Two pieces of news on the centennial production of Noel Coward's Suite in Two Keys: First, director John Tillinger (The Exact Center of the Universe) will helm Shadows of the Evening, replacing Vivian Matalon. Matalon originally directed Noel Coward, Lilli Palmer and Irene Worth in the London West End version of Suite in 1965. Playbill On Line has also learned that discussions are underway concerning the Lucille Lortel Theatre, and that Suite could replace Y2K, which closes at the Lortel Jan. 23.
At press time, Hayley Mills is still set to star in both plays. As reported earlier, Suite will mark Hayley Mills' New York Theatre debut.
Miranda d'Ancona is still set to helm A Song at Twilight.
"They need to finalize casting and secure a theatre," a production spokesperson told Playbill On-Line.
A deal on the Lortel, if it comes to pass, is still a week or two away, sources said. Suite is being produced by Mirage Theatre Company (Miranda d'Ancona and Doris Kaufman) and StageWrite Entertainment Inc. (Todd Alan Price).
Miranda d'Ancona will direct the upcoming Off-Broadway version of "A Song at Twilight."
Production sources report that when the plays were originally performed in London in 1965, they were done under the title Noel Coward's Suite in Three Keys and included A Song At Twilight as a full length play in rep with the shorter Shadows of the Evening and Come Into the Garden Maud. On Broadway in 1974, Song and Maud were done under the title Noël Coward in Two Keys, with Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy and Anne Baxter.
-- By Murdoch McBride
