Gretchen Mol, Rachel Weisz, Frederick Weller and Paul Rudd, who are currently starring in the world premiere of Neil LaBute's latest play, The Shape of Things, which is part of the Almeida season in London, may soon find themselves Off-Broadway. The New York Times reported June 15 that the show would transfer to New York City sometime soon, with its cast intact. The Shape of Things opened in London on May 30 (previews from May 24) and continues until June 23.
The Times quotes producer Susan Quint Gallin as saying that Shape would play Off-Broadway, but that no dates had been set.
Weisz plays an art student in the play which peels back the skin of two modern relationships. How far would you go for love? How far for art? What would you be willing to change? Which price might you pay?
Rudd appeared in the Off-Broadway's production of LaBute's bash a couple seasons ago. His other New York stage appearances include Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center Theater and The Last Night of Ballyhoo on Broadway. On film, he has been seen in "The Object of My Affection," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Clueless."
Mol's film work includes Woody Allen's "Sweet and Lowdown" and "Rounders." LaBute's play will mark her London stage debut. This is Weisz's third West End appearance. She has previously appeared in Noel Coward's Design for Living at the Donmar Warehouse and, in 1999, starred in Tennessee Williams' Suddenly Last Summer at the Comedy. Weisz is best known for her film roles, including the just released "Enemy at the Gates," "The Mummy," and "Stealing Beauty".
The Almeida last year presented the British premiere of LaBute's bash, a collection of three one-act pieces. bash was a hit Off-Broadway, in a staging that feature Calista Flockhart, Ron Eldard and Paul Rudd. His previous plays include Filthy Talk for Troubled Times, Sanguinarians and Sycophants, Rounder and Ravages. His films include "In The Company of Men" (for which he received the New York Critics' Circle Best First Feature Award and the Filmmakers' Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival), "Your Friends and Neighbors" and "Nurse Betty." LaBute's most recent film, "Possession," based on AS Byatt's novel, will be released later this year.
LaBute also directs The Shape of Things at the Almeida. The production is designed by Giles Cadle, with costume design is by Lynette Meyer, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Fergus O'Hare.
— By Robert Simonson
and Terri Paddock
