Retired professional actor, Will Jeffries returns to the Powerhouse Theatre in the (almost) one man play BARRYMORE, by William Luce. The highly acclaimed show came to Broadway in 1997 as a six-week special event, but ran for seven sold-out months, winning a Best Actor Tony for Christopher Plummer.
BARRYMORE is a remarkable play about the life of famous movie star and matinee idol John Barrymore, who was considered by many to be the greatest classical actor of his time. Today it’s his granddaughter, Drew Barrymore who carries on the legacy of this renowned American acting Barrymore dynasty.
The play takes place in an empty theatre which Barrymore has rented for a night to rehearse, in hopes of reviving his bygone career. As Barrymore (Will Jeffries) walks on stage, you wouldn’t initially guess that he is in the last stages of cirrhosis of the liver and that his mind has become a sieve. But it soon becomes abundantly clear, that this once fine actor can no longer remember his lines. As he drinks on stage (just a nip now and again), his faithful stage manager (Kellen Schult) tries to maintain his focus, but Barrymore constantly slips into memories, inane limericks, humorous one-liners, and anecdotes that are alternately hilarious and sadder than he can admit.
“For an actor, BARRYMORE is a dream role and something I’ve been wanting to tackle for the last 10 years. It’s a large part, playing a larger-than-life man. It’s very funny, parts of it are incredibly moving; there are bits of songs, little dances, and actual monologues from Shakespearean classics, bits of verse from Lord Byron, and stories of Barrymore family. For me, it is very close to the bone. I bet I won’t be the only one who feels that way,” said Jeffries.
Don Stitt, a veteran Broadway and touring actor, is directing. “We figure that between the two of us, we have more than 130 years of theatre experience!”, said Jeffries.
BARRYMORE is set to play the Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park, New Canaan, weekends February 25, 26, and 27, as well as March 4, 5, and 6. Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm, Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets are $25/30 at TPNC.ORG.
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