Interview

Talking With
JOHN LITHGOW

For most of his life, John Lithgow has created a world filled with “Paloozas.”

“What’s a Palooza?” you ask. According to Lithgow, a Palooza is an activity designed to get a kid interested in something new, creative, and fun. “It’s not just an idea--it’s a different and certainly more fun way of thinking.”

The gifted, award-winning actor/comedian/writer has starred in films as diverse as “The World According to Garp,” “Terms of Endearment,” and “Shrek” and Broadway plays as varied as “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “M. Butterfly” and has won four Emmy Awards.

Lithgow was raised in a home filled with lots of love, and certainly many Paloozas, and has done the same with his children. “Growing up, my family was very artsy and theatrical. We were sort of like a gypsy family since we moved around so much. As a way to be close to my brother, and especially my sisters, we created all sorts of games and activities that were fun.” To this end, he has now created The Lithgow Palooza Company, which promotes his original projects for children, including books such as MAHALIA MOUSE GOES TO COLLEGE, MARSUPIAL SUE, THE REMARKABLE FARKLE MCBRIDE, and LITHGOW PARTY PALOOZAS!

That sense of fun and creativity is perfectly evident in his latest book audiobook, THE POETS’ CORNER, which contains selected poems by 50 poets who were carefully chosen to appeal to listeners who might be new to poetry while also satisfying poetry lovers. Lithgow calls his compilation “The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family.” To aid him in his quest, Lithgow assembled a stellar group of actors, including Jodie Foster, Lynn Redgrave, Glenn Close, Billy Connolly, Morgan Freeman, Kathy Bates, Eileen Atkins, Susan Sarandon, Gary Sinise, Sam Waterston, and Helen Mirren, to read these treasured poems. “Matching the performer with the poem was exciting and thrilling,” he says. “They each brought so much to the poems, as I knew they would.” Lithgow himself fills the space between the poems with his own imaginative yet pithy commentary.

Lithgow found recording THE POETS’ CORNER a breezy, delightful, and less emotional experience than other narrations he has done, such as his recording of THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES. He admits that since he’s a trained actor, he can sometimes get away with little preparation before he records. “It’s similar to doing radio drama. I can set a certain rhythm, and since I’m a good sight-reader, recording can be a little spontaneous.”

Lithgow is also a fan of listening to audiobooks. He notes that he particularly likes audio presentations of nineteenth-century novels, especially those that are serials. “I particularly enjoyed the audio presentation of Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope. A good actor and narrator creating so many characters is just great.”

There’s no doubt that listeners to THE POETS’ CORNER may be inspired to give poetry a chance. In fact, it won’t be surprising if John Lithgow’s efforts turn an entire iPod-loving generation into Frost, Burns, or Dickinson groupies. Now, that would certainly be a Palooza--which was probably his intention all along.--Martie Ramm Engle

FEB/MAR 08
© AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine