Following its Donmar run, the play will embark on a three-week tour to the Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays (March 30-April 3), the Cure in Leicester (April 6-10) and the Hall for Cornwall in Truro (April 13-17). Wilson's play is described in press materials as "a timeless portrait of two suburban American couples," exploring "the destruction of dreams and the loss of passion and purpose." In the play, Carl and Alex, who have been friends since college, are struggling to deal with the harsh realities of adulthood as they enter their thirties. Disillusioned by work and struggling to keep their marriages alive, they're desperately trying to make sense of it all.
Simon Curtis directs, with designs by Peter McKintosh, lighting design by Guy Hoare and compositions and sound design by Adam Cork. Curtis, who previously ran the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs (where he directed the world premiere of Jim Cartwright's Road, and subsequently staged the play at New York's Lincoln Center), has also directed Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice for its American premiere at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, which subsequently transferred to Broadway. For TV, his credits include directing "Cranford," "A Short Stay in Switzerland," "Freezing" and Pinter's "Old Times" with John Malkovich. As executive producer of performance at the BBC, he was responsible for over 50 productions including Poliakoff's "Shooting the Past" and "Pride." Harner, who makes his U.K theatrical debut as Alex, has appeared in the American premieres of Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia (Lincoln Center Theater) and The Invention of Love (A.C.T). Other New York credits include An Experiment with an Air Pump (Manhattan Theatre Club), Our Town (Barrow Street Theatre), The Paris Letter (Roundabout) and Hedda Gabler (New York Theatre Workshop, for which he won an OBIE Award for Best Actor); and regional credits include The Cherry Orchard (Mark Taper Forum, LA) and The Glass Menagerie (Kennedy Center, Washington, DC). Harner is appearing with the support of UK Equity.
Emmerson, who plays Gabrielle, was last seen on stage in Wallenstein (Chichester's Minerva Theatre). Her London credits include On the Rocks (Hampstead Theatre), Therese Raquin and The Coast of Utopia (both National), and The Postman Always Rings Twice (Playhouse Theatre).
O’Mara, who plays Carl, has been seen in The Homecoming, bash (Gate Theatre Dublin), The Jew of Malta (Almeida Theatre, directed by Michael Grandage), The School for Scandal (RSC) and Popcorn (Apollo Theatre). Now based in the US, his television work includes "Life on Mars," "Grey’s Anatomy," "Trust Me," "Marlow," "Men in Trees," "Criminal Minds," "Drift," "In Justice," "The Closer," "The Agency" and "Band of Brothers."
Somerville, who plays Mary, has been seen onstage in Power, Remember This, Blue Remembered Hills (all National Theatre), I am Yours (Royal Court) and A Doll’s House (Birmingham Rep). On film, she has been seen in the "Harry Potter" series, "Sixty Six," "Gosford Park" and "Augustine." Wilson's other plays include the Pulizer-Prize winning Talley's Folly as well as Home Free!, Balm in Gilead, The Rimers of Eldritch, Lemon Sky, The Hot L Baltimore, Fifth of July, Angels Fall, Burn This, Redwood Curtain, Sympathetic Magic, Book of Days and Rain Dance.
To book tickets, contact the box office at 0844 871 7624, or visit www.donmarwarehouse.com.
