Diana Rigg and Lesley Manville to Star In Almodóvar at London's Old Vic
By John Nathan
21 Jun 2007
Diana Rigg and Lesley Manville will star in the world premiere stage adaptation of All About My Mother at London's Old Vic.
Samuel Adamson's adaptation of Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar's Oscar-winning movie will officially open on Sept. 4 following previews from Aug. 25.
Directed by Tom Cairns (Aristocrats for the National, Phaedre for the Donmar), the cast also includes Colin Morgan (currently at the Young Vic in Vernon God Little), television actress Joanne Frogatt and Charlotte Randle (Rabbit, Don Carlos, Lobby Hero).
The production sees Rigg return to the Old Vic stage where, as part of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company in the seventies, her credits included The Misanthrope, Macbeth and Jumpers. More recently, her Medea won a Best Actress Tony Award, while other acclaimed performances include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Humble Boy, Suddenly Last Last Summer and, most recently, Honour.
Often cast by Mike Leigh in his films, Manville's stage credits include His Dark Materials, Pillars of the Community and The Alchemist, all for the National.
In All About My Mother Manville plays Manuela who, following the tragic death of her beloved teenage son Esteban (Morgan), travels to Barcelona in search of the father she never knew. But before she can exorcise her guilt, she gets caught up in the lives of three women: Agrado, a long-lost transvestite friend; Sister Rosa (Froggatt), a young nun in search of love; and Huma Rojo (Rigg), the famous actress her son so admired. Just as Manuela's life begins to have meaning again, her son's father returns and her journey of discovery and forgiveness comes full circle.
In a statement Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey said, "The Old Vic celebrates exceptional acting talent, and all five of these actors bring unique qualities that we believe will bring this amazing story to life for our audience. I've always been a huge admirer of Lesley Manville's work and her remarkable ability to access truth and humanity in the roles she plays. Her extensive experience of working on new writing with Mike Leigh, at the Royal Court and elsewhere, makes her a wonderful asset to this production. And I couldn't be more pleased that Diana Rigg, one of the U.K.'s best-loved actresses, will be playing the role of Huma. Diana's played an extraordinary range of roles in a distinguished career and I can't wait to see her on the Old Vic stage."
On Rigg's casting Almodóvar said, "I have been a fan of Diana's for all these years, and I am thrilled that she is playing Huma."
For more on All About My Mother, call (0)870 060 6628.
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