Spacey Postpones Complicit World Premiere, 28 Jan

The Old Vic has postponed the world premiere of Joe Sutton’s new political drama Complicit, artistic director Kevin Spacey’s first directing credit at the theatre since he launched his reign there with Cloaca in September 2004 (See News, 3 Nov 2008).

The premiere production – which stars Spacey’s Oscar-winning Hollywood peer Richard Dreyfuss, returning to the West End stage five years after being axed from the UK premiere of The Producers just days before opening night (See News, 19 Oct 2004) – was due to open on 19 January 2009 (previews from 7 January). It will now open nine days later, on 28 January. It finishes its limited season on 21 February.

An Old Vic spokeswoman told Whatsonstage.com: “It’s a world premiere and we wanted to give this new work a bit more development time.” The 28th was the first later midweek date available in a hectic London press night diary. She added that audiences during the show’s previews have been “very enthusiastic” and the production is selling well.

In the three-hander, Dreyfuss is Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ben Kritzer, who finds himself hauled in front of a Supreme Court Special Prosecutor where he faces the dilemma of defending his belief in the freedom of the press or protecting his family.

Dreyfuss is joined in the cast by David Suchet and Elizabeth McGovern. Complicit retains the Old Vic’s in-the-round configuration created last autumn for The Norman Conquests. It’s designed by Rob Howell, Whatsonstage.com Award-nominated for The Norman Conquests (and last year’s winner for The Lord of the Rings, with lighting by Howard Harrison, video by Jon Driscoll and sound by Simon Baker for Autograph.

– by Terri Paddock