No sooner had Simon Bent's Ellingopened on Broadway this past Sunday and its producers have announced it's closing. This Sunday, November 28. After just nine regular performances.
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.
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Remember how just last week, I described how enigmatically Ellingseemed to be marketing itself? Well, the puzzle pieces are falling into place and not a moment too soon. After all, the play begins Broadway previews this evening.
Not only has Elling wisely begun engaging audiences via its website, Facebook and Twitter, but you may now add to those its presence on YouTube. There, you'll not only find the first real preview discussion of what Elling is about (see above video), but also two television commercials for the comedy (see below).
To be honest, the commercials don't do it for me, but I found myself intrigued by the video preview.
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Three New Broadway Shows Begin This Month - Which Do You Most Want To See?
After two months filled with a whopping fifteen new Broadway shows, the dawn of November brings with it a bit of a respite. Only three new additional shows begin previews this month.
Please take a moment to vote in this poll, and feel free to provide your comments below as to why.
For the complete list of Broadway shows confirmed for this season, please click here. For shows that have been announced, but not fully confirmed with venues and/or dates, click here.
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.
Beginning November 2, playwright Simon Bent's Ellingstarts previews on Broadway. The comedy is based on the Ingvar Ambjørnsen novel and Academy Award-nominated Norwegian film from 2001.
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 memorabletheatricalexperiences, 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.
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 glowingreviews.
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.
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles Limited run extended through May 31, 2011 (Show will go on hiatus starting January 15 and reopen at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on February 8)
Rock Of Ages - Open-ended run (Show will go on hiatus starting January 9 and reopen at Helen Hayes Theatre in March)
As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!
