The production will begin performances Feb. 16 prior to an official opening on Feb. 25. Toyer is currently booking to April 11. Al Weaver and Alice Krige will star in this psychological thriller under the direction of William Schoular.
According to press materials, the plot revolves around the arrival of a charming stranger at psychologist Maude's remote house in the L.A. hills. An innocent encounter soon becomes a sexually charged battle of wits. Is he merely a playful admirer or the 'Toyer,' a disturbed man who performs unspeakable acts of violence on his female victims. A cat and mouse game of verbal, psychological and physical intrigue ensues, where one player must outwit the other.
Weaver was last seen playing the role of Christian in Channel 4's drama series "The Devils Whore." His film credits include "Colour Me Kubrick," "The Merchant of Venice" with Al Pacino, "Doom," "Marie Antoinette" (directed by Sofia Coppola) and "Me and Orson Welles" (directed by Richard Linklater). Onstage he has been seen in Trevor Nunn's 2004 production of Hamlet at the Old Vic and in the National's Coram Boy.
Krige is best known for her role as the Borg Queen in the film "Star Trek: First Contact," a role she later reprised in the final episode of the TV series, "Star Trek: Voyager." Other film and TV roles include appearances in "Chariots of Fire," "Deadwood" and "The Contract." For the RSC she appeared in Cyrano de Bergerac, King Lear, The Tempest and The Taming of the Shrew. She received an Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her debut appearance in a production of Shaw's Arms and the Man.
Director William Scoular's previous work in the U.K. includes Berkoff's Women (New Ambassadors Theatre). In the U.S. and Canada his previous credits include My Time Ain't Long: The Jimmy Rogers Story, A Cream Cracker Under the Settee, Waiting for the Telegram and Playing Sandwiches. McKay, who died in 2001, became famous playing the role of Adam Troy in the 1960's television series "Adventures in Paradise." His plays include Sea Marks (New York Drama Critics' Award Best Play, PBS, BBC), Masters of the Sea, This Fortunate Island, Landmarks, Me, Toyer, In Order of Appearance, Untold Damage (PBS), Island in a Dry Sea, Gala, Neverland, Rage Rage, Narcissa-Narcissus, The Suit, The Visitor, The Girl Next Door Is Screaming, Alligators Have No Choice, Meeting, Tapes, Silver Eyes, Yeats/Millay, The Honeyman, The People We Kill and A Christmas Dinner. As a novelist his work includes "Toyer," "The Last American," "Trompe L'Oeil," "The Kinsman," "Journey Without a Map" (autobiography), and "Bloomsbury Square" (novella). He was Drama Critic of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner from 1977-1982.
The play is produced by Dodi M. Soames in association with Oliver Royds for PW Productions Ltd.
To book tickets contact the box office at 0845 017 5584 or visit www.thetoyer.com.
