The Screenwriter's Daughter - Leicester Square Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
THE Screenwriter’s Daughter, a new American play about the life of the illustrious Hollywood icon, Ben Hecht, as seen through the tempestuous relationship between Ben and his free-spirited, young, 60s generation daughter Jenny, will receive its European premiere in a five-week season at Leicester Square Theatre (The Lounge) – from October 28 to November 29, 2015.
Rich and powerful, Ben Hecht was a successful screenwriter, writing 120 screenplays during Hollywood’s Golden Era, including many, like Gone With the Wind, without a screen credit. He wrote the classic gangster drama Scarface, won the first Oscar for Original Screenplay in 1927, and for Alfred Hitchcock he wrote a number of his best psycho-dramas, receiving his final Academy Award nomination for Notorious.
Hecht was blacklisted in the UK in the 40s and 50s for his political activism, but he has also been recognised for his human rights efforts in creating public awareness of the Holocaust and furthering the cause of Jews around the world.
In The Screenwriter’s Daughter, written by highly regarded veteran Hollywood writer and playwright Larry Mollin, Hecht is 71, balding, urbane and cynical, and with an appreciation for the finer things in life. But his relationship with his daughter is difficult and, against her father’s wishes, Jenny joins the revolutionary, avant garde theatre troupe, The Living Theatre, and lives with them in a commune in New York.
Anna Ostergren directs a cast that comprises Samantha Dakin, Paul Easom, Tom Hunter and Laura Pradelska.
Samantha Dakin grew up in Northern California and moved to London to train at The Drama Centre. Her theatre work since graduating includes playing Joanna in Home Free! (The Nursery Theatre), Christina in The Rubber Room and Nurse in A Kid Like Jake (Old Vic New Voices), The Actress in The Emperor Self (Arcola Theatre) and Young Carrie in The Trip To Bountiful (Courtyard Theatre). Earlier this year she understudied the role of Catherine in the West End transfer of The Young Vic’s acclaimed A View From The Bridge, directed by Ivo van Hove.
Paul Easom trained at The Actors’ Centre, London and The Terry Schreiber Studio in New York. His extensive stage credits include King Lear (Almeida Theatre), The Dresser (Ambassadors Theatre), Death of a Salesman (Sheffield Crucible), A Tale of Two Cities (New Vic) and Hamlet (Park Theatre).
Tom Hunter trained with RADA and The National Youth Theatre. His credits include Fedotik in The Three Sisters (Cockpit Theatre), Rochester in The Libertine (King’s Head Theatre), Billy Boy in The Poseidon (Leicester Theatre), Earl of Rochester in A Debt to Pleasure (Southwark Playhouse) and most recently, creating the stage role of Det. David Mills in Secret Theatre’s immersive world premiere of Se7en.
Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, Laura Pradelska graduated from Drama Centre London. In 2012, she was cast as “Quaithe”, a recurring character in the second series of the global TV hit series, Game of Thrones. An enigmatic shadowbinder, preferring to speak in riddles and prophecies, Quaithe hides her true features behind a wooden, lacquered mask. It’s a role that has given her a huge fan following. She also has four films due for release including the highly anticipated The Habit of Beauty, in which she stars alongside Nick Moran and Noel Clarke.
Among his many credits, Larry Mollin is well-known for his lead creative and writing role on Aaron Spelling’s hit television series Beverly Hills 90210. His new folk musical, Search: Paul Clayton, has been running recently off-Broadway.
Director Anna Ostergren was born in Sweden. She trained at LAMDA (Post- Graduate Directors Course) and at the National Theatre Studio and resides in London. Her credits include: Changing Rooms by Marc Camelotti, Playing With Fire by Strindberg, Fraulein Else, Much Ado about Nothing and The Tempest (The Drayton Theatre), Frauline Else (RADA), Mad Mary Dancin’ (Old Red Lion), Punk Princess (Theatre 503) and Hooked (Edinburgh/London transfer). She is in post production with the TV pilot Rules about Making Money.
The Screenwriter’s Daughter is produced by Irwin Olian.
Tickets: Previews (October 28 and 29) £15; evening shows £19.50; matinees £15. To book, call the box office on 020 7734 2222 or visit www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/.
Times: Tuesday to Saturday at 7pm; Sunday matinee at 2pm.