Kevin Spacey makes emotional stage comeback performing Shakespeare – seven years after he last appeared in a theatre
KEVIN Spacey made an emotional comeback to the stage last night - almost seven years after he last appeared in a theatre.
The House Of Cards actor, 64, was cleared of all charges in his sexual assault trial in London earlier this year.
Spacey performed a scene from Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens in front of a packed out crowd in Oxford after being brought out as a surprise guest by Sun columnist Douglas Murray.
At the prestigious Sheldonian Theatre, Murray had just finished giving a lecture on the life of Sir Roger Scruton when he welcomed Spacey to the stage to rounds of applause.
Walking among the audience, Spacey performed a speech from Act IV scene III of the play when Timon laments his downfall.
The audience gave Spacey a standing ovation when he finished and he held his hand to his heart before leaving the stage.
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Murray had spoken about his efforts to clear the name of his friend Sir Roger after a magazine interview had claimed he was racist.
He then discussed scenes in the Bard’s Timon of Athens when the titular character is abandoned by his friends and supporters before inviting Spacey to the stage.
Introducing Spacey, Murray said: “When Roger was going through his own battle with the shallows, I often thought of Shakespeare’s rarely performed but great play Timon of Athens.
“Timon has the whole world before him. He is surrounded by friends and admirers. He’s been generous to all yet he falls on hard times in the city.
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“When he does absolutely everyone deserts him. He is left with nothing and nobody. He risks being filled with despair and rage […].
“I adore this scene and would like in closing to read it. But I am not a professional actor.
“So I’d like to invite someone to the stage who is. Former Cameron McIntosh professor of contemporary theatre here at Oxford, one of the great actors of his generation, someone I am very proud to call a friend, Kevin Spacey.”
The comeback comes after Spacey sobbed in the dock after being cleared of sexually assaulting four men.
Jurors returned not guilty verdicts for nine offences relating to when he was artistic director of the Old Vic in London.
The Oscar-winning star had been branded a "sexual bully" for allegedly attacking the men in charges dating back 22 years.
He had previously broken down at Southwark Crown Court and said: "I lost everything".
Jurors took 12 hours and 26 minutes to return the not guilty verdict and Spacey mouthed “thank you” to them before they left the courtroom in July.
He had always denied all charges and speaking outside court he said he had been “humbled”.
Spacey told reporters: "I imagine that many of you can understand that there is a lot for me to process after what has just happened today.
"But I would like to say that I am enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision and I am humbled by the outcome today.
"I also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse, the security and all those who took care of us every single day, my legal team Evan and Lucy for being here every day, and that's all I have to say for the moment. Thank you very much."
But despite the not guilty verdict, his stage comeback came just a day after a London cinema cancelled the premiere of his new film Control after finding out he was starring in the flick.
The Prince Charles cinema, just off Leicester Square, said they had not realised Spacey was in the film and cancelled their event, despite the actor being cleared in the courts.
Control stars Welsh actress Lauren Metcalfe as a British politician who is kidnapped when an unseen hijacker, played by Spacey, takes over control of her car.
Spacey is not seen in the film and is only heard in phone calls with Metcalfe’s character.
Boss of the theatre Greg Lynn emailed Metcalfe to inform her that he could not host the premiere because of her co-star.
He said in an email: “We have an issue. It is with my apologies that I have to inform you that we have cancelled your hire with us.
“Last night it came to our attention that your film features Kevin Spacey, in particular his first film since the court case.
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“My staff as well as I are horrified that we are being mentioned in the same breath as his new film for the premiere.”
The launch will now take place at a cinema in Bethnal Green in November after film bosses had to scramble to rearrange it.