The McCarter Theatre's revival of David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross, starring Charles Durning, opened on Feb. 18 to critical raves, including a positive notice in the New York Times. Now, theatre officials are exploring the possibility that the show may have a future life, possibly in New York.
Due to the nature of the McCarter's season schedule, an extension of the popular show is not feasible, a spokesman for the Princeton company told Playbill On-Line. "Right now, a move to New York is more of a possibility than an extension," he noted. There is nothing definite to report at this time, said the spokesman, who added that there was a shortage of appropriate houses in New York.
Last season, the McCarter's production of Electra transferred to Broadway, where it surprised the theatre community by finding critical and commercial success.
* As the once-great, now foundering salesman Levene, Durning trades patter and obscenities with Ruben Santiago Hudson as Roma and Daniel Benzali as Moss. Previews began on Feb. 15. The show runs until March 5.
Also in the cast are Sam Coppola (Aaronow), Lionel Mark Smith (Baylen), Stephen Goldstein (Lingk) and Jordan Lage (Williamson). Scott Zigler will direct. Durning was last seen on the stage in the Broadway revival of The Gin Game. A theatre actor of long standing, his credits include a Tony winning turn as Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Inherit the Wind opposite George C. Scott and That Championship Season.
Santiago-Hudson won a 1996 Tony for his performance as a smooth talking, philosophic musician in August Wilson's Seven Guitars. Before that, he appeared on Broadway in Jelly's Last Jam.
Benzali is best known by his starring role in the late television series "Murder One." On stage, he has been most praised for London roles in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita (as Peron) and the original Sunset Boulevard (as Max).
Zigler is an old hand at Mamet, having staged The Old Neighborhood on Broadway last season, as well as regional productions of Oleanna, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, The Woods and The Cryptogram.
Glengarry Glen Ross is due to play the Princeton, NJ, theatre through March 5, 2000. The production adds to an already Mamet-heavy season in the New York area; the Atlantic Theatre Company, which was co founded by Mamet, has dedicated the entire season to the playwright's work.
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In other McCarter news, Tony winner and former NEA head Jane Alexander will be Mme. Ranevsky in Emily Mann's new adaptation of Chekhov's classic, The Cherry Orchard. Alexander's only stage role since stepping down as the NEA's chair has been the short-lived Broadway play, Honour. Her many celebrated theatre credits include The Great White Hope, The Sister Rosensweig and Shadowlands.
The production's Lopkhin will be Avery Brooks, best known for the television series "Spenser: For Hire," "A Man Called Hawk," and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and for playing Paul Robeson on stage. John Glover, meanwhile, will be Gayev. Glover recently concluded his run in the Brian Friel play Give Me Your Answer, Do!, Off-Broadway. He won a Tony Award for his dual performance in Love! Valour! Compassion!.
Also in the cast are Barbara Sukowa, Lou Myers, Glenn Fleshler and Alanna Ubach.
Mann, McCarter's artistic director, will direct. Mann has previously helmed Chekhov's Three Sisters at the Princeton, NJ, theatre. Cherry Orchard will run March 28-April 16, with a March 31 opening.
The Chekhov play replaced the previously-announced stage adaptation of novelist Cormac McCarthy's The Stonemason. According to a press statement, both McCarthy and McCarter artistic director Emily Mann agreed The Stonemason needed to be developed further and McCarthy could not find time in his busy schedule to do the necessary work. The Stonemason traces four generations of an African-American family living in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1970's as they struggle to remain tied to their land and to each other.
The 1999-2000 season, the 10th anniversary for artistic director Mann, runs as follows:
• David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, Feb. 15-March 5, 2000, directed by Scott Zigler. Charles Durning, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Daniel Benzali star.
• Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, March 28-April 16, directed by Emily Mann. Jane Alexander, Avery Brooks and John Glover star.
• Polly Pen's The Night Governess, May 2-21. The work, inspired by the Louisa May Alcott thriller "Behind the Mask," is the darkly comic story of a quiet young woman who comes to teach a household in the art of manipulation as she twists each family member to her own designs. Pen workshopped the musical at the McCarter in November 1998 with Judith Blazer, Alma Cuervo (Titanic ) and Emily Skinner (Side Show) in the cast. Lisa Peterson will direct.
To subscribe to the McCarter Theatre's season ($80 and up), call the box office at (609) 258-2787. The McCarter Theatre is located at 91 University Place.
-- By Robert Simonson
