The New York Times (and Roger Friedman’s Showbiz 411) report(s) that Seinfeld co-creator Larry David will debut on Broadway in March 2015 with a play about sitting shiva. I swear there was already an an Israeli film about a family cooped up in a house during shiva, and a play – August: Osage County – which was sort of about sitting shiva. The play – originally reportedly titled “Shiva” – will most likely be titled, “Fish in the Dark.”
David, the star of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” will play a character very similar to the Larry David TV persona. The show will be produced by Scott Rudin (The Book of Mormon; A Raisin in the Sun; The Testament of Mary; This is Our Youth) and it will be directed by Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County; This is Our Youth).
I am assuming that you should send a tasteful fish platter to the actors on opening night.
* * *
Martin Blank has a new play appearing in New York City. It is titled “The Law of Return” and it is a gripping political thriller inspired by the life of convicted spy, Jonathan Pollard. Sure you know how it will sort of end, but it is suspenseful nevertheless. Actor Ben Mehl plays Jonathan Pollard, a brilliant but smarmy civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy. He is a dorky James Bond with disco-like collars and Travolta hair. Joel Rooks plays Rafi Eitan, his Israeli handler, a kindly but cunning grandpa who knows how to feed Pollard with tales of his past exploits.
Blank, a Yale School of Drama grad was the Founding Artistic Director of “Theater J.” In real life, Pollard is set to be released from prison after thirty years in November 2015, about eight months after Larry David’s fish tale opens.
