Alan Ayckbourn's comic trilogy of plays, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, will come to Broadway directly following its sold out critically acclaimed run in London. The production, the latest success for The Old Vic Theatre Company under the artistic leadership of Kevin Spacey, will play for 16 weeks only. THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, directed by Matthew Warchus, opens Thursday, April 23 at Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street). Previews begin Tuesday, April 7.
The first Broadway revival of Ayckbourn's masterpiece will feature the original heralded company from The Old Vic: Amelia Bullmore (Ruth), Jessica Hynes (Annie), Stephen Mangan (Norman), Ben Miles (Tom), Paul Ritter (Reg) and Amanda Root (Sarah).
Tickets will be available soon through Telecharge at 212-239-6200 and www.telecharge.com.
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS will be produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Steven Baruch, Tom Viertel, Dede Harris, Tulchin/Bartner/Lauren Doll, Harriet Newman Leve, Eric Falkenstein/Jamie DeRoy, Michael Filerman/Jennifer Manocherian, in association with Pam Laudenslager/Remmel T. Dickinson, Jane Dubin/True Love Productions, Barbara Manocherian/Jennifer Isaacson.
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS comprises three full length plays - Table Manners, Living Together and Round and Round the Garden - which are ingeniously written to be enjoyed individually or as a trilogy, in any order. The action is simultaneous and each exit in one play turns out to be an entrance in another. The plays will be performed on a rotating schedule during the week and can also be seen in one day on "Trilogy Saturdays".
Set in the dining room (Table Manners), living room (Living Together) and garden (Round and Round the Garden) of an English country house, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS follows six characters - assistant librarian Norman, his wife, in-laws and the local vet - from Saturday night through Monday morning. We watch as desperate lothario Norman (Stephen Mangan) attempts to seduce his sister-in-law Annie (Jessica Hynes), charm his brother-in-law's wife Sarah (Amanda Root) and woo his estranged wife Ruth (Amelia Bullmore), during a disastrously hilarious weekend of eating, drinking and misunderstanding. With his characteristic compassionate humor, Ayckbourn explores the disappointments bubbling beneath the surface as his characters' dreams of love and fulfillment go amiss.
The first London revival of THE NORMAN CONQUESTS ran September 11-December 20, 2008 at The Old Vic and was an instant sell out. For the production, the venerable 200-year-old theatre was converted for an in-the-round staging which will be retained for Circle in the Square's unique configuration.
Reviews for the production were ecstatic. "I came out feeling that it would be right up there on my list of all-time great theatre events," wrote Robert Gore-Langton in the Sunday Telegraph. "You'll laugh. A lot," exclaimed Benedict Nightingale, The Times. "Left me helpless with hilarity," cheered Charles Spencer in the Daily Telegraph. "Matthew Warchus's production is wonderfully entertaining, fluent and expertly acted. I recommend seeing the whole trilogy. It's heaven in triplicate," raved Paul Taylor in The Independent.
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS is designed by Rob Howell, with lighting by David Howe, music by Gary Yershon and sound by Simon Baker for Autograph.
