Issue #60: February 1, 2001

• Canadian actor Donald Sutherland finally makes his Broadway debut when he opens at the Lincoln Centre on March 8 in Jon Robin Baitz’s Ten Unknowns with the former ER star Julianna Margulies. Sutherland’s hopes to bring his most recent stage project, Enigma Variations, to Broadway were dashed when the West End production received less than stellar reviews and the New York producers got cold feet.

• With the recent success of the revival of The Best Man, author Gore Vidal is in the mood to adapt his novel Burr for the stage. No proposed timeline for the project, however the scribe is so inspired by the recent election fracas he sees another drama in the making — the theme: “corruption of the Supreme Court”.

• Lincoln Center will play host to a musical update of Emile Zola’s novel Thou Shalt Not. A successful five-week workshop late last year featured book writer David Thompson and composer-lyricist Harry Connick Jr. in his stage debut. The updated 19th-century story about a love triangle is scheduled to open in the fall.

• The highly entertaining and successful Encore! Concert series at City Center will feature a revival of 60s hit Hair in May.

• Michael Frayn’s critical hit Copenhagen will anchor Toronto’s Mirvish Productions’ 2001-02 subscription series. Hailed by critics on both sides of the Atlantic, the Canadian producers have secured the rights to mount their own production with control over director and cast.

• British movie stars Ewan McGregor (Star Wars) and Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley) have combined forces to launch a new theatre company, Natural Nylon Theatre Company. Both wishing to return to their theatrical roots, this new company offers them control of their stage projects and the opportunity to do what they both love best — live theatre.

• The latest incarnation of the musical Napoleon will end its three-month run at the Shaftesbury Theatre on February 3. After scathing reviews it’s a mystery to most how it survived as long as it did.

• To Canadians he was larger than life, to many his early television role as The King of Kennsington saddled him with the endearment The King for the rest of his life. Al Waxman passed away following "routine" bypass surgery on January 18. Although many remember him from his television and film roles (Cagney and Lacey) the theatre world has also lost a great artist. In 1997 he made his Stratford debut in Death of a Salesman, and returned to Stratford this past season to direct the critically acclaimed production of Anne Frank. He was preparing for his Shakespearean debut as Shylock at Stratford in this season’s production of The Merchant of Venice, when he died at the age of 65. In the week prior to entering hospital he took in three notable stage productions currently playing in Toronto; Larry’s Party (a new musical), the West End import Stones In His Pocket and a local play Zadie’s Shoes. His larger than life presence will be missed on screen and on stage.