Everything old is new again....

ok Rory... get your tracksuit off, you're up next....

Today it was announced that Rory Kinnear will be playing HAMLET at the National Theatre next year under the direction of Nicholas Hytner - the director of the last London HAMLET, Michael Grandage, will be directing a new revival there of Georg Buchner's DANTON'S DEATH which was last staged at the National Theatre in 1982 with the late and great John Normington as a chilling Robespierre.I have liked Rory Kinnear's performances at the National Theatre in BURNT BY THE SUN and THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY (itself very similar to "Hamlet") but with those performances in mind I can almost imagine how he will play it. I hope he can pull out some surprises.

Meanwhile over the water in December, Broadway will see it's first revival of Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC in the production directed by Trevor Nunn which originated in London's Menier Chocolate Factory then played a brief season at the Garrick.

This was going to be the production which reunited Natasha Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave who appeared in a concert version of the show in January. Two months later events transpired to make this only a beautiful dream.Instead the production will be fronted up by Catherine Zeta Jones making her Broadway debut as "Desiree" and Angela Lansbury as "Madame Armfeldt". Well done to Alexander Hanson who will be reprising his role as "Fredrik Egerman"!

I must admit the idea of seeing Angela Lansbury in her fourth Sondheim show is making a trip to NY highly likely. But Catherine Zeta Jones?? She was fairly insufferable when she was a mere chorine in 42ND STREET at the Drury Lane!