Advanced news of a hit play that’s heading to London and sure to be a hit has been released.
Producer Bill Kenwright is presenting TV star Martin Shaw In the UK première of THE BEST MAN, an award winning political thriller about presidential ambition, political scandal and ruthlessness in a race to get elected.
Its writer, Gore Vidal, was a fascinating figure. Born into a distinguished political family he became a prolific, satirical and witty writer loved and hated in equal measure by the targets of his withering perspectives. Latterly an openly gay man his body of work includes essays, novels, screenplays and Broadway plays.
Recent political dramas such as TV’s VEEP, HOUSE OF CARDS & DESIGNATED SURVIVOR have struggled to compete with the real life drama of Donald Trump’s Whitehouse which has become so absurd it’s almost beyond satire with British politics not far behind. THE BEST MAN was written pre-Trump v Clinton and May v Corbyn and demonstrates that political chaos and controversy is nothing new.
It premièred on Broadway in 1960 and was nominated for six Tony Awards, including ‘Best Play’. It was revived, starring James Earl Jones and Angela Lansbury in 2012 earning two Tony award nominations including ‘Best Revival’. Vidal adapted it into a film in 1964 which starred that beacon of upstanding American manhood, Henry Fonda, alongside Cliff Robertson, and Lee Tracy who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of a crafty ex-President.
The press release describes the plot as follows “Two opposing presidential party candidates are neck and neck in an unscrupulous battle for the nomination. The only thing that separates the esteemed ex-Secretary of State and his newcomer populist opponent is an endorsement from a respected ex-President. But where does compromise end and corruption begin? And who in the end will be proven to be “the best man”?”
The play’s latest star, Martin Shaw’s official biography reminds us that he “rose to stardom in the late seventies in The Professionals” and “is best known for starring in the multi award winning BBC drama Judge John Deed and more recently Inspector George Gently. On stage, his revelatory performance as Lord Goring in Peter Hall’s production of An Ideal Husband earned him a Tony nomination and the coveted New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award. Other West End triumphs include the acclaimed Twelve Angry Men, Are You Lonesome Tonight? and A Man For All Seasons.
The Best Man will open at Theatre Royal Windsor on Tuesday 12 September followed by a tour to the Theatre Royal Brighton, Richmond Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, and Cambridge Arts Theatre, prior to the West End.
Its London home is yet to be announced.
A West End production has been announced which combines some of the most exciting emerging theatre makers of recent years with two of TV’s favourite actors.