RIALTO CHATTER: Anne-Marie Duff Lead CAUSE CELEBRE on Bway?

Anne-Marie Duff opened in Terence Rattigan's final play, Cause Célèbre,on March 29, 2011 at the Old Vic in the UK.  Previews for the acclaimed production began on March 17, 2011.  Today, Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post today that Old Vic Artistic Director Kevin Spacey is "in talks" with producers to transfer the production to the Great White Way. 

As noted in the Post: "Kevin Spacey, who runs the Old Vic, is in discussions with New York producers about a Broadway production. Rattigan, who died in 1977, is all but forgotten on Broadway today. He's long overdue for a comeback."

Directed by TheaSharrock, Cause Célèbre is based on the true story of Alma Rattenbury (Anne-Marie Duff) who was put on public trial in 1935 with her 18-year-old lover for violently killing herhusband. This major new production of Rattigan's final play is the third production in The Old Vic's seventh season, and is sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

The productionwill launch the 2011 centenary celebrations of Rattigan's birth.

Condemned by the public, more for her seduction of a younger man than for anyinvolvement she may have had in her husband's death, Alma's fate is left in the hands of thesocially and sexually repressed jury forewoman, Edith Davenport.

Through these twowomen, this powerful play examines the role of passion, guilt and loyalty in a study of 1930sEnglish sensibilities.

Thea Sharrock said: "Having just directed Terence Rattigan's second play, After the Dance, Iam now thrilled to be part of his centenary celebrations next year with his last play, Cause Célèbre. I am absolutely delighted to be doing it with Anne-Marie Duff, one of the most exciting actresses of her generation, and I can't think of a better stage for it than the historic Old Vic, a first for both Anne-Marie and I, as well as for Rattigan."

For tickets and more information, visit www.oldvictheatre.com.

Terence Rattigan is one of England's greatest playwrights. His many plays include French Without Tears, After the Dance, Flare Path, Love In Idleness, While The Sun Shines, The Winslow Boy, The Browning Version, Harlequinade, Adventure Story, Who Is Sylvia?, TheDeep Blue Sea, The Sleeping Prince, Separate Tables, Variation On A Theme, Ross, ManAnd Boy, A Bequest To The Nation, In Praise Of Love and Cause Célèbre.

Rattigan also wrote numerous screenplays including French Without Tears, The Way To The Stars,Journey Together, While the Sun Shines, The Winslow Boy, The Browning Version, ThePrince And The Showgirl, Separate Tables, The Sound Barrier, The Man Who Loved Redheads, The Deep Blue Sea, The Final Test, The VIPs, The Yellow Rolls Royce,Goodbye Mr Chips, Conduct Unbecoming, A Bequest to the Nation, The Day Will Dawn,English Without Tears, Uncensored, Brighton Rock and Bond Street.

Anne-Marie Duff is an actress whose work spreads extensively over screen and stage. In 2007 Anne-Marie took the National Theatre by storm in the title role of MariAnne Elliott's revival of Saint Joan for which she won an Evening Standard Theatre Award, a South Bank Show Award, The Critics' Circle Award and was nominated for an Olivier Award. She wasalso nominated for an Ian Charleson Award for her role as 'Cordelia' in Richard Eyre's KingLear (National Theatre) and an Olivier Award for Howard Davies' Collected Stories (WestEnd).

Other theatre credits include Days of Wine and Roses (Donmar) and War and Peace(National Theatre). Anne-Marie was BAFTA nominated in 2005 for Shameless (Channel 4) for her role as 'Fiona' as well as in 2007 for her role as 'Elizabeth I' in Elizabeth - The Virgin Queen.

Other television credits include Charles II, Dr Zhivago and Sinners. Film creditsinclude The Last Station with Helen Mirren, Nowhere Boy for which she won the BestSupporting Actress BIFA and also a BAFTA nomination, Margot, The Magdalene Sisters,French Film with Hugh Bonneville and Is Anybody There? with Michael Caine and DavidMorrissey.Thea Sharrock is currently directing Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit in the West End.

Recent credits include the acclaimed production of Rattigan's After the Dance (National Theatre),The Misanthrope starring Keira Knightley (Comedy Theatre), Mrs. Klein (Almeida) and AsYou Like It (Globe). Thea also directed the critically acclaimed Equus starring DanielRadcliffe and Richard Griffiths at the Gielgud Theatre and then on Broadway. Other WestEnd credits include Heroes (Wyndham's), A Voyage Round My Father (Donmar/Wyndham's). She was Artistic Director of Southwark Playhouse from 2001 to 2003 where she directed A Doll's House, Mongoose, Trip's Cinch and The Sleepers' Den and Artistic Director of The Gate Theatre between 2004 and 2007 where she directed The Chairs, TheEmperor Jones and Tejas Verdes.