Glen and McCabe star in Fortune's Fool at the Old Vic
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
LUCY Bailey will direct Iain Glen and Richard McCabe in Mike Poulton’s adaptation of Turgenev’s savagely funny play, Fortune’s Fool, which runs at the Old Vic from December 19, 2013 (previews from December 6) to February 22, 2014.
A pair of newlyweds arrive at their country estate to be welcomed by Kuzovkin (Iain Glen), the penniless gentleman-in-residence.
Their wealthy and mischievous neighbour, Tropatchov (Richard McCabe), calls by for a seemingly innocent celebratory lunch. Fuelled by champagne the proceedings degenerate, leading to a shocking revelation with far-reaching consequences.
Glen and McCabe are joined by Lucy Briggs-Owen, Dyfan Dwyfor, Janet Fullerlove, Paul Ham, Richard Henders, Simon Markey and Alexander Vlahos, with further casting to be announced.
Lucy Bailey recently directed Glen in an acclaimed production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya at the Print Room, where she was formerly joint artistic director. Her other recent credits include King Lear (Theatre Royal Bath) and The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew and Julius Caesar for the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she is an associate director.
As well as Uncle Vanya, Iain Glen’s numerous theatre credits include The Crucible (RSC/West End), Hedda Gabler (Almeida/West End), A Streetcar Named Desire (National Theatre), The Blue Room (Donmar Warehouse/Broadway), Martin Guerre (West End), Henry V (RSC), Macbeth (Tron Theatre), Hamlet (Bristol Old Vic) and Road (Royal Court Theatre).
On television, he has appeared in Game of Thrones, Borgia, Prisoners Wives, Downton Abbey and Spooks.
Richard McCabe’s recent theatre work includes The Audience (Gielgud Theatre), for which he received an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Harold Wilson; A Little Hotel on the Side (Theatre Royal Bath); A Tender Thing (RSC), Yes, Prime Minister (UK Tour/West End) and Bingo (Chichester Festival Theatre/Young Vic).
His screen credits include Borgia, Wallander, Lewis, Heroes and Villains, The Whistleblowers and Midsomer Murders (TV); The Duchess and The Constant Gardener (film).
Fortune’s Fool was last produced on Broadway in 2002 with Alan Bates and Frank Langella, who both won Tony Awards.
This Old Vic production marks its West End debut. Designed by William Dudley, it has lighting by Bruno Poet, music by John Eacott and sound by Mic Pool.
Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Mark Rylance and starring James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave, continues at the Old Vic until November 30, 2013.