RIALTO CHATTER: Warchus To Lead Russell Beale In West End 'DEATHTRAP'

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports that Matthew Warchus, the 2009 Tony Award winner for Best Direction of a Play for his work guiding Best Play honoree GOD OF CARNAGE, will helm a new West End production of Ira Levin's 1978 Broadway play Deathtrap. 

Simon Russell Beale, one of the best actors of his generation, will star as Sidney Bruhl in the revamped version of the comic thriller that became a long-running hit on Broadway and in London in the Seventies and early Eighties - and a movie which starred Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve.

Producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers (recent Tony award winners for GOD OF CARNAGE) will bring the production to the stage reports Bamigboye.

Press notes describe the play as, "Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell that has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from Clifford, a student in the seminar he has been conducting - a thriller that has the potential of being a Broadway hit. Sidney and his wife Myra come up with an almost unthinkable scheme. But soon after Clifford arrives, it becomes clear that their plan is not to be as simple as it seems..."

According to the Mail Deathtrap will begin rehearsals next July, and previews at Wyndham's Theatre in London around August 20, with an opening night set for early September 2010.

For the full article in the Daily Mail click here.

GOD OF CARNAGE marked its 100th performance on Wednesday, June 17th. Since opening, GOD OF CARNAGE has become New York's hottest play.

Starring Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Matthew Warchus, Yasmina Reza's GOD OF CARNAGE is playing at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45 Street). 

The Yasmina Reza comedy opened Sunday, March 22 to rave reviews and was recently awarded three Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play (Marcia Gay Harden), and Best Direction of a Play (Matthew Warchus). GOD OF CARNAGE was also recently honored with the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

GOD OF CARNAGE reunites the creative team that staged the Tony Award-winning Best Play, Art. Designed by Mark Thompson (sets and costumes), with lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker & Chris Cronin, the play has music by Gary Yershon.

GOD OF CARNAGE is a comedy of manners without the manners. The play deals with the aftermath of a playground altercation between two boys and what happens when their parents meet to talk about it.

Tickets are available through Telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200, or 800-432-7250, online at www.Telecharge.com or in person at the Jacobs Theatre box office, 242 West 45th Street. Box office hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00am - 8:00pm and Sunday from 12:00pm - 6:00pm. Ticket prices range from $66.50 to $116.50. The entire production will take a 6 week summer hiatus beginning July 27 to allow the cast to fulfill previously scheduled family commitments. The production, starring Jeff Daniels,Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden will resume performances on Tuesday, September 8 and continue through Sunday, November 15.

The performance schedule for GOD OF CARNAGE is Tuesday at 7:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00pm and Sunday at 3:00pm.

For more information visit www.GodOfCarnage.com 

 

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