Top Hollywood writers Charlie Kaufman and the Coen Brothers are to have two radio plays performed for one night only at the Royal Festival Hall. With Meryl Streep, Hope Davies and Phillip Seymour Hoffman hoping to take part, the evening will take place as a reading with full orchestra led by Carter Burwell (the Coen's regular musical collaborator). No dates or details about the plays – called Sawbones (the Coens) and Hope Leaves the Theatre (Kaufman) – have yet been released, but it seems to be common knowledge this event will be happening. Kaufman describes the event as a screenplay that blends music and dialogue. On the back of Kaufman's Oscar win for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, there's no doubt this will be an exciting night out at the theatre..
What's it all about? Not only has Alfie appeared on the big screen twice (with Michael Caine and Jude Law), as a stage play and also as a novel, it now seems he will be all-singing all-dancing too. With Darren Day in the title role, Alfie the Musical opens at the Watford Palace Theatre at the end of May, though it is not yet known whether it has West End transfer possibilities. Day is currently starring as the title role in Joseph with fiancé Suzanne Shaw and has a string of musical credits to his name. Music is by John Cameron (composer of the film Kes and orchestrator of many Cameron Mackintosh shows) and book/lyrics by Eden Phillips, based on the novel by Bill Naughton. The remake of the 1966 film last year took £1.3m in its opening weekend, so its chances of stage success are strong.
Eldest daughter Aimee Osbourne is to join her mother Sharon on stage in The Vagina Monologues. As I reported last month, other cast members were still to be named - these have now materialised as comedienne Jenny Éclair and actress Naomie Harris, best known for role in TV drama White Teeth but about to star in the Pirates of the Carribean sequel. Éclair is the only woman to have won the prestigious Perrier Award for comedy, and recently toured in a one-woman play. Unlike siblings Kelly and Jack, 21-year-old Aimee Osbourne did not appear in the hit MTV series, but last year appeared in a television adaptation of WutheringHeights. It opens at the Wyndham's Theatre – currently housing The Witches with Ruby Wax - on April 7th.
Whilst All Shook Up prepares to open later this month, London's Elvis musical Jailhouse Rock prepares to close. Making way for Ewan McGregor's Guys and Dolls, it had been hoped it would transfer to the Albery Theatre, but new managerial plans prevented it from being financially worthwhile. It will now close – on April 23rd - just days after celebrating its first anniversary. Due to a fight over rights the title song Jailhouse Rock – remarkably - never appeared. Mike Stoller, at the time, said he felt the title of the show was misleading to the public and he would fight any US transfers. The musical stars Mario Kombou and Lisa Peace and is directed by Buddy co-creator Rob Bettinson.
The hit revue show Round the Horne.. Revisisted is to close at The Venue in Leicester Square. Adapted from Round the Horne – the hit 1960s radio show with Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Horne – the nostalgic, intimate show was highly praised by critics and subsequently spawned two further shows – Round the Horne.. Revisited 2 and a Christmas special. The production is also running concurrently on tour, with the show's sequel is expected to go out in the autumn. After a run of 15 months, it closes on April 2nd, opening up speculation to what will fill the wonderful space just off Leicester Square, which was converted into a theatre for Boy George's Taboo.
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