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Shakespeare. Ibsen. Oh Neil. Tarantino?
Throughout its storied history, the West End has hosted the best playwrights. Now, Quentin Tarantino, director of such classics as “Pulp Fiction” and “Inglourious Basterds”, brings his quick-witted dialogue, pop culture insights and flair for outrage to the London stage.
He writes and directs “The Popinjay Cavalier,” “a raucous comedy of deception and vanity inspired by the great legends of stage and screen. Or so the show notes go. Sacha Baron Cohen of “Borat” and “Bruno” fame has been tapped to star in the production, which will hold previews beginning February 23rd, before officially opening March 18th.
“I want to bring a great night out to the West End,” Tarantino said in a statement. Baron Cohen was more enthusiastic and more serious. “Quentin cried, I said yes before he even got the first ‘mother-er.’ to say When the best leader in the world calls, you don’t ask questions. I’m delighted we’ll be losing our West End virginity together, I made him promise we won’t be calm.”
Sony Pictures Entertainment, which produced Tarantino’s latest film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” is producing the film with Sonia Friedman, a West End stalwart whose credits include the Tony-winning revival of “Merrily We Roll Along” and “Stereophonic.”
If Tarantino succeeds in the theater he will join a handful of film directors, such as Elia Kazan and Mike Nichols, who seamlessly moved between media. However, these men primarily directed other people’s scripts, not their own work. Tarantino has been on the stage before – appearing in an ill-fated revival of “Wait Until Dark.”
Tarantino has been busy lately. He wrote the script for “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,” but is handing over directing duties to David Fincher for the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” series. His upcoming West End debut will also mean delaying Tarantino’s next film, which he has promised will be his last. So in the interest of cinema, here’s to a Broadway move!
