David Tennant will be taking the lead role in the Wyndham’s Theatre revival of Patrick Marber’s Don Juan In Soho, turning his hand to the debauchery of a very modern day Don Juan. It’s a fairly hefty anti-hero role for the former Doctor Who star, but with his recent performance as Kilgrave in Jessica Jones on Netflix and stint as Richard II for the Royal Shakespeare Company, he’s pretty well placed to make a dent as the classic lathario.
Loosely based on Molière’s 1683 comic play Dom Juan, it brings the story right up to date and places it in the thick of London’s Soho. It’s an area with its own seedy underbelly and history, but Don Juan is the pig of it all as he flaunts his Machiavellian self interest and indulgence, which should provide Tennant with a new direction to take his darker acting skills.
Dates, tickets and show times
Don Juan Of Soho will be opening at Wyndham’s Theatre on the 17th March 2017 with a three month run that will see it closing on the 10th June 2017. Tickets range in price from £47.25 to £105, which is in the higher side of things, but it’s a limited run with a big name lead. Performance show times are 7:30pm Monday to Saturday with 2:30pm matinees every Saturday.
Story
The story revolves around the final days of the life of womenising atheist Don Juan, who’s sexploits see him getting deeper and deeper into trouble, much to his amusement. His only devotion is his disgust at hipocracy, which provides the fulcrum for the tragic comedy’s meandering plot.
Cast
David Tennant is joined by Adrian Scarborough as his sidekick Stan and Gawn Granger plays his father Louis. The rest of the cast features Theo Barklem-Biggs as Pete, Mark Ebulué as Aloysius, David Jonsson as Col, Dominique Moore as Lottie, Alice Orr-Ewing as Mattie and Ruby, Himesh Patel as the Vagabond, Danielle Vitalis as Elvira and Eleanor Wyld as Dalia.
Production
It’s been ten years since the Patrick Marber-penned play premiered at the Donmar Warehouse with Rhys Efans in the lead role, and he’s back as the director once again for the Wyndham’s Theatre run.
First impressions
If you’re looking for a dark tragicomedy with a raucous edge, then you should definitely add the Wyndham’s Theatre production of Don Juan In Soho to your list of shows to catch. The tickets are pricey, but this isn’t a show that gets played all that often and it’s the West End premier with David Tennant in the lead role, so it should be well worth it.
Patrick Marber is a brilliant writer, having written everything from The Day Today and Knowing Me, Knowing You… with Alan Partridge to Closer and Notes On A Scandal, so you should expect a work of new Shakespearean genius. Check out the preview video below to find out more.
