The French playwright Florian Zeller has become something of a staple in West End theatre.
His clever, short and stylish plays are perfect if you fancy a sophisticated evening of well observed comedy laced with a thought provoking premise. Containing great roles, they also attract star names who’ll commit to short runs.
This successful formula continues with his latest work, THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM, which will be directed by Jonathan Kent and plays from 2 October 2018 at Wyndham’s Theatre, starring the multi award-winning star of screen and stage Jonathan Pryce and three-time Olivier award-winning Dame Eileen Atkins.
The press folk sound breathless with excitement, describing it as “Starring two of the greatest actors of their generation on stage together for the first time, this major new play from the writer of Olivier Award-Winning The Father is a searing exploration of love, family and the fragility of life”.
They outline the plot as follows, “André and Madeleine have been in love for over fifty years. This weekend, as their daughters visit, something feels unusual. A bunch of flowers arrives, but who sent them? A woman from the past turns up, but who is she? And why does André feel like he isn’t there at all?"
Given the difference in ages between Price and Atkins, who are presumably playing the couple, my guess is that Andre will turn out to be a ghost. That’s certainly the kind of enjoyable mind game Florian likes to play. His recent West End hit play THE FATHER bewildered the audience with differing versions of the same family drama until we realised that we were seeing events through the eyes of a character affected by dementia.
Pryce is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning actor on stage and screen. Recently you may have seen him as Cardinal Wolsey in the award-winning adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s WOLF HALL and the High Sparrow in the divine GAME OF THRONES.
Dame Atkins is a three-time Olivier award-winning actress, and four-time Tony Award nominee for her stage work and on TV she is known for her BAFTA and Emmy award-winning performance in CRANFORD and major roles in UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS and DOC MARTIN. Most recently I’ve enjoyed her performance as Queen Mary in Netflix’s THE CROWN.
As usual, Christopher Hampton translates the Frenchman’s words.
Kent’s recent West End directing credits include exceptional revivals of GYPSY, SWEENEY TODD and PRIVATE LIVES.
Book early for this one, it has all the ingredients necessary to be a smash hit!
One of the shows I'm most excited about seeing this year is the London transfer of the last Broadway production of THE KING AND I.