Elling Turns To Ending
Well, that was quick.
Since I've been on vacation, I haven't even had an opportunity -- yet -- to write my review for the show. But I can tell you that I certainly enjoyed the show, which snuck up on me and left me a wee bit teary eyed at the end -- perhaps a surprise for all the folks who walked out of the production who never knew what they missed.
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Labels: Brendan Fraser, Broadway, Closing Notices, Denis O'Hare, Elling, Jennifer Coolidge, Jeremy Shamos, Play, Richard Easton, Simon Bent
All Elling Set To Break Loose On Broadway
Beginning November 2, playwright
Simon Bent's
Elling starts previews on Broadway. The comedy is based on the
Ingvar Ambjørnsen novel and Academy Award-nominated Norwegian
film from 2001.
The play itself was originally mounted at London's
Bush Theatre in 2007. Now on Broadway,
Doug Hughes will helm a new
Elling starring Tony-winning actor
Denis O'Hare in the title role. O'Hare will be joined by
Brendan Fraser in his Broadway debut as Kjell,
Jennifer Coolidge as Reidun,
Richard Easton as Alfons and
Jeremy Shamos as Frank.
Elling appears to be purposely be marketing itself as enigmatic. Witness the puzzle pieces on its
website,
Facebook and
Twitter pages. It's such a puzzle, that each are surprisingly bereft of any real information regarding the show. To find a description, you must turn to
Telecharge, the official ticketbroker for the play, which describes the comedy as follows:
Set in the current day, Elling is a comedy about a wildly mismatched pair of roommates trying to embrace life, love, friendship, pizza, poetry and women. Denis O’Hare plays obsessive/compulsive Elling. Brendan Fraser, plays the wildly enthusiastic gentle giant Kjell. Jennifer Coolidge plays Reidun, the object of Kjell’s considerable affection, and Richard Easton plays Alfons, Elling’s unlikely poet mentor.
When produced in London a few years back, the
West End Whingers hailed the show as "A feel good story of the first degree. It's also utterly charming and very funny."
Broadway.com described the London incarnation of
Elling as follows:
Mummy's boy Elling and his roommate, the uncouth, reluctant virgin Kjell Bjarne, are the Odd Couple of Oslo: a pair of confused souls taking their first steps in the outside world after years of an isolated and institutional life. Given a flat in the city by social services, their mission is to either re-assimilate themselves into society or be forcibly returned to the asylum. All they have to do is convince their social worker that they really are "normal" -- even if it does feel safer sleeping in a wardrobe.
O'Hare and Coolidge alone were enough to compel me to get my tickets early. Those two were responsible for some truly
memorable theatrical experiences, but I'm also thrilled that Easton will be back on Broadway and can attest to Shamos' stage work. The wild card certainly is Fraser, who appears to be the producers' movie star insurance card for selling tickets. Starting Tuesday, we'll see whether he has the mettle.
The limited run of
Elling opens at Broadway's
Ethel Barrymore Theatre on November 21 and is scheduled through March 20, 2011.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: Brendan Fraser, Broadway, Denis O'Hare, Doug Hughes, Elling, Jennifer Coolidge, Jeremy Shamos, Play, Richard Easton, Simon Bent
What The Elling?UPDATED (September 2, 2010) - Variety is reporting that Elling will be produced at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Previews to start on November 2 and open November 21.Earlier today,
New York Post theatre columnist Michael Riedel
broke the news that
Simon Bent's
Elling, based on the
Ingvar Ambjørnsen novel and Academy Award-nominated Norwegian
film from 2001, may be Broadway-bound this fall.
Originally mounted at London's Bush Theatre in 2007,
Elling will star acclaimed stage actor and "
True Blood" star
Denis O'Hare in the title role, according to Riedel. O'Hare has been a personal favorite of mine ever since his Tony-winning turn as Mason Marzac in
Take Me Out (2003). His nominated performance as Charles J. Guiteau in
Assassins (2004) was every bit as extraordinary.
Riedel says O'Hare will be joined by the wickedly funny
Jennifer Coolidge, whose only previous Broadway credit was a brilliant, comic one -- the actress portrayed the chain-smoking, pregnant Edith in
The Women (2001-02). Coolidge was so incredibly memorable in that role that the mere thought of her back on the boards has brought a welcome smile to my face.
According to Riedel, O'Hare and Coolidge will be joined in this buddy comedy by
Brendan Fraser. While the film actor has never performed on Broadway before, he starred in the 2001 West End revival of
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof as Brick and generated some very
glowing reviews.
Broadway.com described the London incarnation of
Elling as follows:
Mummy's boy Elling and his roommate, the uncouth, reluctant virgin Kjell Bjarne, are the Odd Couple of Oslo: a pair of confused souls taking their first steps in the outside world after years of an isolated and institutional life. Given a flat in the city by social services, their mission is to either re-assimilate themselves into society or be forcibly returned to the asylum. All they have to do is convince their social worker that they really are "normal" -- even if it does feel safer sleeping in a wardrobe.
The venerable
West End Whingers called the show, "Utterly charming and very funny."
According to Riedel,
Elling will be directed by
Doug Hughes. Riedel says the show will begin performances this fall at the
Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Since there's been no confirmation for this show yet, nor have actual dates been announced, I'll simply add this play to my "
definitely maybe" list. But O'Hare and Coolidge alone will definitely have me lining up for tickets.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: Brendan Fraser, Broadway, Denis O'Hare, Doug Hughes, Elling, First Word On New Show, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Riedel, Play
