Edward Herrmann, last seen as a psycho psychiatrist in Psychopathia Sexualis, has joined the cast of the Roundabout's upcoming revival of Terrence Rattigan's Deep Blue Sea. He plays William Collyer opposite previously announced Bythe Danner as wife, Hester.
Terrence Rattigan's 1952 drama came to the Roundabout's Broadway Stage Right mainstage just after A View From The Bridge with Anthony LaPaglia ended its extended run there and moved to the Neil Simon Theatre. Sea previews begin Feb. 28 for an opening March 26. Directed by Mark Lamos of Hartford (CT) Stage Company, the production is scheduled to run through May 10.
Rattigan's 1952 drama tells of a married woman who has a hopeless love affair with a caddish younger man, then has to deal with the effects on her marriage and on her self-image.
Other plays by Rattigan include French Without Tears (1936), The Winslow Boy (1946), The Sleeping Prince (1953) and Separate Tables (1954).
Film and stage actress Danner appeared on Broadway in a 1987 Blithe Spirit, opposite Geraldine Page and Judith Ivey; and a 1988 NY Shakespeare Festival Much Ado About Nothing, starring Kevin Kline. These days, Herrmann is most visible on television commercials and miniseries, but he received a Tony for Mrs. Warren's Profession and appeared in Plenty, The Philadelphia Story and (in London) A Walk In The Woods.
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Current shows at the Roundabout are Frank Langella's Cyrano de Bergerac at the Off-Broadway Laura Pels space, and the aforementioned revival of Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge, at the Stage Right. Cyrano ends its run Jan. 25, Bridge goes to Feb. 22, but according to the NY Post, there's talk it might transfer to a larger Broadway house. 1776, another Roundabout hit, continues its run at the Gershwin.
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Come Feb. 11, renowned mime and physical comedian Bill Irwin will direct the Feydeau farce, A Flea In Her Ear, at the Pels, where he directed and appeared in Scapin last season. The show, opening March 5, stars Mark Linn-Baker, of TV's "Perfect Strangers," filmdom's My Favorite Year, and Broadway's Laughter on the 23rd Floor and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.
Irwin's other roles include Waiting For Godot, half of Fool Moon (with David Shiner), and his solo, In Regard Of Flight.
Penned in 1907, "La Puce A L'Oreille" satirizes Parisian bourgeois life. This adaptation of Flea is by Mark O'Donnell and Jean-Marie Bessett. Other Feydeau works include A Little Hotel On The Side, Cat Among The Pigeons and Any Minute Now.
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Beth Henley, the author of The Miss Firecracker Contest and Crimes Of The Heart returns to New York with Impossible Marriage, about a woman married "over twice her age, balding, overweight and rumored to be a philanderer." The comedy/drama will star Holly Hunter, best known for her film-work in The Piano and Broadcast News. She also starred in Henley's The Wake Of Jamey Foster on Broadway in 1982. Impossible Marriage runs at the Pels May 27-Aug. 16.
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Billed as "a contemporary musical fable," a new musical featuring the hit songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David will play at the Roundabout's mainstage June 3-Aug. 16. Gillian Lynne will direct and choreograph the revue, which will have a book by Kenny Solms, based on an idea by Solms and Lynne. Lynne is the director of Cats and Phantom Of The Opera.
No doubt interest in Bacharach & David's work was rekindled by the wildly acclaimed Encores! concert staging of Promises, Promises in March. Songs by the pair include "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again."
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In other Roundabout season news, a planned revival of The Lion In Winter has been postponed until next season. James Goldman's drama concerns the sparring match between King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, circa 1183. Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole starred in the famous 1968 film.
For tickets or information on Roundabout shows call (212) 869-8400.
