David Grindley to Direct Brian Bedford, Sara Topham, et al. in Stratford Shakespeare’s The Misanthrope

David Grindley will direct the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of Moliere’s The Misanthrope. He replaces the previously announced Brian Bedford, who has had to withdraw due to the extension of The Importance of Being Earnest on Broadway. Bedford will, however, play the role of Oronte as previously reported.

Grindley’s Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning revival of Journey’s End, as well as The Philanthropist, The American Plan, and Pygmalion. In the West End, he has staged such works as Honour, Abigail’s Party, Some Girls, and Loot, among others. He made his Stratford debut in 2009 with A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The play is a satire about the hypocrisies of French aristocratic society and chronicles an eventful day in the unstable love-life of the petulant Alceste and a flirtatious young gossip, Célimène, who spends her time entertaining fops and fools in her fashionable home.

The company will also feature Ben Carlson (Alceste), Juan Chioran (Philante), Martha Farrell (Eliante), Kelli Fox (Arsinoé), and Steve Ross (Clitandre), as well as Sara Topham (Célimène), who is also currently appearing opposite Bedford in Earnest on Broadway.

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