Keith David on magically channeling Max Malini in NBC's ‘The Cape’

By Ian Cullen Jan 17, 2011, 6:21 GMT

Take an honest cop, framed for a crime, and watch as he trains underground, morphs into a new persona and re-emerges as a masked hero. ...more

The new NBC series "The Cape," is the first genre series seen of late which is accessible to a wide audience.

On Monday, January 17th 9/8c the episode "Kozmo" airs, and features a nice guest appearance by "Sons of Anarchy" star, Dayton Callie.

The synopsis from NBC: "A mysterious colleague of Max's arrives and attempts to reclaim Vince's cape; Dana Faraday discovers evidence that Vince was framed."

One of the stand-out characters in "The Cape" is that of professional bank robber and leader of The Carnival Of Crime, Max Malini, who is played brilliantly by actor, musician and former circus performer, Keith David.

Monsters and Critics caught up with the actor at the Television Critics' Association press tour in Pasadena, California and had an exclusive interview with Mr. David about his role in the show, and as you will read he was more than happy to talk about "Max," a role he’s described as the most fun he has had in his professional career.

Monsters & Critics: Having recently seen the pilot episode. I was rather taken with Max, and can see that your having a lot of fun with the role. Now in the pilot Max starts off robbing banks and such, but eventually chooses to help Vince Faraday. What do you think Max’s reasons are for this turn around and where do you hope the character goes as the show progresses?

Keith David: I think that when we first meet Max meeting Vince. He thinks Vince is the bad guy. You know as a professional bank robber I’m out to get what I can get.

Now as it turns out! He is not the bad guy but he’s been duped by the bad guy. Max I think recognises in Vince that here’s a really good man who wanted to make a difference in a good way. He wanted to make a difference.

I think at one point in Max’s life he was that man who wanted to make a great difference. That’s why he became a showman. That’s why he became a magician. That’s why he joined the circus. To bring happiness and joy to people.

I think that as you know in hard economic times that ambition can be just that. Ambition, and not very realistic. So in his travels he’s come across the cape. We will come to discover that the cape has a personality of its own. It takes on the personality of the owner because it also has a history.

Max says to Vincent in the second episode I believe, ‘Vince, be careful because either you wear the cape or the cape wears you!’ So in a consequent episode we’ll see that I was hoping that the cape has the chance to do good and redeem itself.

I think for me Vince represents a quality in myself that could be redeemed. I’m not just a thief. As I say to him in my dying moments, you know, the thing that he said to me about his son. Wanting to make a difference. As I said I think Max was a man who wanted to make a difference and to be a hero. That’s what he recognises and that’s attracts him to Vince.

M&C: Having read your IMDB bio. I’ve noticed that you’ve played a lot of roles in animated series, movies and television so are familiar with the genre audience and the expectations that they have. In terms of The Cape, what was it that attracted you to the role of Max, and how do you hope he will play to the audience?

Keith David: He’s magical. He’s mystical. He’s a healer, he’s a gentleman and a tyrant and he’s an escapist and showman.

He’s so many things. He’s so multifaceted. What’s not to like? I mean he can be a good guy and a bad guy when he has to be.

M&C: He kind of struck me as the cool uncle that as a kid you’d want to hang out with.

Keith David: Exactly, exactly he’s exactly that. He’s kind of that renegade Uncle who you love and they say, ‘Watch out for that guy. I don’t want you hanging out with him to much.’ But you know your anxious whenever you see him because you want to hang out.

M&C: I've read how your love of magic attracted you to the part of Max. Do you prefer up close sleight-of-hand magic or the grand escapes?

Keith David: I’m fascinated with all of that. You know as a kid watching Tony Curtis play Houdini was fascinating to me. I loved Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster in Trapeze and always wanted my chance to do that. This affords me that opportunity.

As a young man I used to do circus stunts and my thing was the trampoline. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to do trampoline work on the show but it makes me want to revisit some of my circus skills, and I’m working on that now. So I get a chance to work on that. I get a chance to you know get my body back in shape to where I can do those things again.

M&C: Do you have a favourite magician?

Keith David: I used to like Blackstone I was fascinated with Blackstone. I also enjoyed David Copperfiield. I get a chance to go to the Magic Castle once in awhile and I love a couple of guys over there and this guy. This new guy, Angel is his name. He’s kind of fascinating.

M&C: Do you have to block Max's escape scenes differently before filming than you block other kinds of scenes?

Keith David: Oh yes because there’s a little bit of movie magic that has to happen. So you know. It’s included in the blocking.

M&C: Moving back to the topic of magic. Did you do any research about some of the illusions and magic that your character Max would be performing, and if so what from your reading were you able to bring to the character?

Keith David: I read the biographies of certain Magicians and like I said just going back and revisiting my circus roots. I get a chance to meet a lot circus people. You know people who trained with circus ballet and I get to do a bit of training with them. Which is quite wonderful I’m deeply challenged by that. I have also been studying yoga and Tai chi because between the pilot and the series I lost 30 pounds, and that’s how I did it.

M&C: Tom Wheeler, who wrote and produced the show, admits to being a huge fan of comic books. Did you ever read comics, and if so what comic book character would you say your character Max is based on if any?

Keith David: When I was growing up I was fascinated with The Black Cat and The Silver Surfer I sort of floated between DC Comics and Marvel comics once in a while. My best friend owned a comic book store so you know. I could always read them and return them.  [Laughs]

M&C: How much say have you had in creating the character of Max, and how has working on The Cape compared to other productions you’ve worked on?

Keith David: Working on The Cape is some of the best fun have had in life. I mean Max Malini is you know... When I read it I wanted to play him immediately. I fell immediately in love with him because he’s someone I could live with for awhile. I mean if they’re going to do a TV show.

This is exactly the kind of TV show that I want to do, and I pray that it does last for a little while because I think its something that we can all learn something from. I mean like I mentioned at the beginning that whole theme of one man making a difference. I think as we approach the former Martin Luther Kings Birthday that at this time, which we live in. It is important to remember that one man can make a difference.

Vince Faraday and his desire to be a good cop and to seek justice and to work for what’s right and exemplify those kind of values. I think that the times that we live in where corruption runs rampant and we as citizens suffer the brunt of past and present corruption.  The theme of hope that one man can make such a difference that it can change our lives. I think is very important. I think that we need that glimmer of hope to help us get past and through this period because it will pass.

We don’t know how long it will last but until we get to the other side of it while we’re still moving through it. Having characters like Max and Vince help us to live in the world a little bit more comfortably.

M&C: The thing that I enjoy about The Cape is that it seems to be a show that everyone can watch. It’s a very accessible show.

Keith David: That’s another element that’s special about it because you know. We have all these TV shows that are not necessarily kid friendly. You know cable shows or adult shows and they have ratings that are not PG. That are not good for your 8 year old and your 13 year old and your 17 year old and your 35 year old.

This is one of those shows that appeals to people at all levels. It’s another way of bringing together and reinforcing family values.

M&C: Is Max going to be in all the episodes and if so what can we look forward to in future episodes in terms of specific Max character moments?

Keith David: Yes, we can look forward to as I said Max is a multifaceted guy. He’s complex in the sense that he is the leader of The Carnival Of Crime. We are professional bank robbers and that’s what we do. So I have mouths to feed yet at the same time I’m helping Vince get his family back and clear his name.

He is a good guy. So there are times where we work at cross purposes. There will come a time in a consequent episode that he says to me. ‘You know, because of who we are individually. We may one day find ourselves on the opposite side of the loaded gun.’ And I say to him, ‘Until that day comes lets enjoy the time in between.’

M&C: The character as you say is multifaceted and in some ways he puts me in mind of Fagin from Oliver Twist only he’s more of what Fagin would have been if he had a conscience.

Keith David: That’s it you know. He has elements and resonance of so many characters like that.

M&C: I thought I’d end on a fun note so here goes. If you could have some form of superpower, or a magical gift in reality. What would it be and how do you think you’d use it?

Keith David: I think that if I had a superpower. I’d want the power to be invisable and to able to disappear and reappear. How I would use that. I would hopefully you know. Get myself in and out of situations that I don’t want to be in. [Laughs]

M&C: That’s a good answer, and obviously as an actor and artist. You could use it to observe.

Keith David: Exactly. To be that fly on the wall.