Parsons Replaces Massey in Beale & Groff-Led DEATHTRAP in the West End this Fall

Baz Bamigboye reports in the U.K. Daily Mail today that Estelle Parsons will join Jonathan Groff and Simon Russell Beale  in the West End production of DEATHTRAP this fall. The role of the "eccentric Dutch psychic" was orginally to be played by Anna Massey, however she recently withdrew from the project for personal reasons.

Pasrons made her stage debut in 1961, achieving household fame after willing an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1967 for her role as Blanche Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde.  She would recieve a second Oscar nomination for her work on 1968's Rachel, Rachel and two others in later years. On Broadway, she has either performed in or directed over 30 productions, including August: Osage County (perfomer), The Normal Conquest trilogy (performer), As You Like It (director), Macbeth (director) and many more. More recently her television work includes a role in the award-winning sitcom Roseanne. In 2004, Parsons was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

To read Bamigboye's full report, click here.

The thriller by Ira Levin, which will be directed by Matthew Warchus (ART, GOD OF CARNAGE), will open in London at the Noël Coward Theatre on Tuesday 7 September, following previews from 21 August. Anna Massey returns to the West End stage after a twelve year absence to co-star opposite Simon Russell Beale and "DEATHTRAP" will introduce "Glee" television star Jonathan Groff to both to the West End stage and the British public.

Simon Russell Beale, currently starring in the National Theatre's sell-out production of Dion Boucicault's "London Assurance" directed by Nicholas Hytner, will play ‘Sidney Bruhl' and multi-award winning actress Anna Massey will play ‘Helga Ten Dorpe'. Jonathan Groff, award-winning Broadway musical star of "Spring Awakening" and new leading man and star of American television series "Glee", will star as ‘Clifford Anderson' opposite Simon Russell Beale. Prolific author and playwright Ira Levin, who is probably best-known for the Roman Polanski film "Rosemary's Baby", is also the author of "The Stepford Wives" and "The Boys From Brazil".

This will be the first London revival of "DEATHTRAP" since its original production in 1978 when the play opened to rave reviews and smash-hit business, subsequently running for two and a half years at the Garrick Theatre. "DEATHTRAP was then filmed by Sidney Lumet with Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve in the starring roles.

The production features design by Rob Howell, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and original music by Gary Yershon.  

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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