I’m getting ready for another one of my periodic trips to catch some theatre in London.  But I think I’ll skip Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.  It’s a play I love but, frankly, I don’t have 3.5 hours to spend on the wrong cast (lesson learned with Calista Flockhart and Zachary Quinto – check the video on BillyMasters.com).  I have no doubt Billy Crudup will be a great George, but what of Gillian Anderson?  While meeting a group of fans by the stage door, she was filmed seemingly chastising some who have come back repeatedly: “You guys cannot sit in the front row.  You cannot…I don’t care.  You cannot sit in the front row.  It’s so distracting.  You can’t come 20 times and sit in the front row.  It’ll drive me mad.”  It should be noted that Gillian is laughing while saying this.  She explained, “The video doing the rounds is me talking with women I go back over 20 years with – so please don’t say anything negative to or about them.  We’re thrilled to be doing this show but for people in the front row, please be aware that in such an intimate venue we can all see you and sometimes, it can be a tad distracting!”

Our own Jonathan Groff is wowing audiences in Stratford-upon-Avon with an all-male production of my favorite Shakespeare play, As You Like It.  Of course, this is nothing new – it’s how plays were done in Will’s day.  Back then, the men all dressed up like Tom Daley on a date with his hubby!  In fact, the female roles were typically taken on by teenage boys.  In this play, the gender of the characters is more layered since the leading lady, Rosalind, dresses up as a male at one point.  I’m told Groff pulls off this whole Victor/Victoria moment with aplomb.  The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production has been receiving spectacular reviews.  The Times said, “American star Jonathan Groff made an accomplished Shakespearean debut as Rosalind”.  Doesn’t get better than that.  The show must close on November 7^th.

Groff’s last Broadway credit was as Bobby Darin in Just In Time.  His replacement was announced as Jeremy Jordan.  Except there was a brief hiatus between Jonathan’s exit and Jordan’s entrance.  Enter the multi-talented Matthew Morrison, who took over the role for three weeks.  At the time, I predicted he’d be back.  Sure enough, he’s heading back into the show starting on October 20^th for yet another limited three-week run, prior to the curiously cast Nicholas Christopher.  Once again, I suspect this isn’t the last we’ll see of Matty in the show.