Robert Gould - Page 10

Two productions of plays by one of the founding fathers of twentieth century American drama, Tennessee Williams, are set to hit the West End stage in a couple of months time. Thomas Lanier Williams drafted some of the most haunting plays ever written - plays full of the joy, pain and poetry of life that always touch at the heart of raw human emotion. And he created some of the all-time great theatrical roles for women. The West End has seen high quality reincarnations of some of those great female roles in the last few years with stunning performances by Frances O'Connor in 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof', Victoria Hamilton and Diana Rigg in 'Suddenly Last Summer' and Clare Higgins and Jenny Seagrove in 'The Night Of The Iguana'. In 2007 London audiences will get the chance to see Hollywood star Jessica Lange in 'The Glass Menagerie' (which begins previews at the Apollo on January 31) and Zoe Wannamaker in 'The Rose Tattoo' (which commences previews at the Olivier on March 19).

New dice were cast this week at the Piccadilly Theatre as Don Johnson became the new Nathan Detroit in the stylish revival of Frank Loessor's classic, 'Guys and Dolls'. Johnson, best known for his starring role in two hit TV detective series ('Miami Vice' and 'Nash Bridges'), replaces Alex Ferns in a role originally created on Broadway by Sam Levine and made famous by Frank Sinatra in the MGM movie.

At the Baron's Court Theatre between January 9 and February 4, APR Theatre Company will present 'The Lonesome West', the final instalment in Martin McDonagh's acclaimed Leenane trilogy, originally staged in 2001. A black comedy set in the 'murder capital of Ireland', Leenane, a small town in Connemara, the play about two brothers who have recently buried their father is almost the Hibernian reflection of 'True West' by Sam Shephard, the influence of whom often resonates in McDonagh's work. The sub-text parodies the Hollywood vision of the American frontier, where each insult is tantamount to a challenge to a gunfight, while also symbolising the sheer desolation of an outpost far from civilization that breeds suicidal despair.

Irish student Jayne Wisener has landed the dream role of Johnny Depp's daughter in the upcoming movie of the Sondheim musical, 'Sweeney Todd'. Though not widely broadcast, the casting was reported in the Irish press at the end of December and a spokesperson for Warner Bros. confirmed that the 19 year old second year student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow had been cast.

The Donmar Warehouse will stage a new production of Manuel Puig's 'Kiss Of the Spiderwoman' from April 25 to May 26, with previews running from April 19. Puig's dramatization of his own novel set in a Latin American prison places Marxist revolutionary Valentin Arregui in a cell with Luis Molina, a homosexual imprisoned for gross indecency with a minor, who takes his mind into a glamorous fantasy world he remembers from the movies, where the seductive spider woman dwells. Both powerful and touching, the play demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of the greatest despair.

The smash Broadway phenomenon 'The Producers' will play its last performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on January 6, ending a run that began on November 9, 2004. Its UK life will not end, however, as it opens in Manchester on February 18 for a 3 month run.

In the wake of the sad news concerning the fate of the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, it is cheering to read in the theatre's January newsletter that the necessary funds have now been raised to save the Watermill Theatre in Newbury. Backed by a loan of £750,000 from the Boris Karloff Foundation, the Board of Directors were able to meet their deadline and commit to purchasing the theatre. In addition, over 2,600 donors assisted in raising £1,77000 in just 18 months. Richard Price, Chairman of the Board, said: 'We are hugely grateful to all those generous people who have supported the Save The Watermill appeal.' With the future of the theatre secured, the Board's efforts will now be poured into raising the remaining funds needed for essential renovations and improvements to the premises, which will commence in April 2007.

The Finborough Theatre's staging of Joseph Sobol's play 'IWitness' from January 2 to 27 joins a number of other recent London stage productions that highlight in differing ways courageous defiance of Nazism in Germany. In 'The Sound Of Music' Captain von Trapp's refusal to bow to Nazi German rule and join their navy inspires him to flee his beloved Austria with his wife and family and 'Climb Every Mountain' to head for freedom. In 'Cabaret', Cliff Bradshaw finally opens his eyes to the reality of the Nazi menace that is beginning to raise its ugly head in the once divinely decadent Berlin and takes his leave of the city, while Sally Bowles refuses to accept what is happening around her. In Martin Sherman's 'Bent', concentration camp inmate Max Berber stages the ultimate defiance by eventually openly admitting his homosexuality and taking his own life. And in total contrast the musical 'The Producers' promotes Mel Brooks' premise that the best way to oppose the ideology of nazism is to ridicule it.

The West End rocks into a time warp in January as Richard O'Brien's cult rock and roll musical 'The Rocky Horror Show' makes a welcome return for a limited run at the Comedy Theatre. Although it's been previewing since December 21, the show officially opens on January 4 and will play until January 27.

West End audiences will get an opportunity to take their seats in the classroom with the History Boys for a limited run (to April 17) at the Wyndham's Theatre from January 3rd (following 2 weeks of previews which began on December 21). Simon Cox's recreation of Nicholas Hytner's original staging of Alan Bennett's multi-award winning play (6 Tony Awards, 5 Drama Desk Awards, 4 Outer Critics Circle Awards in addition to the Best Play accolades at the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards in the UK) comes to the West End with a huge reputation built by successful runs at the National Theatre, on Broadway, on film and two UK tours. And the reputation is thoroughly deserved - this play is Alan Bennett's master work.

Another year draws to a close and a new year beckons. Almost as the clock turns between the years we say adieu to Idina and say hello to Kerry, wave a fond goodbye to Caroline or Change and The Producers and welcome the brief return of The Rocky Horror Show and The History Boys. As we sing Auld Lang's Syne, it gives cause to look back on and look forward to the respective years in London theatre.

The revival of the Tim Rice/Stephen Oliver musical 'Blondel' ends its run at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington on Sunday, December 31. The original production, starring Paul Nicholas and Sharon Lee Hill, opened in the West End in November 1983 and ran for just under two years. The revival, with an excellent cast led by ex-soap star from Hollyoaks, Chris Grierson and feisty How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria semi-finalist, Abi Finlay, has enchanted London fringe theatre audiences for just six weeks.

On Wednesday, December 27 veteran West End and Broadway leading man John Barrowman and his partner of 16 years Scott Gill formally embarked upon a Civil Partnership in a ceremony in Cardiff, Wales. Barrowman, ceremoniously dressed in a Scottish kilt, swore his 'marriage' vows with architect Gill in front of a small group of 40 friends at the St. David's hotel in Cardiff bay. Scottish born Barrowman, who was brought up in Joliet, Illinois, has recently made his home in the Welsh capital.