Theatre of the Absurd

Kurt Andersen talks about seeing the premiere of Tom Stoppard’s play, “The Real Thing,” as a young man in his 20s, and seeing it again two decades later. Had the play changed, or was it Kurt?

He broke into Hollywood at age 45 with his Oscar-winning performance in 1996’s “Shine.” Since then, the Australian has starred in period pieces like “Elizabeth” and “Quills” and the summer blockbuster franchise “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Now he’s up for a Tony for his role in Eugène Ionesco’s “Exit the King.” Kurt talks to Rush about his Broadway debut and how he translated the play with the director Neil Armfield.

Nobel Prize-winning British playwright Harold Pinter has died at the age of seventy-eight. Anchor Lisa Mullins recall his life and career.

Kurt Andersen talks about seeing the premiere of Tom Stoppard’s play “The Real Thing” as a young man in his twenties, and seeing it again two decades later. Had the play changed, or was it Kurt?                         Kurt Andersen: I got the real thing.