Celebs In The Theatre
- Posted on January 2, 2008 11:51 AM
- 0 comments
Which A-lister will you see this year?
By Angela Lord
Theatre has to fight hard to compete in the crowded market of multi-media entertainment. In order to survive, it needs to keep up with current trends – and what better way than to get a celebrity in the cast?
A big name in lights is pretty much guaranteed to generate publicity and boost box office returns - from Christian Slater in Swimming With Sharks to Kelly Osbourne in Chicago.
Kelly, playing Mama Martin, is the latest in the long line-up of leading ladies to join the musical. As the show celebrates its tenth anniversary, a star-studded cast helps to keep it fresh and adds an extra touch of glamour to the high octane song and dance routines.
Denise Van Outen, Claire Sweeney and Bonnie Langford are among those who have taken the role of Roxie, along with Ruthie Hensall, who remarked: “They were very smart in doing the celebrity revolving door – it works for this show.”
Why do top stars choose to appear on stage for a fraction of the money they could earn on TV or in movies? For the sheer physical and mental challenge of performing live every night – and for that one thing all actors are said to crave – the rapt attention of a live audience, the gasps, the laughter, the adulation, the applause.
It’s also a good opportunity for actors to step down off their pedestal for a moment and get in touch with their fan base. For many fans, seeing their idols in person is a dream come true – a chance to hang around the stage door, take a few photos for the album and maybe grab an autograph.
While movie-goers can swoon over their favourite stars on a giant screen, theatre-goers get to appreciate their talents up close and personal, through the immediacy of a live, physical performance.
Theatre audiences can expect something slightly different from the average cinema fare – rather than a car chase or a huge explosion, it’s the verbal fireworks that keep them on the edge of their seats.
The kudos of being a classic stage “actor” gives young stars a chance to stretch themselves and prove that they can bring depth and breadth to their performance, without the safety net of cinematic special effects.
When Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe decided it was time to move on from the adolescent role of the young wizard, he chose Peter Shaffer’s play Equus, with its rather more adult themes. Daniel also proved he was man enough for the part by baring a rather well-toned chest.
Meanwhile, Jude Law, soon to be seen opposite Michael Caine in the movie Sleuth, is squaring up against Dr Who’s David Tennant in a battle of the bard – both are set to star as Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Who will be the most convincing great Dane? My money is on Tennant.
The chance to portray some of Shakespeare’s greatest roles brings a wealth of talent to the stage. Sir Ian McKellan, known to cinema audiences as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, is a fitting heavyweight to take on the mantle of King Lear, a part once described as “The Everest of acting” and one which certainly shows him at the peak of his performance.
Patrick Stewart, familiar to huge TV audiences as captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek, is another veteran of the London stage and has just finished a run as Macbeth.
Further down the food chain, the panto season gives a whole host of B list celebs the chance to ham it up as heroes or villains. One familiar face you won’t see dressed as a dame this time round is Christopher Biggins, who bowed out of panto in favour of taking part in “I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here!” and ended up the winner.
For many jobbing actors, theatre is in their blood and their passion for it remains strong, despite the lure of fame and fortune on screen. Many famous names got their first big break on stage, and when given the right opportunity, are more than happy to return to their theatrical roots.
So when word is out that there’s a new play in town, the response is likely to be: “I’m a celebrity – get me in there!”
Get your theatre tickets on Seatwave. What celeb will you get up close and personal to?
Tags
Celebrities, theatre, west end
Post a comment
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.seatwaveblogs.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2508
