The Country Girl - Shaw and Seagrove star
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
JUDGE John Deed stars Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove will reunite on the West End stage in a revival of Clifford Odets’ 1950 play The Country Girl.
The new production, directed by Rufus Norris, runs at the Apollo Theatre from October 11, 2010 (previews from October 6) to February 26, 2011.
Frank Elgin (Shaw), once a great theatre star, is down on his luck, but when he’s offered a major role by hotshot director Bernie Dodd, he has the chance to make a major comeback. Will Frank regain his confidence and save his turbulent career? And will he be supported in his quest for a second chance by Georgie, his long-suffering wife (Seagrove)?
Shaw and Seagrove take on the roles played by Morgan Freeman and Frances McDormand in the 2008 Broadway production, and by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the 1954 Oscar-winning film.
Shaw, who was last seen on the London stage in 2006 in A Man For All Seasons (Theatre Royal Haymarket), played Bernie Dodd in the 1983 production of The Country Girl, also at the Apollo Theatre.
Seagrove’s numerous stage credits include The Night of the Iguana, The Secret Rapture, Brief Encounter, The Female Odd Couple, Hurlyburly, The Constant Wife, The Letter, A Daughter’s A Daughter and, most recently, Bedroom Farce.
The cast of The Country Girl also includes Mark Letheren, Nicolas Day, Peter Harding, Thomasin Rind and Luke Shaw.
Prior to its West End dates, The Country Girl will tour to Windsor, Leeds, Richmond (August 9 to August 14), Shrewsbury, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Malvern, Birmingham, Bath and Brighton.
All My Sons continues at the Apollo Theatre until October 2, 2010.