‘Come’, ‘Inheritance’ score at Olivier

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Kyle Soller with the Best Actor award and Patsy Ferran with the Best Actress award, at the Olivier Awards ceremony in London, Sunday April 7, 2019. (AP)

American-themed plays sweep British theatre prizes

LONDON, April 8, (AP): “The Inheritance”, an epic drama about gay lives in New York, and musicals “Come From Away” and “Company” were the big winners at British theater’s Olivier Awards on Sunday, receiving four trophies apiece.

“Come From Away”, inspired by a small Canadian town that sheltered thousands of stranded airline passengers after the 9/11 attacks, was named best new musical at Britain’s equivalent of Broadway’s Tony Awards. The play also took trophies for sound, outstanding achievement in music and choreography.

Choreographer Kelly Devine dedicated the award in her category to the people of Gander, Newfoundland who in real life “effortlessly showed the world how easy it is to be kind.”

The award for best musical revival went to a production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” that gender-swapped the lead role of a commitment-shy New York singleton and turned the usually male Bobby character into Bobbie.

Director Marianne Elliott attributed the show’s success partly to “a wind of change blowing in the industry, where celebrating female stories is not only possible, but absolutely vital.”

“Company” also delivered a supporting actress prize to Broadway diva Patti LuPone and a supporting actor trophy to Jonathan Bailey. It took another award for set-design.

“The Inheritance”, Matthew Lopez’s drama about young gay men living in New York a generation after the AIDS crisis was declared best new play.

Lopez said he was “overwhelmed and overjoyed” by the trans-Atlantic success of his seven-hour epic, which had its world premiere at London’s Young Vic Theatre.

Lopez said he was hopeful the show would get a Broadway run now that London has shown the play, mined from his own experience, resonates with audiences.

“The Inheritance” also took prizes for lighting and for Stephen Daldry’s direction, while star Kyle Soller beat rivals who included Ian McKellen to be garlanded best actor in a play.

Soller, an American based in London, dedicated his award to “those who continue to fight in a world where you can still be stoned to death for loving who you love.”

Crowned

Spanish-British actress Patsy Ferran was crowned best actress in a play as a woman consumed by love in Tennessee Williams’ smoldering “Summer and Smoke”. The competition was a talented field that included Gillian Anderson for “All About Eve” and Sophie Okonedo for “Antony and Cleopatra”.

“Summer and Smoke” also took the prize for best revival.

Sharon D. Clarke was named best actress in a musical for her powerful performance as the maid to a Southern US family in the 1960s in Tony Kushner’s “Caroline, or Change”.

Best actor in a musical went to Kobna Holdbrook-Smith for playing a charismatic, abusive Ike Turner in “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical”.

Founded in 1976, the Olivier Awards honor achievements in London theater, musicals, dance and opera. Winners in most categories are chosen by a panel of stage professionals and theatergoers.

Sally Field, Kelsey Grammer, Tom Hiddleston, David Suchet and Gloria Estefan were among the stars walking the red carpet in a drizzle before the ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall.

The show saluted long-running musicals “The Lion King” and “Mamma Mia”, both celebrating 20 years of playing in London’s West End.

The list of Olivier Award winners:

* Best New Play: “The Inheritance”

* Best new musical: “Come From Away”

* Best Director: Stephen Daldry, “The Inheritance”

* Best Actor: Kyle Soller, “The Inheritance”

* Best Actress: Patsy Ferran, “Summer and Smoke”

* Best Actor in a Musical: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, “The Tina Turner Musical”

* Best Actress in a Musical: Sharon D. Clarke, “Caroline, or Change”

* Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Chris Walley, “The Lieutenant of Inishmore”

* Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Monica Dolan, “All About Eve”

* Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Jonathan Bailey, “Company”

* Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical: Patti LuPone, “Company”

* Best Revival: “Summer and Smoke”

* Best Musical Revival: “Company”

* Best New Comedy: “Home, I’m Darling”

* Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre: “Flesh and Bone”

* Best Lighting Design: Jon Clark, “The Inheritance”

* Best Sound Design: Gareth Owen, “Come From Away”

* Best Costume Design: Catherine Zuber, “The King and I”

* Best Set Design: Bunny Christie, “Company”

* Outstanding Achievement in Music: “Come From Away” – Book, Music and Lyrics: David Hein and Irene Sankoff; Music Supervisor, Arrangements: Ian Eisendrath; Orchestrations: August Eriksmoen; Musical Director/UK Music Supervisor: Alan Berry; and the band

* Best New Dance Production: “Blkdog” by Botis Seva

* Outstanding Achievement in Dance: Akram Khan, “Xenos”

* Best Entertainment and Family: “A Monster Calls”

* Best Theatre Choreographer: Kelly Devine, “Come From Away”

* Best New Opera Production: “Katya Kabanova”, Royal Opera House

* Outstanding Achievement in Opera: The ensemble of “Porgy and Bess”

* Society of London Theatre Special Award: Matthew Bourne

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