American playwright David Hirson's rollicking 1991 play, LA BÊTE, is a comic tour de force about Elomire (David Hyde Pierce), a high-minded classical dramatist who loves only the theater, and Valere (Mark Rylance), a low-brow street clown who loves only himself. When the fickle princess (Joanna Lumley) decides she's grown weary of Elomire’s royal theatre troupe, he and Valere are left fighting for survival as art squares off with ego in a literary showdown for the ages.
There's a message in 'La Bete' pertaining to the corruption of art in a populist culture and it certainly resonates today. But even more resonant is the mastery of craft on such vivid display.
So why in the name of the bottom line is this awful play-for it is truly, excruciatingly awful-back for a second go-round? The answer is Mark Rylance, who starred in 'Boeing-Boeing' and is now giving another over-the-top performance as Valere, a fathomlessly vulgar, monstrously vain street player who has been thrust upon Elomire (David Hyde Pierce), the celebrated 17th-century playwright, and his resident drama troupe by the princess (Joanna Lumley) who is the company's all-powerful patroness.
The acclaimed Broadway revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley will play through Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street), capping off a limited 16-week Broadway engagement.
The acclaimed Broadway revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley will play through Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street), capping off a limited 16-week Broadway engagement. LA BÊTE began previews on Broadway on September 23rd and officially opened October 14th. The Broadway run immediately follows a critically and commercially successful engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End. LA BÊTE will have played a total of 23 preview performances and 101 regular performances on Broadway.
92nd Street Y has announced that Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, continues his multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, "Broadway Talks," with Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning actor David Hyde Pierce.
BroadwayWorld.com is pleased to present illustrator Ken Fallin, who brings you original illustrations of everyone's favorite theatrical stars each week. This week's feature: David Hyde Pierce, Mark Rylance and Joanna Lumley in LA BETE!
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley began previews at Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) on September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), opened on Broadway, October 14. This immediately follows a limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010 with opening night of July 7. Broadway Beat was on hand for the opening night party and spoke with show's stars and creative team. Click below to go inside LA Bete's opening night.
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley began previews at Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) on September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), opened last night, October 14. This immediately follows a limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010 with opening night of July 7. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the opening night arrivals and brings you photo coverage below.
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley began previews at Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) on September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), opened last night, October 14. This immediately follows a limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010 with opening night of July 7.
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley began previews at Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) on September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), opened last night, October 14. This immediately follows a limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010 with opening night of July 7.
American playwright David Hirson's rollicking 1991 play, LA BÊTE, is a comic tour de force about Elomire (David Hyde Pierce), a high-minded classical dramatist who loves only the theater, and Valere (Mark Rylance), a low-brow street clown who loves only himself. When the fickle princess (Joanna Lumley) decides she's grown weary of Elomire's royal theatre troupe, he and Valere are left fighting for survival as art squares off with ego in a literary showdown for the ages.
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley began previews at Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) on September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), will officially open tonight, October 14. This immediately follows a limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010 with opening night of July 7. Click below for a video preview of LA BETE!
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley began previews at Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) on September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), will officially open October 14, 2010. This immediately follows a limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010 with opening night of July 7. The first Broadway production shots have been released and BroadwayWorld brings you a look below.
92nd Street Y has announced that Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, continues his multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, "Broadway Talks," with Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning actor David Hyde Pierce.
THEATER TALK, the lively TV series devoted to the world of the stage - hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post, and series producer Susan Haskins - returns for its 18th New York television season with a preview of Broadway's most anticipated fall shows on Friday, October 15 (2010) at 12:30 a.m. on Thirteen.
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley began previews at Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) on September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), will officially open October 14, 2010. This immediately follows a limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010 with opening night set for July 7. BroadwayWorld brings you a look at the marquee below!
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley play Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) beginning tonight, September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), will officially open October 14, 2010. This immediately follows a critically-acclaimed limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010.
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of "Absolutely Fabulous") Joanna Lumley will begin previews tomorrow, Thursday, September 23rd at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) following an engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End.
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley will play Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) beginning September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), will officially open October 14, 2010. This immediately follows a critically-acclaimed limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010.
In a recent article by the Independent, Mark Rylance spoke about what acting means to him, and how he's been so successful at it.
The first major revival of David Hirson's Olivier Award-winning comedy LA BÊTE starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce, and BAFTA Award winner (and star of 'Absolutely Fabulous') Joanna Lumley will play Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) beginning September 23, 2010. This new production, helmed by acclaimed director Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests), will officially open October 14, 2010. This immediately follows a limited summer engagement at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End from June 26-September 4, 2010 with opening night set for July 7.
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