The Misanthrope - Keira Knightley makes stage debut
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
KEIRA Knightley will make her stage debut alongside Damian Lewis in Martin Crimp’s updated version of Moliere’s 17th century comedy The Misanthrope, which opens at the Comedy Theatre on December 17, 2009, with previews from December 7.
Set in modern day London, the story focuses on Alceste (Lewis), a famous British playwright, who is disillusioned and angry with the hypocrisy, shallowness and vanity of the contemporary world. He vows to reject society, only to have his plans derailed when he falls in love with Jennifer (Knightley), a darling of the social scene.
Knightley has gained international stardom with films such as Bend It Like Beckham, the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Love Actually, Pride and Prejudice, Domino, Atonement, The Duchess and the forthcoming London Boulevard and Never Let Me Go.
Lewis last appeared on the London stage in 2005 in the National Theatre’s production of Ibsen’s Pillars of the Community. His other theatre credits include Five Gold Rings, Hamlet, Cymbeline, Much Ado About Nothing, Into the Woods and School for Wives.
However, he is probably best known for his numerous screen roles – in Band of Brothers (as Maj. Richard D. Winters), The Forsyte Saga (Soames Forsyte), Jeffrey Archer: The Truth (Jeffrey Archer), Colditz (Cpl/Lt Nicholas McGrade) and Life (Charlie Crews).
Joining Knightley and Lewis in the cast of The Misanthrope will be Tara Fitzgerald, Dominic Rowan and Tim McMullan (Burnt by the Sun, Present Laughter, Theatre of Blood).
Fitzgerald’s theatre credits include And Then There Were None, Antigone, Our Song, Hamlet (opposite Ralph Fiennes), A Doll’s House and Clouds. She is, however, best known for her many screen roles – in Brassed Off, I Capture the Castle, The Camomile Lawn, Sirens, Hear My Song and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
Dominic Rowan‘s numerous stage credits include A Voyage Round My Father, Lobby Hero, Way to Heaven, Happy Now?, A Dream Play, Mourning Becomes Electra, Talking Cure, Three Sisters, Private Lives, Iphigenia at Aulis, The Merchant of Venice, Two Gentlemen of Verona and most recently, Under the Blue Sky (Duke of York’s Theatre). He can shortly be seen in A Spanish Tragedy at the Arcola.
The Misanthrope will be directed by Thea Sharrock whose recent work includes Equus, Heroes, A Voyage Round My Father and The Emperor Jones.
The Misanthrope is booking until March 13, 2010.
Prick Up Your Ears continues at the Comedy Theatre until December 6, 2009.
Read our review