Miss Daisy hits the West End

By Baz Bamigboye for the Daily Mail
Updated: 20:06 EDT, 16 June 2011

Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones, who had a hit run on Broadway this season in Driving Miss Daisy, will perform the play on the London stage this autumn.

The two stars will rehearse in London and begin performances at Wyndham's Theatre on September 26 for a limited run through to December 17 — although Mr Jones, 80, hinted those dates might be flexible.

'My wife wouldn't mind it extending for a bit because she would like staying in London over Christmas,' he told me.

The play continued beyond its initial three-month engagement on Broadway and recouped its investment in just a few weeks.

Gearing up: James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave are bringing Driving Miss Daisy to the West End stage

Driving Miss Daisy, written by Alfred Uhry, started life Off-Broadway in 1987 and became an Oscar-winning picture starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman, who had been in the original stage production.

Set against the backdrop of the civil rights struggle, it's the story of Daisy Werthan, a wealthy Southern Jewish woman, and Hoke Colburn, her illiterate chauffeur, and how, over a number of years, they grow to depend on each other.

Jones acknowledges that, initially, you might think of Hoke as having a bit of Uncle Tom about him.

'Hoke was a real person and the author didn't make up that dialogue,' Jones said as he explained why the chauffeur comes across as being so subservient.

'In those days, you didn't cross the upper echelons of white people unless you wanted trouble.

'The author and I are from the same part of the South so I understood Hoke, and I understood Daisy.

'There's a softness and a gentleness to Southern culture, but there's a pressure, too, and plenty of bite.'

When I saw the play in New York last year, the two actors brought a lifetime of sensitivity to their roles. The growing affection between the two characters has to be very subtle.

Daisy starts out being tough and she's very cruel and abusive to her son Boolie, but I'm sure Vanessa's was the most genteel Daisy that's ever been done — she had a hard time being caustic.

'She didn't want to do anything demeaning to Jews and blacks,' said Mr Jones.

The two actors got along well. 'I think she knew I respected her, and I think she respected me,' he added.

There was much humour backstage provided by Boyd Gaines who played Boolie.

'He told filthy jokes to us,' said Mr Jones.

Vanessa will also be seen this autumn on screen in Ralph Fiennes's totally compelling film version of Coriolanus, where she gives one of her best performances as Volumnia, the title character's mother.

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■ Bono has two rules. 'One: No golf.' And two? 'Never sing in tights — but we can work for people who sing in tights,' the U2 frontman told interviewer Jordan Roth, while talking about his Spider-Man musical at the 92Y theatre in New York.

I caught the re-booted show twice this trip and while work still needs to be done, it's a helluva lot better than it was.

But I missed the artistry provided by ousted director Julie Taymor.

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Bless my sole, I've chucked my Choos

Kicking off her shoes: Idina Menzel will go barefoot at her Royal Albert hall performances in October

Idina Menzel has decided to ditch her killer Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo heels for her concerts.

The singer-actress will perform barefoot at the Royal Albert Hall in October, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch.

'It really grounds you,' she says.

'I feel more like myself when my feet are bare. Sometimes you can lose sight of yourself — especially if you're on stage with an orchestra.

'I do rehearsals with the band and take my shoes off — I've always done that. Then last year I picked up Walker, my baby, the wrongway and my back started hurting. That night I was doing a show and I couldn't imagine putting on these huge orange pumps — so I didn't. And I felt more relaxed.

'You see someone like Beyonce dancing around and think maybe there's a certain gene she has to remain sexy in high heels.

'But for me, I think it's sexier when I'm relaxed and calm... without the heels.'

Idina, who played Maureen in the original production of Rent in New York and created misunderstood witch Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway and in London (to phenomenal success), will give her special Royal Albert Hall concert on October 6.

She has been touring America singing songs from Wicked, plus a fabulous version of Tomorrow from Annie, but she says she may change the song list around for London, her only planned European performance so far.

The last time she played the Royal Albert Hall was for a concert version of the musical Chess with Josh Groban.

She got lost backstage during a costume change and was late for her entrance.

'I'm not much of a Diana Ross when it comes to costume changes, so I'll stay in the one dress this time,' she joked.

She has also appeared in Glee, as Rachel's (Lea Michele) biological mother, and told me she has been in talks with Glee creator Ryan Murphy about further episodes.

Also being discussed is a live album of her concerts and two theatre projects.

I've heard Idina sing numbers from the musical Funny Girl and I asked if she was considering throwing her hat in the ring to portray Fanny Brice for the revival that Bartlett Sher plans for Broadway next year.

'It's a part I've always been interested in doing, but I've sort of let go of that,' she said.

For now, she's off on holiday to Mexico with 'the two boys in my life': husband Taye Diggs and 21-month-old Walker.

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As soon as War Horse won the best play Tony, the box office at the Lincoln Centre went bonkers, with thousands booking seats online.

But it had gone crazier an hour before, when Tonys host Neil Patrick Harris rode onstage on Joey, one of the horses created by the Handspring Puppet Company.

Nica Burns, chair of the Society of London Theatre who was sitting next to me, said: 'That's worth $10 million.'

Londoners can see the West End's own Joey when he mingles with the crowds in Trafalgar Square as part of West End Live tomorrow and Sunday.
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Transfer: James Corden's hit One Man, Two Guvnors could be set for Broadway

There's already chatter about James Corden and the National Theatre's five-star phenomenon One Man, Two Guvnors going to Broadway in the next year or so, but before that happens a deal has been done for the play to transfer to the Adelphi Theatre from mid-November.

One Man, Two Guvnors is Richard Bean's inspired adaptation of Carlo Goldoni's The Servant Of Two Masters.

NT director Nicholas Hytner commissioned the show for Corden's extraordinary comic talents: he plays the central role of Francis Henshall, a washed-up skiffle player mixed up in comical shenanigans in early Sixties Brighton.

Corden is hilarious, but what makes the play such a gem is that every member of the ensemble — which includes Jemima Rooper, Tom Edden and Oliver Chris — mines the show's comedy gold.

The production continues its run at the Lyttelton Theatre into the autumn, and tours from September 27 till October 29. It will then transfer to the Adelphi.

The move means Andrew Lloyd Webber's show Love Never Dies will close — the cast will be given details over the next few days. It will also have a knock-on effect on a revival of Camelot, to be directed by David Leveaux.

I suspect the National might re-cast the lead once Corden goes off next year to fulfil a TV commitment, and it's looking as if the play could become as big a hit as Tony-winning War Horse — which continues to play to sell-out houses in London and on Broadway.
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Watch out for

• Carey Mulligan, who  gives a luminous performance alongside Jason Butler Harner, Chris Sarandon and Ben Rosenfield (a newcomer who's a real find) in David Leveaux's production of Through A Glass Darkly.

This is Jenny Worton's adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's classic movie.

A version of the play had its world premiere at London's Almeida, with Ruth Wilson in the main role as a young woman losing her mind.

When I caught the Atlantic Theatre Company's production at the New York Theatre Workshop, the celebrated director Mike Nichols and his wife, the ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer, were in the audience.

Carey's working all hours. When she's not performing, she's rehearsing and preparing for Baz Luhrmann's film The Great Gatsby, which will shoot later in the year.

• Julian Ovenden, who displays tremendous charisma and is in great voice in Maury Yeston's musical version of Alberto Casella's play Death Takes A Holiday.

Ovenden (playing the grim reaper in human form) gives this extremely old-fashioned love story a beating heart. The show's in early previews at the Roundabout Theatre's Laura Pels auditorium.

Mr Ovenden should have his name in lights on Broadway proper.
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Rooster booster for Mark

Time of his life: Mark Rylance is enjoying himself on Broadway

Mark Rylance is having the time of his life playing Johnny 'Rooster' Byron in  Jez Butterworth's sublime play Jerusalem on Broadway.

Rylance, who won the best actor Tony for his performance, told me he is discussing bringing the show back to London in September for a limited three-month run.

'We're working on bringing it back because we only did 12 weeks in the West End and it was sold out, so I'd  be delighted to do it in London again,' he said.

The Royal Court, where Jerusalem originated, and commercial producer Sonia Friedman are finalising plans for the move.

Then, next summer, Rylance hopes to return to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (where he was its founding director) to revive an all-male version of Twelfth Night.

Ten years ago he played Olivia when the Globe performed the play at Middle Temple.

'I'm also hoping to do Richard III at the Globe — and with the same company of players bring both of them to America. That's the hope,' Rylance told me.

Jerusalem has been instrumental in raising funds for the Royal Court. For instance, Adam Kenwright, who runs the AKA marketing company in London and New York, bid for the chance to perform in the rave scene at the start of the play.

'I made my debut on Broadway!' Kenwright told me.

Rylance and fellow actor Mackenzie Crook helped him get 'into the moment', and he didn't need much assistance after downing alcoholic jellies at AKA's fun pre-Tony Awards bash.
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Nicked names

Not just stealing scenes: Daniel Radcliffe's name keeps going missing from the front of the theatre

Fans clearly can't get enough of Daniel Radcliffe, now headlining as the star of Broadway musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying — they're even stealing his name.

The show's producers have had to replace his name plate in the theatre lobby eight times since How To Succeed opened in the spring, so technicians are trying to make them more secure.

Daniel has helped make Rob Ashford's production a popular smash hit at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
When I caught an early preview in March, I thought the show was in pretty good shape. Watching it again on Wednesday I found it fantastic fun, anchored by a terrific performance from Daniel.

I still think it incredible he wasn't nominated for a Tony award, but he has behaved very graciously.

He not only performed at the Tony show, he also presented a couple of major prizes.

He'll continue in How To Succeed till January, although he will nip over to London early next month for the premiere of the final Harry Potter film, Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

'It's the end of an era for me and even though the party is going to be overwhelming, not to be there with all of the people I have worked with for over ten years would have been pretty upsetting,' Daniel told me when I visted him backstage.

There are unconfirmed rumours that Chris Colfer — Kurt on Glee — could  take over the Broadway role next year.

Daniel will not be bringing How To Succeed to London and his first duties in 2012 will be to launch the Hammer Films production of The Woman In Black, proving he will have no trouble succeeding in a post-Potter world.
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On song for big screen Les Mis

Hugh Jackman met Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper for what was meant to be a two-hour dinner to discuss the film version of Les Miserables — and ended up staying for four.

A similar thing happened when Hooper met actor Paul Bettany, who showcased his prowess as a singer.

Now both men are front-runners to play Jean Valjean and his obsessive tormentor Inspector Javert in the long-awaited screen adaptation of the musical Les Miserables, which was created for the stage more than a quarter of a century ago by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer, and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

In contention: Hugh Jackman is trying to balance his commitments for the big screen version of Les Mis, while Paul Bettany's larynx is under the microscope

The producer Cameron Mackintosh had more than a little to do with Les Mis remaining a powerhouse of the London stage.

A new cast, led by Alfie Boe, will perform at the Queen's Theatre from next Thursday. Boe had been thought of as a potential lead for the movie, but Universal and Working Title are demanding stars. 

No deal is done yet with Jackman, who is a song and dance man to his very core. The actor wants to do it — and Hooper wants him to do it — but there are issues of money and dates to be thrashed out.

'It's always money and time issues,' confided one executive close to the negotiations.

And few know that Hooper had initially wanted Bettany for the role of 'Bertie' in The King's Speech, but for various reasons he was unable to do it.

Executives are wrestling with the decision to cast him because they have to be sure of his vocal range and there are plans to meet other actors, although Hooper is pushing for him.

The director is insistent that he lock down the casting of the two major roles for Les Miserables before he moves on to casting the principal female parts of Madame Thenardier, Cosette, Fantine and Eponine.

Helena Bonham Carter has already been mentioned as someone who could play Madame Thenardier, the frightful inn-keeper's wife (and, of course, she and Hooper are well acquainted, after her role as Queen Elizabeth in The King's Speech).

Working Title and Cameron Mackintosh are the lead producers on the film, which will begin shooting early next year.