| SEDUCED AGAIN
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By JOHN NATHAN
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Published May 28 2008 |
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| Alan Ayckbourn |
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Kevin Spacey's Old Vic Theatre to host revival of Alan Ayckbourn's 1970s hit The Norman Conquests. For Matthew Warchus's production, which begins performances on September 11 and is scheduled to run until December 20, 2008, the theatre's auditorium will be reconfigured to accommodate the in-the-round space for which the plays were originally written.
Ayckbourn's trilogy - individually entitled Table Manners, Living Together and Round and Round the Garden - is set in an English country house where Ayckbourn's eponymous, flawed hero attempts to seduce his sister-in-law, his brother-in-law's wife, and even his own wife Ruth, all in the name of his mission to make women happy.
Stephen Mangan (Noises Off) is to play Norman, the role played by Tom Courtenay in the 1974 London premiere.
The cast also includes Amelia Bullmore (Inadmissible Evidence ), Jessica Hynes, best known as the co-star and co-writer of the TV comedy Spaced and Paul Ritter(The Hothouse at the National).
In a statement Warchus said, I have always been excited by the magical effect that 'in the-round' has on audiences, performers and design. Seeing Ayckbourn performed in this setting, compared to a conventional proscenium arch, can I think be revelatory."
Warchus's previous production for the Old Vic was the acclaimed revival of Speed the Plow starring Jeff Goldblum and Kevin Spacey, the Old Vic's artistic director. Spacey added, Creating theatre in-the-round for The Norman Conquests will be an exciting new chapter in The Old Vic's history. These plays are beautifully constructed and retain real contemporary relevance, and I can't wait to see this cast bring the characters to life. For more on The Norman Conquests call (0)870 060 6628
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