October 07, 2006

NY getting a slightly changed 'Coast of Utopia'

There are changes in store for Tom Stoppard's epic "The Coast of Utopia," which soon makes its U.S. debut at the Lincoln Center Theater, the playwright today told an audience assembled for The New Yorker Festival.

"I've done quite a lot to the text," he said.

"It's my first chance to react to the play and do what I would have done if I wasn't up against it all the time," Stoppard said. "There was never a time to step back."

"'The Coast of Utopia,' which I used to refer to as my nine-hour Russian Trilogy," Stoppard said. "I now refer to it as my eight-and-a-half-hour Russian Trilogy -- pass it on."

When it played the National Theatre in London in 2002, the three parts did not have a staggered opening like they will in New York. Part I, "Voyage," begins previews October 17, "Shipwreck" starts December 6 and "Salvage" on January 30. The plays' runs will overlap, and a handful of all-day marathons are also scheduled.

The series will feature a cast including Billy Crudup, Ethan Hawke, Brían F. O’Byrne, Martha Plimpton, Amy Irving, Richard Easton, Jennifer Ehle, Josh Hamilton, David Harbour and Jason Butler Harner.

Also revealed at the New Yorker chat: Stoppard penned a portion of "Star Wars Episode III" as a favor to George Lucas, who needed a scene rewritten at the last minute. But Stoppard said he never saw the film and isn't certain his stuff was used.

He couldn't even recall the specific scene he worked on, but with great timing added "the good lines are mine, though."

The New Yorker Festival continues Sunday, but most events are sold out. "The Coast of Utopia," however, still has tickets available.

October 7, 2006 07:33 PM in Broadway

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