Ewan McGregor to play Iago at the Donmar
By Louise Jury
Ewan McGregor is to lead a production of Othello to mark the fifth
anniversary of Michael Grandage as artistic director of the Donmar theatre.
The Scot will be joined by Chiwetel Ejiofor, star of Kinky Boots and Dirty
Pretty Things, and Kelly Reilly, who was in Mrs Henderson Presents.
It is a dream union of three actors who have played an important part in the
Donmar's work over five years.
All turned down possible film roles to take on Shakespeare in the 250-seat
auditorium and work with Grandage again.
He said: "They all cleared the decks and committed to it." McGregor, 36, made
his West End musical debut in Guys And Dolls, which was the Donmar's first
production initiated outside its own venue. He will play Iago.
Ejiofor appeared in The Vortex, Grandage's inaugural show as artistic
director, and has the title role. Reilly, who won rave reviews for After Miss
Julie, returns to play Desdemona.
The production, which will run from 29 November to 23 February, will launch
the next stage of Grandage's work at the small but prestigious Covent Garden
venue. Although he is on a rolling contract, he has committed to staying and
will shortly present his next five-year plan to the board.
He said: "It's always nice to have an announcement of this calibre and to use
it as an opportunity to say that I am looking forward to the next few years."
Grandage had a tough act to follow when he succeeded Sam Mendes, who ran the
theatre for 10 years before leaving to make more Hollywood films after the
Oscar-winning American Beauty.
Mendes built up a loyal following with clever West End revivals and strong
American drama. Grandage added European-playwrights such as Albert Camus,
Dario Fo and Luigi Pirandello to the repertoire. Othello will be his first
Shakespeare at the Donmar.
He suggested the role of Iago to McGregor during Guys And Dolls.
He said: "I was very aware that I was working with someone who had an
extraordinary ease, a charm that he didn't have to put on.
"One of the problems with Iago is everyone always plays him as a baddie and
then the audience don't understand why people on the stage can't see that.
"But it's because he is utterly charming."
Source: thisislondon.co.uk
Ejiofor, McGregor to star in 'Othello'
Donmar production to be directed by Grandage
By DAVID BENEDICT
Michael Grandage will helm a new production of "Othello" at the Donmar
Warehouse, with Chiwetel Ejiofor in the title role alongside Ewan McGregor as
Iago and Kelly Reilly as Desdemona. It will play a limited engagement from
Nov. 29 to Feb. 23, with a Dec. 4 opening.
Although Grandage sealed his reputation directing "As You Like It" and
"Richard III" (with Kenneth Branagh) at Sheffield's Crucible theater, this is
his first Shakespeare outing at the 250-seat Donmar, where he is artistic
director.
"As one of Shakespeare's most intimate plays with one of the smallest casts,
it's perfect for the Donmar," Grandage told Daily Variety. The strength of
this cast will allow us to explore the internal, as well as the external,
life of the play."
The production marks the start of Grandage's sixth year as Donmar a.d. Play
will reunite his favored creative team of designer Christopher Oram, lighting
designer Paule Constable and composer-sound designer Adam Cork; all three
leading actors have worked with Grandage before as well.
Helmer has been in discussions with Ejiofor about the role since the thesp
starred in his production of "The Vortex" in 2002. Reilly played the title
role in "After Miss Julie" in 2003, while McGregor created the role of Sky
Masterson in Grandage's revival of "Guys and Dolls," currently eyeing a
Broadway berth.
Grandage also said that following the success of "Frost/Nixon," the Donmar's
next Gotham project will be the transfer of its 2005 hit production of
Friedrich Schiller's thriller "Mary Stuart." "Subject to the availability of
director Phyllida Lloyd and actresses Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter, we are
committed to making this our next Broadway presentation," he said.
Source: variety.com
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