SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties: #19 - Guys And Dolls (2005, Piccadilly Theatre, London, United Kingdom)
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. After this year's
lackluster Broadway revival, don't believe for a minute the prevailing theory out there that no new incarnation of
Frank Loesser's beloved
Guys And Dolls could ever top the Great White Way’s celebrated
1992 incarnation. Unfortunately for Broadway audiences, that superior sexy
mounting from
Michael Grandage in London never materialized stateside
as planned.
By the time I saw this West End hit,
Guys And Dolls already ranked as one of my all-time favorite tuners. Yet never before had I been so thoroughly captivated by Loesser's inherent wit, charm and music as much as I was via Grandage’s sparkling staging. Certainly, the star power of
Ewan McGregor further illuminated his stellar take on Sky Masterson, complete with Brooklyn accent and heavenly singing voice.
Thanks to
Rob Ashford’s enthralling choreography, McGregor also demonstrated a charismatic gift for dance as well. As the token American in the production,
Jane Krakowski was delightfully ditzy and charming as Miss Adelaide. British thespians
Douglas Hodge (soon to make his Broadway debut in
La Cage Aux Folles ) and
Jenna Russell worked magic as Nathan Detroit and Sarah Brown, respectively. The four actors together transformed Grandage’s exhilaratingly fresh take into something truly enchanting.
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: Douglas Hodge, Ewan McGregor, Frank Loesser, Guys And Dolls, Jane Kraskowski, Jenna Russell, London, Michael Grandage, Musical, Revival, Rob Ashford, SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties
Casting News That's Anything But De-Bate-AbleLast week, several major casting announcements were made that had me pondering potential trips. There are a number of actors I would traverse the globe in attempts to see perform live.
Currently at the top of the list, based entirely upon the past week’s casting notices, is film actress
Kathy Bates. The Academy Award-winning star will be performing in Philadelphia this October 26-November 25 in the world premiere of
Terrence McNally’s
Unusual Acts Of Devotion at the Philadelphia Theatre Company’s new
Suzanne Roberts Theatre.
Bates has long been one of my favorite film actresses. I admire the way in which she convincingly and effortlessly flits from one memorable role to the next. I’ve long vowed that if I ever had an opportunity to see her live on stage, I would make the effort. Guess I’d better start planning a weekend in Philly.
Second is the captivating
Ewan McGregor, who simply blew me away with his 2005 portrayal of Sky Masterson in the London revival of
Guys And Dolls. Now, teaming once again with director
Michael Grandage, McGregor is slated to star in a Donmar Warehouse revival of
William Shakespeare’s
Othello. The limited engagement opens in London on December 4.
I’ve rarely passed up opportunities to visit the United Kingdom, and given my affinity for Grandage’s other efforts, I just may find myself West End bound later this year.
Last, but certainly not least, I was thrilled to read that
Jefferson Mays is already preparing his next role post-Journey’s End. Mays, who won a Tony for his one-man tour de force performance in
I Am My Own Wife a couple years back, will now take on the role of Professor Henry Higgins in an upcoming revival of
George Bernard Shaw’s classic
Pygmalion. The
Roundabout Theatre Company will be producing this limited run at the American Airlines Theatre beginning on September 14 (opening night production will be October 11).
Unfortunately, I missed out on seeing Mays in both
I Am My Own Wife and
Journey’s End, so I’m going to try to make a point of seeing
Pygmalion, one of my personal favorite plays of all time.
Finally, on the potential downside, it was reported that
Hairspray will be getting a new Wilbur Turnblad. “
Leave It To Beaver” star
Jerry Mathers will take over the role next month. While I suppose it would be grossly unfair to judge his capabilities, I must admit that this quirky bit of stunt-casting doesn’t seem to be designed to really boost the show. But since
the film version is opening during his scheduled three months, expect the theatre to be packed by curiosity seekers hoping to see a train wreck, alongside those who simply want to see the film-inspired stage version that inspired the latest movie.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Ewan McGregor, First Word On New Show, Kathy Bates, London, Michael Grandage, Othello, Philadelphia, Pygmalion, Unusual Acts Of Devotion
London’s Theatrical Hodge-PodgeI’ve talked at length about the excellent Michael Grandage revival of
Guys And Dolls in London’s West End. While I’ve devoted considerable attention to Ewan McGregor’s Sky Masterson and Jane Krakowski’s Miss Adelaide, I’ve also mentioned how Douglas Hodge and Jenna Russell
worked their magic in the roles of Nathan Detroit and Sarah Brown.
Last week I noted that
Russell has now moved on to portray Dot in the critically-acclaimed
Sunday In The Park With George in the West End. Now, it’s time to devote some well-deserved ink to Hodge, who gave an inspired and truly brilliant performance of his own in
Guys And Dolls. Not only is he about to take on a role about as diametrically opposed to Nathan Detroit as an actor can get, he’s also about to direct a revival of one of the British Isle’s favorite wartime comedies (see photo).
First up, Hodge takes to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre stage this evening in the title role of
Titus Andronicus, possibly one of The Bard’s goriest plays about the carnages of war. In addition to Hodge’s participation, what makes this production even more of interest is that for the first time in its history, the normally open-air Globe will be covered for this performance in order to accommodate the elaborate set design by William Dudley.
Titus Andronicus is slated to run until October 6.
Second, Hodge will helm the revival of
See How They Run -- a World War II-era comedy about mistaken identities in a quaint English village whose citizens prepare themselves for invasion by Nazi Germans. This production is due to open at London's Duchess Theatre on June 29.
Alas, while he has been previously nominated for an Olivier Award for his supporting work in
The Caretaker six years ago, Hodge has yet to make an appearance on the Great White Way. With all his endeavors on the London stage, it’s anyone’s guess when American audiences may have the opportunity to be charmed by this dynamic and gifted actor in person, other than to catch a flight to the United Kingdom. But movie audiences might have their chance when the film
“Scenes of a Sexual Nature” with fellow
Guys And Dolls alum McGregor and the amazing Eileen Atkins, among others, opens sometime later this year.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Titus Andronics tickets.Click here for See How They Run tickets.
Related Stories: Sheen/Langella to Portray Frost/Nixon in London (June 2, 2006)
Swayze Lands London's Detroit Role (June 1, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #2 – Guys And Dolls (Piccadilly Theatre, London, UK) (May 26, 2006)
Labels: Ewan McGregor, Guys And Dolls, London, Michael Grandage, Musical, Play, Revival, See How They Run, Sunday In The Park With George, The Caretaker, Titus Andronicus
