By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
February 22, 2002
Brian Dennehy has performed on stage in Chicago so often some people assume he lives here.
He wishes.
“I love Chicago,” says Dennehy, who resides in Connecticut. “I’m surprised the weather is behaving. I’m not really used to that. I feel like it should be summer. But I’m not complaining.”
Dennehy stars in Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” which begins previews tonight at the Goodman Theatre.
“If I had any brains, I’d have thought twice before tackling this play,” he says, laughing. “It certainly is one of the greatest American plays we have and is his most personal and powerful work. It also is one of the most difficult.”
Dennehy portrays family patriarch James Tyrone, the character the playwright based on his father, James O’Neill.
“When you’re playing someone real, you have a responsibility to them,” he says. “These are four incredibly complicated parts, because they’re studies of four actual people–himself, his parents and his brother. There is the blood, sweat and agony of 40 years of work in his play.”
Dennehy, 63, is used to tackling meaty roles. Besides his film and television career, he has made it a point to never veer too far from the stage. At the Goodman alone, he has performed in “Death of a Salesman,” “A Touch of the Poet,” “The Iceman Cometh” and “Galileo.”
“[Director] Bob [Falls] is wonderful to work with,” Dennehy says. “He and I don’t tend to do easy plays. We’ve always been that way. But the funny thing about getting older is you don’t pick projects because you think people will like them. You hope they do, but you do it for you.
“And, if you learn something from the experience, that’s your glowing review.”
SPEAKING OF CHICAGO, Dennehy had this to say:
Favorite restaurant: I’ve always loved the Palm. And Gibsons is tremendous fun, as well.
Favorite Chicago food: I’m a sucker for any of the food at Rich Melman’s restaurants, like Maggiano’s. I don’t eat much steak anymore, but I splurge
every once in a while. And I eat a lot of fish here, as well.
Favorite Chicago eatery for your 8-year-old son: He loves Ed Debevic’s. He loves all the singing and the noise. It’s a great place for kids.
Favorite play you’d done here: I can only say “Death of a Salesman.” I did it about 450 times over 2-1/2 years. I learned more from that play than just about anything else. It was very much a high point of my so-called career.
Favorite nightspot: I used to love O’Rourkes, but it’s not around anymore. Gibsons is a nice place.
Favorite venue to perform in: The Goodman certainly is right up there.
Favorite thing to do in Chicago during your time off here: I haven’t had any time to do anything this time around because this play is consuming most of my time. But I like going to the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Museum of Science and Industry, and all the other great museums here.
Favorite exhibit at the zoo: The polar bear tank.
Best thing about playing to Chicago audiences: People are very enthusiastic. Chicagoans work and play hard, and they like their lives. Those are the type of people you want in an audience. They want to see you succeed. They’re not waiting to take your kidneys out and munch on them during intermission.
The last word on Chicago: I’ve said this for years–Chicago is the best city in America. Chicagoans are very lucky to live here.
