GOSSIP: MR DARCY TO RETURN TO WEST END?

Hot on the heels of his Oscar-winning turn in The King's Speech, Colin Firth may be treading the boards in the West End for his first time in over a decade according to the Daily Mail.   It is rumoured he may star opposite Kristin Scott Thomas in the already mooted new production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal.  Written in 1978 the play focuses on an adulterous seven year affair between art gallery owner Emma and Jerry, a literary agent and best friend of her publisher husband Robert.  The piece is one of Pinter's most frequently revived and memorably plays out the action backwards in time.  Dervla Kirwan and Samuel West starred in the West End's most recent production at The Donmar Warehouse just four years ago.

Colin Firth and Kirstin Scott Thomas portrayed husband and wife on screen in 1996's The English Patient, where her character cheated on his with Ralph Fiennes's mysterious count.  Firth shot to fame with his role as Mr Darcy in the wildly popular 1995 TV adaptation of Pride & Prejudice opposite Jennifer Ehle.  Last month the Hampshire born actor became Britain's darling seizing an Oscar victory for his performance as King George VI in the universally praised The King's Speech, as well as best actor statuettes from The BAFTAs and Golden Globes.  His current high profile and public favour will no doubt ensure tickets for Betrayal will be hot property if this incarnation goes ahead.  Scott Thomas is no stranger to awards ceremonies herself, having received numerous nominations throughout her career for her work in films such as Four Weddings & A Funeral, Gosford Park, I've Loved You So Long, The English Patient and Nowhere Boy.  She won a Laurence Olivier Award for her role as Arkadina in The Seagull at the Royal Court theatre in 2007.  Firth's last major theatrical production was in Three Days Of Rain at The Donmar in 1999.

[posted by James, 28/03/2011]