Buckland Theatre Company has announced casting for LUV, the company’s second production at PARK90 at Park Theatre. Directed by Gary Condes, Nick Barber will play Milt, Elsie Bennett will play Ellen and Charles Dorfman will play Harry. Written by Murray Schisgal (best known for co-writing the screenplay for Tootsie), LUV premiered on Broadway in 1964 directed by Mike Nichols and was Tony nominated for Best Play and Best Author. LUV will play at PARK90 from 8 December until 7 January with an official press night on 13 December.
Playwright Murray Schisgal said: “I am thrilled that my play LUV will be returning to London to play at Park Theatre for the first since it originally appeared at the Arts Theatre in the early 1960s. I will be celebrating my 90th birthday this November, so it is a lovely celebration to see three young and brilliant actors take on these roles over fifty years after Alan Arkin, Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson played them on Broadway.”
LUV is a 1960s riotous celebration of the absurd lengths we go to when struck down with the terrible affliction known as love. After reuniting one fateful night, old school pals Milt and Harry uncover each other’s miserable life stories before hatching a plan to find their happily-ever-afters.
The production originally debuted at the Arts Theatre before opening in New York in November 1964. The original New York cast was comprised of Alan Arkin, Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson and the play won three Tony Awards whilst being nominated for Best Play and Best Author of a Play. Barbara Bel Geddes, Larry Blyden, Gene Wilder and Gabriel Dell were among the replacement performers later in the run on Broadway. LUV was later adapted into a film in 1967 and starred Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk and Elaine May. Terri Paddock (@TerriPaddock), founder of MyTheatreMates.com and StageFaves.com, will host a post-show Q&A with director Gary Condes and cast members of LUV to discuss the show and its heritage on Thursday 15 December. Terri hosted Buckland’s previous Q&A for Some Girl(s) and a podcast and images from the event can be found here.
LUV plays at the PARK Theatre 8 December 2016 – 7 January 2017
www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/luv
