The content of the ceremony was kept a well-guarded secret. On arriving to do the show, Hugh was impressed with how intimate the Kodak Theater was. It was a different kind of layout to what he had been used to when performing in the musical shows. This was more like the nightclub of his dreams, where he could be close to the audience.
On the night itself, much was riding on his broad, gym-sculpted shoulders, but there was really no need to worry since everything went perfectly. ‘I was scared. I was like “Wow man this is a billion people” and then I just thought, “Ok whatever you do just remember you are a kid from Wahroonga in Sydney, you’re hosting the Oscars, just have fun”.’ He wanted to open with a bang, and he certainly did. He breathed much-needed life into the ailing Oscars ceremony as he sang, danced and joked his way through the best opening routine since Billy Crystal’s priceless parody of Jerry Maguire and The English Patient in 1997.
In his opening skit, and in a reference to the global economic crisis, Jackman announced his opening number had been cut from the show. Undaunted, the song-and-dance man of Boy From Oz fame then launched into a hilarious musical semi-extravaganza, adorned by cheap sets made of cardboard, pizza boxes and gaffer tape. ‘Everything is being downsized because of the recession,’ Hugh remarked. ‘Next year, I’ll be starring in a movie called New Zealand.’
He pushed the usual irreverence to extremes by pulling Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway out of her seat for a Frost/Nixon segment, and singing ‘I haven’t seen The Reader’, striking a chord with most people watching. With dashes of Australian informality, he often left the stage to banter light-heartedly with nominees in the front row, including Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep.
In a top-hat musical tribute to Old Hollywood, singer Beyoncé joined Jackman and cast members of Mamma Mia! and High School Musical. The number was directed by Baz Luhrmann, whose Australia got more than its fair share of mentions despite being nominated only for Best Costume.
As for the winners that night, as expected, the late Heath Ledger took a posthumous Best Supporting Actor award for his ground-breaking performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight. A standing ovation greeted the announcement as the award was accepted by his father Kim Ledger, mother Sally Bell and sister Kate Ledger. Everyone seemed to get into the celebration and party mood, even a humble Sean Penn, who uncharacteristically delivered the funniest line of the night when accepting Best Actor for Milk by admitting, ‘I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me often.’ He also brought perspective to the giddy mood by mentioning the homophobia still staining American life. Yet the dominance of Slumdog Millionaire fed perfectly into the optimistic vibe of the first post-Bush Oscars, which seemed designed to promote a less arrogant America.
Some US TV critics may disagree, but Hugh Jackman’s performance as Oscar host received a big thumbs-up from the American public, and from the celebrities themselves. New York newspaper Newsday asked its readers to rate the Australian host’s performance and 65.5 per cent deemed it ‘excellent’, 21.5 per cent ‘good’, 8.1 per cent ‘satisfactory’ and just 5 per cent gave him a ‘fail’. Entertainment Weekly asked its readers if Hugh should return as host – just over 70 per cent said he should and only 29 per cent said not.
The affable Aussie’s singing, dancing and stand-up comedy performance had spearheaded a reverse in the troubling slide in US TV ratings for the film industry’s glitzy night of celebration. Viewing figures pointed to a 6 per cent rise in American viewers for the Jackman-led US TV Oscar telecast over the dismal performance a year before. And in Australia, the distinct Aussie flavour helped boost television ratings by 300,000 on the Monday night from a record low the previous year.
A few months later, the star was back for some more excitement at the same theatre, but this time to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was a whirlwind time in the Jackman family.
‘Women, men, children and dogs completely went to pieces when Hugh took his shirt off.’
Maureen Lipman, actress
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Walking on Broadway!
‘Quite often I get a feeling of being a bit overwhelmed, but I’m just in this bit of a purple patch at the moment, I suppose, where the opportunities I’m being offered are really exciting to me,’ said the highly versatile, talented and hard-working Mr. Jackman. His ever expanding portfolio now included a long list of diverse and challenging roles on screen and on stage which ensured he got the Hollywood ‘A’ list treatment wherever he went.
From the outset however, 2009 and 2010 seemed a much quieter period as far as big budget film releases were concerned for the Australian even though behind the scenes there were a lot of things happening to keep the star busy.
Around that time there were several proposed movies which in the end were either put on ice as far as Hugh’s involvement was concerned or were canned. Drive, based on the James Sallis novel of the same name, seemed to be on his radar for ages. There was much anticipation for the movie where Hugh was to play a stunt driver by day, a getaway driver by night. Yet after numerous delays, Hugh declined the part and it was eventually filled by Ryan Gosling.
In another project, Hugh was pencilled in to play the major lead role in Kevin Bisch’s comedy Avon Man. The film would have seen the star swap his sharp claws for the world of beauty products. Along with his Seed Productions co-partner John Palermo, he was to also produce the movie about a laid-off car salesman who is reluctantly recruited as a salesman for the cosmetic company, Avon. Again after various reasons and production stretching into 2011, Hugh dropped it off his project list to get himself into shape for some bigger and more familiar roles to follow.
Despite all, there were still a number of movies he did do which would be released in 2011 or 2012. So with the business of clocking up films ticking along nicely, Hugh channelled his energy and effort not for the first time (and probably not for the last) back to his first love, the theatre. In September 2009, he starred in a gritty dramatic piece to kick off his return to the boards of New York – a play called A Steady Rain.
In A Steady Rain, written by Keith Huff, Hugh returned to Broadway to act alongside Mr Bond himself, Daniel Craig. The press notes stated, “It was a new American play that told the story of two Chicago cops who are lifelong friends and their differing accounts of a few harrowing days that changed their lives forever.”
The story centred on two cops, one of which inadvertently returned a Vietnamese boy to a cannibalistic serial killer who claimed to be the boy’s uncle; a story line similar to an incident that happened in real life to serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
‘It’s very raw,’ said Jackman, ‘there are not many plays like it on Broadway. I suppose the roles are different from others we’ve done, but that’s what you want. To be remembered for different things is something that motivates both of us.’ Jackman added, ‘I loved the idea of returning to the basic of the spoken word, two actors and the audience.’ Even in the more restrained world of the theatre, news of the production caused a tremendous buzz, and not just because the two major megastars were going to be sharing the same stage at the same time.
Jackman played Denny, an aging and racist cop with a wicked temper not helped by a strained and stressful marriage. ‘Denny is very unpredictable, very explosive,’ Jackman commented, ‘and it ain’t all Mr Nice Guy, that’s for sure.’
Craig stepped into the role of his partner, Joey, a recovering alcoholic with some dark secrets of his own. Both actors turned down significant film roles for the chance to work together in the two man play. ‘I’m just really excited to be working with Daniel Craig, and to just be working on Broadway again, but this time in a play,’ Hugh commented.
On and off stage the actors got on extremely well and were more than happy to share the limelight and the spoils equally. There were no egos, no tantrums, or in-fighting, just hard work and a friendly professional atmosphere. Allegedly, to create this atmosphere and help the actors bonding process, John Crow
ley, the director, installed a ping pong table backstage in the theatre so the superstars could play and relax during rehearsals breaks.
No one would deny that a high percentage of the audience gathered outside Gerald Schoenfield theatre each night for several hours before curtain call were not your usual theatre goers. Most were film fans there just to catch a rare glimpse of their favourite actors in the flesh. On more than one occasion, their appearance from behind the curtain prompted loud cheers and wolf whistles from the audience. It took several minutes until the commotion died down enough for the actors to start their dialogue.
In the first week of performances, most TV channels and newspapers picked up on the story that happened during the middle of a tense dramatic scene, when someone in the audience forgot to knock their mobile phone off and it rang. As cool as ice, Jackman, staying in character, pointed to the phone offender and said, ‘You wanna get that? You wanna get that, grab it I don’t care.’ The person didn’t move. He continued, ‘Grab your phone it doesn’t matter.’ To everyone’s relief the ringing stopped. Unbelievably a few seconds later it started to ring again. This time, evidently annoyed, Jackman, still using his fake Chicago accent, added, ‘Come on, just turn it off unless you got a better story, you want to get up and tell your story?’ Craig chimed in with, ‘Can you get that, whoever it is can you just get it? We can wait just get the phone.’ The end of the ringing was met with gentle applause from the other members of the audience.
During the two hour performance without an interval break, the audiences were served a compelling, and fast-paced ride through the tough streets of Chicago by Jackman and Craig. At the end of each night they received standing ovations for their raw, emotionally charged performance.
‘I love New York,’ Jackman commented. ‘I have a home here; my kids go to school here. And Broadway audiences are different from any others that I’ve experienced. They’re on your side to begin with. You can lose them quickly, but they’ve come to have a good time, and they give you the benefit of the doubt. That’s part of the fun.’
The pair made a unique place for themselves in the history of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids fundraising when between them they raised over $1,500,000 in the 21st annual Gypsy of the Year competition, from six weeks of curtain appeals at their hit Broadway drama.
The first week of preview performances took A Steady Rain into the top three at Broadway’s box office, grossing $1,167,954. Only Wicked and Billy Elliot scored higher. It didn’t stop and the twelve week stint proved extremely successful and highly profitable. It broke box office records for a non-musical play in Broadway. The critics also gave the play and its Aussie and Brit lead actors, which included very convincing Chicago accents, their seal of approval.
Due to its success, rumours have been circulating that Steven Spielberg is very interested in adapting the play into a big screen movie with the two actors set to play the lead roles. Talks are still continuing.
Hugh strongly believed another stage production would soon follow in 2010. A play based on the life and loves of the famous magician and escapologist, Harry Houdini. Hugh admitted he had always been deeply fascinated by the life of Houdini since he was very young but again it was put on hold. This didn’t deter Jackman however who carried on treading the boards once more when he launched into a one man show called Back on Broadway.
Back on Broadway was the long time dream of the Australian to create and star in a Vegas-style, rat-pack kind of show with six female dancers / singers, an 18 piece orchestra and on a few occasions a quartet of indigenous Australian vocalists and didgeridoo players. ‘I had it in my mind for sixteen years. I wanted to do something personal to try and show a bit of who I am and the things I love. I tried to share different styles of music, different parts of myself and I thought I wanted to share some of the gravitas and some of the emotion of really what being Australian is.’
There was just one problem. He had to convince his wife and family it was the right thing to do. ‘I was like a guy who goes to his wife and asks her if she minds if he goes out to play golf. I went to Deb’s and said, “Hey Deb’s do you mind if I did this show.”’ Luckily she agreed.
The action packed stage show proved a perfect platform for the all action-movie star to remind the audience what else he had in his locker. ‘I can’t think of a time when I felt more relaxed than on stage, not even Sunday mornings. But even when dancing and singing unless I try to invent some kind of disguise for myself I feel naked.’
During the show he sang and danced, twirled, swung and pirouetted across the stage, no mean feat for such a big man. The show also delved into a bit of rap, a blast of tap and a slice of capella. And of course in true ‘Boy from Oz’ fashion Hugh happily interacted with the audience with his off the cuff moments of conversations and humour.
The one-man show started life at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco from 3-15 May 2011. Then he packed it up and moved it to the East coast to Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre where it energetically played out night after night to full to capacity audiences from November 2011 to January 2012.
Unbelievably even with such success, some people still find it hard to comprehend how Hugh wants to, and almost effortlessly does, flutter back and forth between stage and screen. There are some critics that feel he should just settle down in one medium or the other. He himself, on the other hand, shrugs his shoulders, knowing full well that he finds walking on either side of the genre street completely comfortable: ‘That’s just my taste anyway. When people say to me, “What type of music do you like, what do you listen to?” I always think it’s such an odd question. I love all different types of music. But that’s how I am with food, with people. I was reminiscing with an old mate and he said, “Oh my god, if I look back at all my girlfriends they’re all the same!” I said if I look back on all mine, they couldn’t be more different. I’ve never sort of repeated. So it’s my natural state of being.’
Advance sales exceeded the $6 million dollars mark. After the tiring, but enjoyable, ten week show, sales eventually grossed well over $14 million giving him ten out of the eleven of the Broadhurst’s highest earning weeks (the other being The Merchant of Venice in early 2011).
Then just to add another string to his bow a new type of project involving the star emerged. Far away from the producing, film work and treading the boards, Jackman took his new-found liking for comic books into new areas after getting hooked on the X-Men series and turned his hand to creating his own series, Nowhere Man.
Working with a US comic publisher, Virgin Comics, Hugh, along with Marc Guggenheim (writer of the Marvel comics Wolverine and Amazing Spider-Man) created a futuristic science-fiction odyssey series set in an era where men have traded their privacy for safety and security. Obviously, from where Jackman and his production company sat, there was hope Nowhere Man will one day become popular enough to warrant a movie, or four! Unfortunately Virgin Comics disbanded a year later and at present Nowhere Man is still no where to be seen.
In addition to his normal day job, Hugh’s fame and popularity opened up new horizons and gave him the wonderful chance to help others. In the latter part of decade, he became goodwill ambassador of Seoul in South Korea. ‘As a goodwill ambassador, Jackman will help raise the brand value of Seoul and publicise the city’s policies to the world,’ said a local official. ‘He will play an important role in promoting Seoul’s charm, especially to America and Europe.’ Hugh himself was excited about the prospect when he visited the city to promote his latest X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie: ‘As a goodwill ambassador to Seoul, which has unlimited possibility and charms, I will do my best to show people how beautiful Seoul is and why it is a city worth visiting.’
He also used his fame to try and get more people aware and involved in charity work throughout the world. As a philanthropist, Hugh is a long-time proponent of microcredit, the extension of small loans to impoverished prospective entrepreneurs in underdeveloped countries. He is a vocal supporter of Muham
mad Yunus, microcredit pioneer and winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
Hugh even took time out of his busy schedule to attend a UN Climate Summit with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, where he urged world leaders to act on global warming before it becomes too late. The actor, an ambassador to World Vision, spoke about the effect climate change is having on the poor in Africa after returning from a trip to Ethiopia where he met coffee grower Dukalee and his family. He hoped to raise awareness on the issue, saying, ‘I will use the best weapon I have, which is not Wolverine claws or mutant powers, but my voice to speak on behalf of Dukalee and a billion other people in developing countries, who contribute the least to climate change and yet are hit the hardest by it.’ He described how it gelled for him on this trip: ‘You can’t separate the issues of climate change and poverty. They are inextricably linked. Having been to Ethiopia and seen these farmers, seen the battle they face from what is a problem that the developed countries have brought on many of these developing countries, there is a justice and there is a gap we need to fill.’
The Aussie actor admitted the trip to Africa was an eye-opening experience and it inspired him and his wife Deborra-Lee to live a greener life at home. He added, ‘It’s humbling, it’s embarrassing sometimes, when you go to Dukalee’s farm, who has nothing and who’s doing no harm by shovelling manure, and there’s me in my lovely apartment.’
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