Venus in Fur May Transfer to Broadway

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 2:38pm

Commercial producers have been hovering around David Ives' two-character play, Venus in Fur, ever since Jan. 26, when the world-premiere production by Off-Broadway's Classic Stage Company got solid reviews from critics.

Two potent and acclaimed performers, a plot that has the musk of sex, a minimal set and a 90-minute running time would all seem to add up to be catnip for a producer. The New York Times reports that producer Robert Fox is at the front of the line.

Fox (God of Carnage and A Behanding in Spokane) told the paper that he wants to find "a very intimate" Broadway house for the Walter Bobbie-directed play. No such venues are currently available.

CSC confirmed that Fox, Jon Platt and Stuart Thompson (all of whom co-produced God of Carnage and Exit the King) are in talks with Classic Stage Company for a Broadway transfer. A deal is not yet set.


Could be interesting. Only intimate theatre is the Helen Hayes, which may open up sooner than later.
Playbill article

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 2:45pm

You could put a bow tie on a piece of crap, but it's still a piece of crap.

That said, Nina Arrianda will probably win next year's Best Actress Tony is this piece of crap in a bow tie actually does transfer. Well deserved.
Updated On: 3/2/10 at 02:45 PM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 2:56pm

Only intimate theatre is the Helen Hayes

SO not true. Furthermore, the Helen Hayes was bought by Second Stage, so I doubt you'll see any commercial run in that theater that is not connected to Second Stage.

[Sauja]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 3:33pm

I got such a visceral thrill from this show. I almost don't want it to transfer, though, just because I want to see what Nina Arianda can do next. It really does have the feeling of a star-making performance, and I want to see her live up to it in something else.

[Insider2]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 5:10pm

I didn't think it was terrible, but why an intelligent producer would think this thing belongs on Broadway and could possibly make a profit is quite a mystery.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 7:29pm

Sauja,

Just wondering, if you want Arianda to be able to spread her wings so to speak and be able to do more things, wouldn't a broadway show be a perfect venue for that? I mean yes, she would be doing the same role however, Broadway would give her much more exposure then any off Broadway theatre would.

[Upland]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 8:01pm

I actually had not thought about seeing this show, but now am more interested. Especially since I had heard that the female lead was awesome.

[scripps]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 8:42pm

Would like to see this transfer provided Wes Bentley remains with the show and actually takes something off.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 3/2/10 at 11:23pm

I really enjoyed this one. It's much more than a piece of crap.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 12:21am

I thought it was horrible. A bad play in which actors enact a bad play.

Absolutely dismal.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 12:33am

Regardless of whether or not the play is GOOD (general consensus seems to be straight down the middle), what would make producers want to bring this show to Broadway? It will never make money. Unless they plan on recasting the leads with celebs.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 2:05am

I'm glad that Wes Bentley seems healthy and is working again.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 3:09am

WiCkEDrOcKS, you do forget that there have been plays that have recouped or at least did very good business without the marquee being cluttered with the names of Hollywood actors. Yes, more people are likely to see a show with a famous person they know in one of the roles.

However, there have been other plays that have done well without the help of Hollywood.

Furthermore, your post implies that shows would only do well with well known names when that isn't true at all.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 9:06am

Winston, I believe the last play that recouped without a star was AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, and not only was it already rare then, but that was a couple years ago, before the economy tanked. Things are different now, audiences are much more afraid to spend money on a risk, and most (not all, but most) commercial producers today will tell you that stars are all but necessary to have a hit show.

That might change when people are willing to spend money again, but for now, sadly, it's true.