National Theatre Production of Stoppard's Jumpers Jumps to Broadway April 6
By Robert Simonson
06 Apr 2004
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Simon Rusell Beale in Jumpers
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| photo by Catherine Ashmore | Jumpers, the first play from the Royal National Theatre's success-spangled 2003 season to reach American shores, begins performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 6, moving toward an opening on April 25.
Stars Simon Russell Beale, Essie Davis, Nicky Henson and John Rogan will all repeat their London performances. Also in the cast are Eliza Lumley and Nicholas Woodeson (also from the National mounting), and Michael Arnold, Andrew Asnes, Clark Scott Carmichael, Tom Hildebrand, Michael Hollick, Don Johanson, Joseph P. McDonnell, Hillel Meltzer, Zachary Oberzan and Aaron Vexler.
Though Beale has received a lot of praise in the U.S., this will be his Broadway debut; his previous visits (in Hamlet, Uncle Vanya, Twelfth Night) were in limited runs at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
The lead producers are Boyett Ostar Productions (which has a deal with the National allowing them first dibs on New York transfers) and the Nederlander Organization.
The director is David Leveaux, whose production of Fiddler on the Roof is now at the Minskoff. Leveaux directed Nine last season.
Jumpers, first produced at the Old Vic in 1972 with Diana Rigg and Michael Hordern, stars Beale as George, a philosopher who believes strongly in the idea of good – though those around him are less certain. As well as the usual Stoppardian mental acrobatics and trademark wit, there's a moon landing, a dead body and a trained tortoise.
Essie Davis, who plays his wife, won an Olivier for her Stella in the National Theatre's A Streetcar Named Desire (opposite Glenn Close).
This version of Jumpers began previews at London's National Theatre June 7, 2003. It transferred to the Piccadilly Theatre Nov. 14 prior to an official opening Nov. 20. The West End mounting closed March 6.
The original 1974 Broadway production of Jumpers ran for 48 performances and starred Brian Bedford as George and Jill Clayburgh as Dorothy.
The production features set designs by Vicki Mortimer, costumes by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting by Paule Constable, aerial choreography by Aidan Treays, music by Corin Buckeridge, sound design by John Leonard for Aura and video design by Dick Straker & Sven Ortel for Mesmer.
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The remainder of 2004 will see a couple of other National creations. Boyett Ostar Productions is expected to bring Democracy and The Pillow Man to Broadway this fall.
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