Continuing the countdown to Damian’s return to stage next week (!) with The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, let’s take a visit to his penultimate play, The Misanthrope. It was 2009 when Damian played the lead role of Alceste in Martin Crimp’s modernized version of Moliere’s 17th century comedy. After his appearance in The Misanthrope he was not seen on stage again until American Buffalo six years later. Dare we say, The Misanthrope marked a turning point for Damian, the last one where he was the nearly A-list actor playing against decidedly A-list’er Keira Knightley. NOW, of course, he is not nearly anything but a full-blown highly sought commodity on stage and screen. In this post, I’ll tell you a bit about the play, then, beg your indulgence as I wax philosophical about the extent to which the themes of the play translate to Damian’s own career trajectory.
Tag: West End
Imagine the Unimaginable: A First Look at The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? *UPDATED*
“Four decades after ‘Virginia Woolf’ sent shock waves through the mainstream theater, Mr. Albee still asks questions that no other major American dramatist dares to ask.”
Ben Brantley, NY Times Critic, 2002
We are extremely thrilled Damian Lewis is making a wonderful comeback to stage in the West End revival of Edward Albee’s late masterpiece The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? Damian is headlining the play as Martin Gray along with Sophie Okonedo playing Martin’s wife Stevie, Archie Madekwe as his son Billy and Jason Hughes as his oldest friend Ross. Tom Kirdahy Productions is producing and Ian Rickson, who served as the artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre from 1998 to 2006, is directing the play. And as if we needed another reason to get excited about it, The Guardian critic Michael Billington cites The Goat in his Unmissable Theatre of 2017 list! Damian has also recently been on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC2 Radio to talk about his return to stage. You can hear the program here and Damian’s bit starts at around 1:40:00.
The Goat is arguably the most provocative and controversial play by Albee who unfortunately passed away last September at the age of 88. The play won all the major theater awards; namely Tony, New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle, for Best New Play of the Year when it was first staged on Broadway in 2002. As we hope it will repeat that with Damian Lewis and Sophie Okonedo at the helm, it’s time for a first look, without any major spoiler, at The Goat!
Well, it’s time to meet The Grays!
Continue reading “Imagine the Unimaginable: A First Look at The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? *UPDATED*”
Damian Lewis on Stage: Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Damian Lewis is making a wonderful comeback to West End stage in Edward Albee’s late masterpiece The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? at Theatre Royal Haymarket in March 2017! And this gives us a unique opportunity to walk through the memory lane and visit Damian’s stage work in its entirety. It is our pleasure to kick off the festivities today with Damian’s theater education at Guildhall School of Music and Drama! We hope you share and enjoy this journey with us!
Damian discovers theater in his early school days at Ashdown House: His first ever role is a policeman in The Pirates of Penzance, a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. And by age 12, he has good stage experience under his belt with a few low and high moments 😀 Continue reading “Damian Lewis on Stage: Guildhall School of Music and Drama”
DRUMROLL! Damian Lewis returns to West End in Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?
“I almost dare not ask this… but who is Sylvia?” -Ross
Damian Lewis is making a wonderful comeback to West End, just two years after storming American Buffalo along with John Goodman and Tom Sturridge, in the new revival of Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. The Goat is arguably the most provocative and controversial play by Albee who unfortunately passed away in September at the age of 88. It won all the major theater awards, namely Tony, New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle, for Best New Play of the Year when it was first staged on Broadway in 2002. Continue reading “DRUMROLL! Damian Lewis returns to West End in Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?”
TOP Damian Lewis Moments 2015: American Buffalo
We have no intention whatsoever of ranking TOP Damian Lewis moments of the year; however, one incomparably exciting moment in 2015 — well, all 10 weeks of it — was to have our favorite actor back on stage in an incredibly dynamic performance in American Buffalo. In fact, Evening Standard agrees and includes Damian in its list of the most influential people in London Theatre in 2015. Besides, this is a moment where Damian shines as a brilliant actor, as a kind individual as well as a guy who knows how to have a good time!
Continue reading “TOP Damian Lewis Moments 2015: American Buffalo”