Reviews greeting Oscar and Tony Award-winner Kevin Spacey's turn in The Iceman Cometh in London have been so positive, serious talks are underway to bring the Almeida Theatre production to Broadway this fall. The show moves, June 19, to the West End's Old Vic for a run through Aug. 1.
The New York Times (May 22) quotes Jujamcyn president Rocco Landesman saying the New York transfer mainly depends on Spacey's film commitments. "We just don't know what Kevin Spacey's schedule is. We are interested in doing a limited run, if he can make himself available."
Reached May 22, a spokesperson for the Almeida told Playbill On-Line she'd read the NY Times story about the proposed transfer, but it was the first she'd heard of it.
The production, directed by Howard Davies (Almeida's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), stars Spacey, Rupert Graves (A Room With A View), and Clarke Peters. According to the Almeida box office, the production there has sold out through its final May 23 performance.
The Iceman Cometh concerns the deluded pipe dreams of characters at Harry Hope's saloon who are confronted by Hickey, a man who has broken free of his dreams and seeks to lead the others to do the same. The Iceman Cometh is the third, star-studded Almeida production to enjoy a West End run this season. Having opened Apr. 2, it followed David Hare's The Judas Kiss, starring Liam Neeson, and Pirandello's Naked, with Juliette Binoche.
Although best-known for his work in films such as The Usual Suspects, for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, Seven and LA Confidential, Kevin Spacey's theatre credits are numerous. Broadway appearances have included Ibsen's Ghosts, O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night and Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers for which he won a Tony award in 1991.
Former associate director at the RSC, Howard Davies' work for the Almeida has included Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which also transferred to the West End, and The Tower. Work at the National Theatre includes Chips with Everything and the current production of Flight.
Tickets are available for the Old Vic transfer by calling 0171-494-5460. Prices range £10 to £30.
Whether Iceman glides across the Atlantic or not, the production has no connection to a long-rumored mounting starring another film actor known for playing off-beat bad guys, Al Pacino. The Dog Day Afternoon and Scent of a Woman star did a reading of the four hour drama at Los Angeles' Falcon Theatre in January. Director Paul Benedict staged the reading, which also featured Paul Benedict (Hughie), Bruno Kirby (Bunny Bunny, filmdom's Good Morning Vietnam), Harry Dean Stanton (Paris Texas), Michael Jeter (Grand Hotel), Peter Onorati, Felton Perry, William Biff McGuire, John P. Connolly, Pat McNamara, Bess Meyer and Jan Triska.
