Tony winner Mark Rylance quotes MN poet... again

Posted at 8:36 AM on June 13, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Minnesota Poets, People, Poetry, Theater

Mark Rylance accepts the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for "Jerusalem" during the 65th annual Tony Awards, Sunday, June 12, 2011 in New York. (Jeff Christensen / AP)

Actor Mark Rylance has a thing for Minnesota poet Louis Jenkins.

Three years ago, whilst accepting a Tony award for his part in "Boeing-Boeing," he quoted Jenkins' poem "The Back Country."

Last night, in accepting the award for leading actor in the production "Jerusalem" he quoted Jenkins' poem "Walking Through A Wall."

The New York Times tried to get an explanation for the choice:

Asked after his victory why he chose to share Mr. Jenkins's thoughts about the art of "walking through walls," Mr. Rylance said, "I just think it's good advice."

However, if you take a look at Jenkins' website, you'll see this tidbit:

Louis Jenkins is currently working with Mark Rylance, actor and former director of the Globe Theatre, London, on a stage production titled Nice Fish! based on Mr. Jenkins poems.

By the way, you can hear Jenkins recite "Walking Through a Wall" in its entirety at his website.