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
SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties: #3 - Assassins (2004, Studio 54, Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City, NY)
Introduction: Hard as it is to comprehend that we're already 119 months into this "new" millennium, we are fast approaching the end of its first decade. While we have yet to agree on what exactly we should call the '00s, I'll take a cue from the fine folks at The Times of London and the BBC and henceforth refer to them at the Noughties. With that small introduction, I'm pleased to present my list of plays and musicals that wowed me the most during that time. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of shows I've seen over the last ten years, I give you my countdown of my 25 personal favorite shows of the Noughties. If nothing else,
Assassins proved to be definitely ahead of its time. This
Joe Mantello-helmed
Stephen Sondheim revival was nearly sidelined indefinitely as a result of 9/11.
Thankfully, this tour-de-force morality musical on America’s real and would-be assassins really hit the mark, with excellent performances all around. Standouts included Tony-winner
Michael Cerveris (John Wilkes Booth),
Denis O'Hare (Charles J. Guiteau) and
Jeffrey Kuhn (Giuseppe Zangara).
But
Neil Patrick Harris’ harrowing transformation from Balladeer to Lee Harvey Oswald was especially chilling. It's a pity it came and went so quickly. But thankfully, the tuner was recorded for posterity, and my CD is nearly worn out from so much play.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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. I paid my own way for this performance.Labels: Assassins, Broadway, Denis O'Hare, Jeffrey Kuhn, Joe Mantello, Michael Cerveris, Musical, Neil Patrick Harris, Revival, SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties, Stephen Sondheim
Inherit Evolves Into Opening NightEleven years have passed since the
first and only Broadway revival of
Inherit The Wind blew through the Great White Way with only 45 performances.
Tony Randall's
National Actors Theatre produced the play that headlined the late great
George C. Scott alongside
Charles Durning.
Since debate over creation vs. evolution rages on, it seems entirely apropos that acclaimed director
Doug Hughes would now choose to offer a fresh look at the
Jerome Lawrence/
Robert E. Lee courtroom drama.
Inherit The Wind opens tonight at Rialto's
Lyceum Theatre.
Based in part on the
Scopes Monkey Trial that pitted
Clarence Darrow against
William Jennings Bryan,
Inherit The Wind first appeared on Broadway back in 1955 and lasted a breathtaking 806 performances stretching more than two years.
Paul Muni and
Ed Begley each won Tony Awards for their performances while a young
Tony Randall was featured in the cast.
Today's
Inherit The Wind includes arguably one of the best pedigreed (or perhaps most evolved?) casts this theatre season:
Brian Dennehy,
Christopher Plummer,
Byron Jennings and
Denis O'Hare, among others.
Will critics take to this
Wind? We'll find out very soon.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:Is It Just Me, Or...(Part II) (February 21, 2007)
Labels: Brian Dennehy, Broadway, Christopher Plummer, Denis O'Hare, Inherit The Wind, Opening Night, Play, Revival
