Rolling off the celebrated European premiere of “Elsinore” on opening night of the London Film Festival, Andrew Scott emphasized why movies should still tackle the AIDS crisis, even as a new wave of LGBTQ films and series are tapping into lighter themes. I really, really, really do,” said Scott. I don’t want to see that anymore (…) because the shame does not lie with the gay people.,” Scott said.
So that’s someone else’s shame,” he continued. Directed by Simon Stone from a script by Stephen Beresford, “Elsinore” stars Scott as famed Scottish actor and “Chariots of Fire” star Ian Charleson. In 1989, while already succumbing to complications from AIDS, Charleson replaced Daniel Day-Lewis in “Hamlet” at London’s National Theatre after the actor had walked off stage mid-performance, never to return to the production.
Charleson received rave reviews, but died just seven weeks after bowing out. Last night, following the premiere, Scott came on stage and called up the real-life individuals portrayed in the film alongside the actors playing them, including the National Theatre’s stage doorkeeper for 46 years, Linda Tolhurst (played by Monica Dolan), its long-serving dresser Ralph Mills (Paul Chahidi), and director and Charleson’s close friend Sean Mathias (Matthew Beard). He also brought on stage the pioneering HIV/AIDS consultant Dr.
Margaret Johnson (Olivia Colman), who drew a standing ovation.
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