyed doing them, but I think I did the last one for too long," he says. |
| Atkinson joins I'd Do Anything winner Jodie Prenger on stage | Atkinson joins I'd Do Anything winner Jodie Prenger on stage |
| "The peculiar thing about theatrical performance is that you are forced to reinvent the wheel night after night after night and I found it quite a grind." | "The peculiar thing about theatrical performance is that you are forced to reinvent the wheel night after night after night and I found it quite a grind." |
| As Atkinson starts his six months as Fagin there are new challenges ahead. | As Atkinson starts his six months as Fagin there are new challenges ahead. |
| "It is not easy keeping your head and body in the right place," he explains. | "It is not easy keeping your head and body in the right place," he explains. |
| "For example the posture I adopt to play Fagin is crooked and it does my back and neck no favours at all, so I have to keep on top of issues like that." | "For example the posture I adopt to play Fagin is crooked and it does my back and neck no favours at all, so I have to keep on top of issues like that." |
| Despite his reservations, Atkinson says he is "curious" to see how well the production goes down with the public. | Despite his reservations, Atkinson says he is "curious" to see how well the production goes down with the public. |
| The enduring appeal of Oliver, however, is guaranteed. | The enduring appeal of Oliver, however, is guaranteed. |
| "In the end - like those very best books or children's stories you remember - you don't mind how often you hear them as long as they are well told. | "In the end - like those very best books or children's stories you remember - you don't mind how often you hear them as long as they are well told. |
| "That is what we've tried to do." | "That is what we've tried to do." |
| Rowan Atkinson and Cameron Mackintosh were speaking to BBC News arts correspondent Rebecca Jones. Oliver! opens on Wednesday at the The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London | Rowan Atkinson and Cameron Mackintosh were speaking to BBC News arts correspondent Rebecca Jones. Oliver! opens on Wednesday at the The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London |
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