Tonight:
8°c
The all-black cast of a new West End production of the Tennessee Williams classic Cat on a Hot Tin Roof began rehearsals today.
The production, which has received rave reviews on Broadway, stars James Earl Jones - also known as the voice of Darth Vader - and British stage star Adrian Lester.
Lester, 41, who has starred in Hustle and Bonekickers since his last play in 2003, said it was "the play and the part" that drew him to the production. He plays the alcoholic Brick Pollitt, the part played by Paul Newman in the 1958 film version with Elizabeth Taylor - whose role as Maggie is taken here by Sanaa Lathan, one of the stars of Nip/Tuck.
"The words don't taste different in my mouth because I'm black, although there are certain aspects of their plantation householder life that may raise an eyebrow," he said.
"It's nice to see plays re-explored and engage with them from a fresh perspective. This is a great reason to see the show."
Jones, 78, who first took the part of Big Daddy in the New York run, said it would have made less sense to have a mixed family because that would have highlighted the issue of race. He added: "When Tennessee Williams was once asked why he didn't write of black people when he was from Mississippi he said he didn't think he understood them well enough. But on the contrary, he did understand them in all of his outsiders - people like Brick and all the Marlon Brando characters. They were outsiders and they were the typical Negro-type people. Not culturally, not economically, but spiritually. They didn't belong." The play also features The Cosby Show's Phylicia Rashad and is directed by her sister - Fame star Debbie Allen.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will run at the Novello Theatre from 21 November to 10 April 2010.
