London Spotlight: September 2008

The celebrity news of the month is that Josh Hartnett makes his local stage debut in an adaptation of the 1988 Dustin Hoffman-Tom Cruise flick Rain Man, directed by Terry Johnson. It’s at the West End’s Apollo (now-December 20). Hartnett’s in the Cruise role, natch, and Adam Godley takes on the Oscar-winning Hoffman stint, with the always reliable Colin Stinton in the cast.

Something that could be downright astounding is Matthew Bourne’s Dorian Gray, as it’s billed. It’s a dance-theater adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray, playing Sadler’s Wells September 2-14. More excitement is expected to be generated season-long by Michael Grandage and his Donmar Warehouse stint at Wyndham’s in the West End. Grandage directs Anton Chekhov’ first play, Ivanov, starring Kenneth Branagh, September 12-November 29. Also hot as a griddle should be Philip Seymour Hoffman directing John Hannah and Paul Hilton in Andrew Upton’s Riflemind at the Trafalgar Studios (beginning September 15).

Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author is at the Gielgud (September 10-November 8), with veteran actor and Stars Wars regular Ian McDiarmid heading the cast. Just as persuasive a text is Harley Granville-Barker’s juicy examination of politics, Waste, at the Almeida (September 25-November 15). Samuel West, who’s now doing as much directing as acting, helms a team including Phoebe (Brideshead Revisited) Nicholls.

Alan Rickman remains this side of the footlights to direct Anna Chancellor, Tom Burke and Owen Teale in August Strindberg’s Creditors at the Donmar Warehouse, September 25-November 15. Then there’s Harold Pinter’s lovably sinister No Man’s Land at the Duke of York’s (September 27-January 3). The never-miss Michael Gambon will be guided by hot-hot-hot Rupert Goold. At the Tricycle, Sean Holmes is directing a flashy take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (September 1-27).

New and extra-promising is David Harrower’s 365 at the Lyric Hammersmith (September 8-27), directed by Vicky Featherstone for the National Theatre of Scotland. It’s about young folks trying to mature and has a sizable cast of young ‘uns. Also at the venue this frame is Fight Face (September 16-October 4), created and performed solo by Sophie Woolley, and directed by Gemma Fairlie. New at the National is in-i (September 6-October 20), Akram Khan’s dance theater piece, featuring Juliette Binoche. A few weeks later Enda Walsh’s think-piece, The Walworth Farce (September 18-October 29), unfolds in a pub where drunks are at large.

Meanwhile, at the Royal Court, American playwright Christopher Shinn’s new play Now or Later (September 3-November 18) is about a current presidential election. Sound timely enough? At the same venue, Alecky Blythe’s play about a caring brothel, The Girlfriend Experience runs September 18-October 11. At the Soho, Suitcase Royale will present Chronicles of a Sleepless Moon (September 16-20). The venue encourages the way-off-beat, and this one looks to fit the requirement.

Not to be overlooked is that marvelous experimenter Robert Lepage, who brings his three-part Lipsynch to the Barbican (September 6-14). Another attention-getter could be Turandot at the Hampstead (September 4-October 4). It’s Bertolt Brecht’s go and not Puccini’s and is often considered the German emigre’s only comedy.

Worth checking out immediately is the Old Vic revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s interlocking trio of plays — Living Together, Table Manners, and Round and Round the Garden — under the umbrella title The Norman Conquests (September 11-December 20). Hit-maker Matthew Warchus directs on Rob Howell’s adaptable set with Stephen Mangan in the title role and Amanda Root among the five other busy players.

One show on which no one can go wrong is the National’s War Horse (September 9-November 12), which was the establishment’s hit last Christmas season and has been brought back by popular demand.