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
38 Down, One To Go (Plus One)Even if I wasn't so enamored by the current revival of
Guys And Dolls, it did afford me the opportunity of crossing another Broadway theatre off my list. Thirty-eight down,
one more to go ... if you don't count that
"new" theatre coming to a Broadway near you in September.
It may be heresy to other theatre lovers, but up until seeing
Guys And Dolls during one of its last previews prior to opening, I had never set foot inside the wonderfully restored
Nederlander Theatre (pictured here, photo by Matthew Blank). That's right, I never saw its previous occupant
Rent there, even though it squatted at the Nederlander through 5,123 performances. Fear not,
Rent-heads, I actually took in the very first "Angel" touring company of
Rent during its initial stint in Boston (way back in 1996), as well as a later tour of St. Paul (2000).
Which of Broadway's current 39 theatrical venues have I visited the most? That would be the
Booth Theatre -- home to countless prestige shows and arguably the Great White Way's most uncomfortable seats -- beginning with the 1992 revival of
The Most Happy Fella and as recently as its current occupant,
next to normal. Which brings me full circle:
Frank Loesser wrote the scores to both
Guys And Dolls and
The Most Happy Fella , while
Michael Greif directed both
Rent and
next to normal.
So, dear readers, how many Broadway theatres have you visited? And do you think I should just bite the bullet and finally see that
last remaining show (even though I
have seen it in London, Los Angeles and Las Vegas) to round out my overall Rialto experience?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Booth Theatre, Broadway, Broadway Venues, Frank Loesser, Guys And Dolls, Michael Greif, Nederlander Theatre, Next To Normal, Rent, The Most Happy Fella
Guys And Dolls (The SOB Review) – Nederlan-der Theatre, New York, New York
*1/2 (out of ****)Don't believe for a minute the prevailing theory out there that no new revival of
Frank Loesser's beloved
Guys And Dolls could ever top Broadway’s celebrated
1992 incarnation. Unfortunately,
that superior sexy
mounting from
Michael Grandage in London never materialized stateside
as planned.
Instead, we're stuck with
Des McAnuff’s impossibly dull and benign production of the classic story of how gambling loses to love around the fringes of the Great White Way. What particularly depressed me was how this revival falls flatter than the giant screen capturing
Dustin O'Neill's frequently more captivating projection design.
Any production in which Nathan Detroit (an ineffectual
Oliver Platt) becomes a tertiary character -- not only competing here with
Tituss Burgess' 11th hour heights as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, but also a
Damon Runyonesque character essentially aping “
Where’s Waldo” -- proves that even this gem of a show can be completely misdirected.
Fortunately, there’s no mistaking Loesser’s glorious score or
Mary Testa's trademark brilliance (albeit in cameo form) as General Cartwright. Small consolation for one of the worst musical revivals I’ve ever seen (and full disclosure:
Guys And Dolls is my all-time second favorite tuner.).
Oh well.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Des McAnuff, Frank Loesser, Guys And Dolls, Michael Grandage, Musical, Oliver Platt, Revival, The SOB Review
Lucky Sixes? Des McAnuff Rolls Dice Opening Sixth Broadway Guys And DollsLater today, the ultimate Broadway-based musical fable
Guys And Dolls will open for the sixth time on the Great White Way. Helmed by
Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys), this fifth revival opens at the newly refurbished
Nederlander Theatre, a block south of 42nd Street.
This
Guys And Dolls will be noteworthy, not necessarily because of it cast -- including
Craig Bierko as Sky Masterson,
Lauren Graham as Miss Adelaide,
Kate Jennings Grant as Sarah Brown, and
Oliver Platt as Nathan Detroit -- but because of McAnuff's incorporation of
Dustin O'Neill's elaborate video projection design, as well as the introduction of the creator of the stories upon which
Guys And Dolls' stories and characters were based,
Damon Runyon himself (played by
Raymond del Barrio) .
Way back in 1950,
Abe Burrows and
Jo Swerling took Runyon's stories and transformed them into
Guys And Dolls' beloved book, while
Frank Loesser wrote the timeless score. The trio took home the
1951 Tony Award fro Best Musical.
Of course, many Broadway audiences -- myself included -- still fondly recall the glorious
1992 revival that took home four Tony Awards, including for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Director (
Jerry Zaks) and Best Actress in a Musical (
Faith Prince as Miss Adelaide). In addition to Prince, that wondrous incarnation also starred
Peter Gallagher as Sky Masterson,
Nathan Lane as Nathan Detroit, and
Josie de Guzman as Sarah Brown.
Will McAnuff's gimmicks be enough to make this revival erase 17 year old memories of the last
Guys And Dolls mounting? Find out tomorrow as I not only provide my own SOB Review, but also share my regular critics' capsule.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Abe Burrows, Broadway, Craig Bierko, Damon Runyon, Des McAnuff, Frank Loesser, Guys And Dolls, Jo Swerling, Kate Jennings Grant, Lauren Graham, Musical, Oliver Platt, Opening Night, Revival
Casting Couched In RumorsI love my friends.
They know I don't normally traffic in gossip, but they keep sending rumors my way anyway.
RUMOR:Angela Lansbury will defy her own self-imposed stage retirement by taking on the role of Madame Arcati in the upcoming Broadway revival of
Noël Coward's
Blithe Spirit.
TRUTH:While no further casting has been announced beyond
Christine Ebersole and
Rupert Everett (in his Broadway debut),
Variety's original September 29 story on the revival
stated:
No further casting has been announced, although Angela Lansbury and Rupert Everett are said to be on the wish list.
Given that director
Michael Blakemore managed to snag Everett since that initial report, spirits (and hopes) are running high that it's only a matter of time before Lansbury says yes.
UPDATED (10/14/08, 9:30 a.m.): According to Playbill (hit tap to SarahB), Angela Lansbury will
return to the Broadway boards in Blithe Spirit. It is true!RUMOR: Cheyenne Jackson's first post-
Xanadu ride across a Broadway stage will be as Sky Masterson in the
upcoming Broadway revival of
Guys And Dolls, which has already cast
Oliver Platt as Nathan Detroit.
TRUTH:Sure, the
message boards on Broadway World are fanning the flames, no doubt fueled in part by
Michael Musto's August dreamcasting of Mr. Jackson as Sky, as well as a little dish from
Perez Hilton, who says:
Other cast members have not yet been announced, but we're hearing hottie Cheyenne Jackson will be part of the revival.
But to date, there's really nothing to substantiate the rumor, nor is there anything to negate it.
RUMOR: Teen heartthrob
Zac Efron will replace
Daniel Radcliffe in the current Broadway revival of
Equus. TRUTH:
Efron tells
People:
No. I think it's a great role but I was not approached.... (But) I think it's important to always diversify, change it up and play different characters.... I think doing musicals all the time would get stale.
TALLY:One rumor is
true, another is squelched and the third remains just that for the time being.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit, Broadway, Cheyenne Jackson, Daniel Radcliffe, Equus, Guys And Dolls, Rumor, Zac Efron
That's The Ticket: A Great Damon Runyon StoryIf regular readers already know one thing about me, it's that I love snaring great seats whenever I see live theatre.
And if you're anything like me, you also love giving to charitable organizations, not only because it makes you feel good, but especially because you know that your contribution is helping others.
What could be better than when those two great loves come together? That's what
Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets service offers.
Operated by the
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, this service offers a limited selection of the most exclusive house seats for over two dozen Broadway performances. Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation offers theatregoers with opportunities to get top-notch tickets -– usually reserved for industry insiders or VIPs -- while also supporting innovative cancer research.
Damon Runyon, of course, was the famed Kansas-born New York writer for the United Press whose legendary "Broadway Stories" during the last century became the fodder for one of my all-time favorite musicals
Guys and Dolls. After Runyon died of cancer at the age of 66,
Richard Rodgers and
Oscar Hammerstein II created the Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets service to aid the newly-established Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, enlisting the support of such noteworthy stars as
Milton Berle,
Marlene Dietrich and
Bob Hope.
It's no wonder the Foundation maintains close ties to some of Broadway's leading theatres. As a result, the Foundation receives an allocation of four to six house seats for most Rialto performances, even for some of the Great White Way's most
hard to get tickets, including
August: Osage County,
Grease,
Jersey Boys,
The Lion King,
The Little Mermaid,
The Phantom Of The Opera and
Wicked.
Essentially, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation pays the theaters the full box office price for the tickets and then sells them for double the ticket price. The amount above and beyond the box office price is a fully tax deductible contribution.
The best part is that these tickets are typically less expensive than the price brokers are charging for the same premium seats. And, the Foundation allows cancellations without penalty up to a day before the performance.
Talk about a ticket that keeps on giving!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Charitable Organizations, Damon Runyon, Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, Guys And Dolls, Tickets
A State Of Honorable ConfusionThis morning,
The New York Time's
Campbell Robertson writes about all those shows that
New York Post's Michael Riedel and others have promised were Broadway bound.
The much heralded list includes:
13 - "more likely at this point"
Farragut North - "opening on Broadway in the fall. Doug Hughes directing. 'Exciting people' in the cast"
Guys And Dolls - "pretty much a dead letter"
Pal Joey - "will probably make it here, perhaps next year"
Porgy And Bess - "more likely at this point"
Stalag 17 - "producers postponed the production to the fall of 2008"
The Female Of The Species - now "scheduled for...Broadway in the spring of 2009"
The Wiz - into the abyss
The laundry list of shows many thought would already be performing on Broadway helps explain why Rocco Landesman of Jujamcyn says:
Delays are a normal part of the process.... When a date is announced as an opening date, it’s really a hoped-for date. When a show arrives perfectly on schedule, that’s actually more anomalous.
Or as producer Jeffrey Richard describes the delay of Farragut North:
There was a state of honorable confusion.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: 13, Broadway, Farragut North, Guys And Dolls, Pal Joey, Porgy And Bess, Stalag 17, The Female Of The Species, The Wiz
Which Upcoming Broadway Musicals Will You See?Now that the 2007 Tony Awards are history, I'd like to cordially invite you to vote in my latest SOB Poll (found on the right-hand margin) for each of the the upcoming Broadway musicals -- already slated for the 2007-08 Theatrical Season -- that you plan to see.
Feel free to vote for as many of the ten selections of new musicals and revivals as you want. Your choices include:
After voting, feel free to share why each of the shows you've selected pique your interest.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Grandage Guys And Dolls Set For Great White Way (June 6, 2007)
Not Unlucky: 13 Headed To Broadway (May 25, 2007)
Off-Broadway Hit Seeks Greater White Way Heights (May 23, 2007)
Sunday In The Park With Daniel And Jenna (May 7, 2007)
Max And Laura Go Together (March 26, 2007)
Fierstein To Musicalize Bette Davis' Fave Flick (March 21, 2007)
Mermaid Casting Anything But Little (March 20, 2007)
It's Official: Mullally Cast In Young Frankenstein (March 9, 2007)
Broadway Can-Du? (December 18, 2006)
Trevor Nunn's West End Porgy and Bess Will Transfer to Broadway (July 25, 2006)
Labels: 13, A Catered Affair, Broadway, Grease, Guys And Dolls, In The Heights, Musical, Porgy And Bess, SOB Poll, Sunday In The Park With George, The Little Mermaid, Xanadu, Young Frankenstein
Grandage Guys And Dolls Set For Great White Way
Regular readers will recall how much
I loved this revival -- it doesn't hurt that the musical itself ranks as one of my personal favorite musicals of all time; after all, it's
real Broadway-based show. Of course, when I had a chance to see it in London during the fall of 2005, it starred
Ewan McGregor as Sky Masterson and
Jane Krakowski as Miss Adelaide. No word yet on who will take on those roles stateside -- the casting notice would suggest that the production will take a color-blind approach, which makes it even more intriguing.
With captivating choreography by
Rob Ashford and Grandage's exhilarating and fresh direction, this is sure to be one of the top shows of the 2007-08 Theatrical Season.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, First Word On New Show, Guys And Dolls, London, Michael Grandage, Musical, Revival
West End Guys
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for London tickets. Click here for U.K. tour information. Related Stories:
Labels: Closing Notices, First Word On New Show, Guys And Dolls, London, Michael Grandage, Musical, Revival, Stunt Casting, Transfer
Stunt Casting That Has Me ReelingAs I've previously written, I'm more than a little dubious on the merits of stunt casting established theatrical shows. While I can understand the desire of producers to attract new audiences, I see little merit in casting shows with actors who simply don't have the gravitas or appropriate age or chops.
Last night, 70s heartthrob
Donny Osmond took on the role of Gaston in Disney's
Beauty And The Beast. Apparently, it doesn't matter that the guy -- who
over thirty years ago was boasting he was "a little bit rock and roll" -- will turn 50 years old next year. I've always envisioned Gaston as being the young, rugged type. I have nothing against Osmond, and you could argue that his prolific family suggests he's pretty virile, but I find it appalling that he would be portraying a character better suited to someone half his age...like his son Donny Osmond, Jr. To be honest, I'd rather see the elder Osmond play Billy Flynn in
Chicago.
Speaking of which, today it was announced that
The Newsless 56-year-old
Huey Lewis would be returning to that decade-old tuner on November 20 and remain with the show until January 14. During the last two weeks of his upcoming stint, he'll co-star with
Bebe Neuwirth who's set to play Roxie Hart. Thanks to Neuwirth's exciting return, I already have my tickets to see her opposite Lewis' Billy Flynn along with an as-yet-to-be-announced actress in the role of Velma Kelly.
Lewis' return to
Chicago will occur just over a month after
Usher's scheduled departure (Usher has just extended through October 14). Sure the young R&B crooner exudes charm. Even critics were at least impressed by his charisma. But the role of Billy Flynn represents the complete flipside of the Gaston coin. As critics have thankfully noted, Flynn should be inhabited by a much more world-weary, jaded and older type. Not someone half Huey Lewis' age! Maybe Disney could enlist Usher for
Beauty And The Beast. It's just a thought.
Finally, even the British stage isn't immune to stunt casting as we saw earlier this summer with
Patrick Swayze being cast in
Guys And Dolls. It should come as no surprise that the West End staging of
Chicago is once again engaging in the practice, this time with 22-year-old lip-synching extraordinaire
Ashlee Simpson as Roxie Hart. Enough said!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Beauty And The Beast tickets.Click here for Chicago (Broadway) tickets.Click here for Chicago (London) tickets.Related Stories:Bebe's Back to Broadway! (September 6, 2006)
Will Usher Razzle Dazzle 'em? (August 22, 2006)
Does London's Guys and Dolls Still Swayze Critics? (August 19, 2006)
We Had It Coming: Chicago's Starry 10th Anniversary (July 26, 2006)
Chicago to Usher in New Billy Flynn (July 14, 2006)
Swayze Lands London's Detroit Role (June 5, 2006)
Labels: Beauty And The Beast, Broadway, Chicago The Musical, Guys And Dolls, London, Stunt Casting
Which British Hits Will Be Broadway-Bound?In this morning's
New York Post, theatre critic
Clive Barnes sizes up some of the current prospects for British imports to the Broadway stage. In addition to dutifully noting the eagerly anticipated
Mary Poppins due later this year, along with
Billy Elliot The Musical that will arrive by 2008, Barnes gives props to the ubiquitous
Michael Grandage-helmed productions. Those include two musicals (
Evita and
Guys And Dolls) and one play (
Frost/Nixon). All three have received their share of critical acclaim and box office success across the pond.
Barnes' personal favorite pick for a Broadway transfer is the highly praised revival of
Sunday In The Park With George that graced the London stage earlier this summer, although he doesn't hold as much hope for its arrival on the Great White Way as the aforementioned shows. He also is clearly optimistic about a the chances of
Tom Stoppard's
Rock 'n' Roll drama coming to American shores.
But the show that he thinks has the greatest potential for a Broadway bow is none other than the
Queen-inspired stinker
We Will Rock You -- a
bad jukebox musical that continues to play to UK audiences despite terrible reviews. It should be noted that it has already been produced in the United States at the
Paris Las Vegas, but like so many other theatrical productions hitting Sin City, the show closed much earlier than originally anticipated. Who would have thought Vegas audiences would have shown that much good taste?!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Billy Elliot Set for 2008 Broadway Bow? (September 6, 2006)
Critics Find Frost/Nixon to Be Unimpeachable (August 23, 2006)
Which Broadway Musical Will Depart Next? (August 21, 2006)
Evita to New York: I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You (June 28, 2006)
Sunday in the Park With George Revival Opens in London's West End (May 22, 2006)
Guys and Dolls Imported to Broadway from London? (May 15, 2006)
Rejoice! Gavin Lee to Cross Atlantic for Mary Poppins on Broadway (May 8, 2006)
Labels: Billy Elliot The Musical, Broadway, Evita, Frost/Nixon, Guys And Dolls, London, Mary Poppins, Rock 'n' Roll, Sunday In The Park With George, Transfer, We Will Rock You
Does London's Guys and Dolls Still Swayze Critics?Now that
Patrick Swayze has officially opened in Michael Grandage's acclaimed West End revival of
Guys And Dolls, what are the critics saying?
Most enthusiastic was the
Daily Telegraph's Elena Seymenliyska: "Patrick Swayze finally made his belated debut as Nathan Detroit in Michael Grandage's
Guys And Dolls -- and, boy, was it worth the wait....[O]nce he starts to sing -- and better still, to dance -- he sprinkles armfuls of magic dust all around."
The Times ' Sam Marlowe still recommends the show (with 3 stars out of 5), but cautions, "[T]here is a hole where the show’s heart should be -- and that is the fault of the leading performances, Swayze’s among them....[W]hile his Nathan Detroit is loose-limbed and nimble, he lacks lightness of touch. Every gesture, every joke, appears overdeliberate and a shade mechanical."
The toughest criticism comes stateside.
Matt Wolf of The New York Times is downright dismissive: "Swayze sounded O.K. but cut a decidedly goofy, charmless figure, at odds with the rhythms, ethnicity and humor of a role that has been bizarrely cast before....The result has a trickle-down effect on a production from Michael Grandage that blew the lid off the Piccadilly Theatre when it first opened nearly 14 months ago....Still, the British have long prized
Guys And Dolls above all Broadway musicals, and it would appear to take more than some newly pervasive miscasting to dampen their enthusiasm. At the performance last Wednesday, the show was sold out and got a standing ovation."
The tuner is currently booking through January, but a touring production will hit the road in the United Kingdom next month as performances begin at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. There has been no further word on whether Grandage's revival will eventually reach Broadway.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:
Swayze Lands London's Detroit Role (June 5, 2006)
Sheen/Langella to Portray Frost/Nixon in London (June 2, 2006)
London’s Theatrical Hodge-Podge (May 30, 2006)
London's Guys And Dolls 1st Anniversary Ticket Offer (May 27, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #2 – Guys And Dolls (Piccadilly Theatre, London, UK) (May 26, 2006)
Guys and Dolls Imported to Broadway from London? (May 15, 2006)
Labels: Critics' Capsule, Guys And Dolls, London, Musical, Revival
Remembrances of London’s 7/7One year ago yesterday evening, I “interrupted” my exhilarating Italian vacation to fly to London for a mere 36 hours so I could see two of the year’s most fêted musicals in the West End:
Billy Elliot -- The Musical and
Guys And Dolls. I was particularly thrilled to see the latter, since I had purchased a second row seat to enjoy performances by Ewan McGregor and Jane Krakowski.
As much as I was loving every minute of the Italian portion of that trip -- which included stops in Milan, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Venice and ultimately Rome -- I just knew the most memorable moments of my time away from home were waiting for me in London. Ironically, London would indeed hold the moments that would forever be seared into my consciousness unlike any other from that tour, but certainly not in the manner I had so anticipated or desired.
Shortly after waking the following morning in my spectacular hotel room overlooking the Thames -- right next to the London Eye and diagonally across from Big Ben and Parliament -- I was shocked, saddened, horrified and downright disgusted to learn that London had been rocked by a number of deadly terrorist bombings that ultimately took the lives of 37.
Originally, news accounts were sketchy at best -- not unlike those Americans observed in the first few, unsure hours after the 9/11 attacks. One year ago today, conflicting reports throughout the morning kept me pretty much glued much to my hotel television, although the constant wailing of sirens outside my window regularly brought me to my feet to see what I might witness.
Before the morning was over, my hotel concierge informed me that my afternoon matinee of
Billy Elliot – The Musical had been canceled, although there was no word on
Guys And Dolls just yet. Because of all the uncertainty (and paradoxically, the realization that this was likely a coordinated Al Quaeda attack), it wasn’t long before I had my answer:
Guys And Dolls would not be performing that evening. In fact, for the first time since World War II, every single West End theatre would be closed -- remarkable, considering that unlike the United States, this proud city that epitomizes the famous stiff upper lip also weathered decades of continual terrorism at the hands of the IRA.
In view of the appalling loss of life that the city had just endured, the fact that I was even bothering to ask about the performances made me feel extremely guilty and selfish. Only then did it strike me that I was truly fortunate simply to be alive and that I should be counting my blessings.
Most of the rest of the day I spent walking around London -- since the terrorists had hit the Underground (or subway) and one of the famed double-decker buses, public transportation had ground to a halt. Indeed, most people in London that day were also walking, just as in New York and Washington DC in the aftermath of 9/11. It was a very surreal experience. My heart genuinely ached for the people of London (this would be the second time I would feel like an interloper on the British psyche, having been in London on the distressing day that Princess Diana was tragically killed).
Witnessing the amazing spirit of the British people first-hand was both astonishing and instructive. Despite the assault they had just endured, the Londoners with whom I came in contact demonstrated tremendous courage and heart, as well as a defiance that they would not allow the day’s events to vanquish their resolve. And while I felt like an intruder on their collective consciousness, the memories I now have of their tenacity will be the most enduring impressions I will hold from that fateful journey.
As a postscript, almost immediately upon returning home, in my own meager way of showing solidarity with the people I met in London, I booked Thanksgiving tickets to see
Billy Elliot- The Musical and
Guys And Dolls -- much to my pleasant surprise, I once again landed in the second row for the latter. Both were worth the wait, and I was thrilled to travel to London when overall bookings had declined in the aftermath of the attacks.
Come what may, I will continue to do whatever I can to show my undying support and love for our British cousins just as they did for us after that awful September day in 2001.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #2 – Guys And Dolls (Piccadilly Theatre, London, UK) (May 26, 2006)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #8 - Billy Elliot The Musical (Victoria Palace Theatre, London, UK) (May 18, 2006)
Labels: Billy Elliot The Musical, Guys And Dolls, Special Messages
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
