Final Casting Announced for the Keira Knightley West End Misanthrope, Set in Modern London
By Mark Shenton
30 Oct 2009
Chuk Iwuji, Kelly Price and Nicholas Le Prevost have joined the previously announced cast for a new West End production of Molière's The Misanthrope, to be led by Keira Knightley and Damian Lewis.
The production begins performances Dec. 7 at the Comedy Theatre prior to an official opening Dec. 17 for a run that is booking to March 13, 2010. It is directed by Thea Sharrock and also features the previously announced Tara Fitzgerald, Dominic Rowan and Tim McMullan.
The production is designed by Hildegard Bechtler, with costumes by Amy Roberts, lighting by Peter Mumford and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph. It is produced by Howard Panter and Tali Perlman for the Ambassador Theatre Group, Sweet Pea Productions and Tulchin/Bartner Productions.
Playwright Martin Crimp's version of Moliere's play, which transports the action from 17th-century Paris to modern-day London, was first staged at the Young Vic in 1996. In this version, Alceste (Lewis) is a famous British playwright disillusioned and angry with the hypocrisy, shallowness and vanity of the contemporary world. Vowing to reject society, Alceste's plans are derailed when he falls madly in love with Jennifer (Knightley). An ambitious American film star and darling of the social scene, she may prove to be his biggest challenge yet.
Iwuji, who plays Julian, was last seen on the London stage in Richard Eyre's production of Matt Charman's The Observer at the National's Cottesloe Theatre. Other credits include the National's production of The Bacchae and a season at the Royal Shakespeare Company in The Histories cycle, which won two Olivier Awards for Best Revival and Best Company Performance. He will be appearing later this year in Sky TV's "Three Kings", directed by Richard Eyre. Other television credits include "Casualty" (BBC) and "Proof" for RTE.
Price, who plays Ellen, has starred in the West End as Roxie Hart in Chicago (Cambridge Theatre), Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (Piccadilly Theatre), Lisa and Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales Theatre) and Roberta Glass in Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello Theatre).
Le Prevost, who plays Alexander, is currently performing in Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce, directed by Sir Peter Hall at The Rose Theatre, Kingston (running through Nov. 28). Other recent theatre credits include Uncle Vanya, also directed by Sir Peter Hall, Richard Eyre’s production of Simon Gray's The Last Cigarette (Chichester Festival's Minerva Theatre and the West End's Trafalgar Studios), How The Other Half Loves (Bath Theatre Royal and national tour), The Philidelphia Story with Kevin Spacey (Old Vic) and My Fair Lady, directed by Trevor Nunn (National and West End).
To book tickets, contact the box office at 0844 871 7612 or visit www.themisanthropelondon.com
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