Helen Dallimore, who last appeared in the West End playing Glinda in Wicked, returns to the London stage next month in new musical Too Close To The Sun.
She is joined in the production, which tells the imagined story of the final days of author Ernest Hemmingway, by James Graeme, Jay Benedict and Tammy Joelle.
Antipodean actress Dallimore returns to the UK following her recent run in Boeing Boeing in Australia. Graeme is a West End veteran whose credits include The Phantom Of The Opera, Whistle Down The Wind and Jesus Christ Superstar, while Benedict is best known for playing John Kieffer in wartime drama Foyle’s War and Joelle is a West End newcomer.
The company of four is to be directed by Pat Garrett, whose London stage work includes productions at the King’s Head theatre, New End theatre and Courtyard theatre. Arguably better known as a choreographer and movement director, Garrett has previously worked with the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, and on films including Santa Claus The Movie, King Ralph and Muppet Christmas Carol.
Too Close To The Sun, which runs at the Comedy theatre from 16 July, follows Nobel Prize-winner Hemmingway as he battles old age, taking solace in the young secretary that his wife knows has her eyes on his money. But it is not just the secretary who can see the dollar signs, and an old school friend arrives with more than friendship on his mind.
The new show features music by John Robinson, who has also had Behind The Iron Mask staged in London.
MA