Branagh-Directed London Comedy, 'Play What I Wrote,' to Open on Bway

Andrew Gans, Playbill On-Line, 11 october 2002
*Thanks to Susn

'The Play What I Wrote', the comedic play that was the smash hit of last year's West End season - and which will reopen Oct. 30 at London's Wyndham's Theatre - will make the transatlantic trip to Broadway.

Variety reports that Sean Foley and Hamish McColl's play will open at New York's Lyceum Theatre (149 W. 45th Street) on March 30 after a few weeks of previews. U.K. producer David Pugh will bring the production to Broadway; he will be joined in the venture by U.S. producers Mike Nichols (news), Joan Cullman, Stuart Thompson, Charlie Whitehead and Hamilton South. The industry paper also reveals that the play will be somewhat revised for Broadway to "focus the comedy more generally on the English in New York as opposed to the specifics of [comedians] Morecambe and Wise."

A tribute to the British comedy team of Ernie Wise and Eric Morecambe, the original London mounting starred Foley, McColl and Toby Jones; the latter won an Olivier Award for his work. All three actors will repeat their performances on Broadway, as will director Kenneth Branagh (news). As in London, the Broadway production will feature a rotating roster of guest celebrities in the second act of each performance. Celebrities were asked to commit to at least eight performances in the U.K. version; some of the luminaries who took part in The Play What I Wrote include Ian McKellen (news), Roger Moore (news), Joanna Lumley (news) and Ralph Fiennes (news).

Playwrights-actors Sean Foley and Hamish McColl are a comedy duo who are known in the U.K. as the Right Size. Their other productions include Bewilderness and the comedy 'Do You Come Here', which won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment.


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