William Petersen Set to Star in British Play
We knew that William Petersen was set to star in a Summer 2009 Victory Gardens production but the actual play hadn’t been decided until now. After completing his winter run at Victory Gardens, Billy will take on David Harrower’s Blackbird.
Blackbird is a real-time account of the awkward reunion of Ray and Una, 15 years after a passionate affair when he was 40 and she was just a minor. Ray is confronted with his past when Una arrives unannounced at his workplace. Guilt, rage and raw emotions run high as they recollect their forbidden relationship. After years in prison and subsequent hardships, Ray has a new identity and has made a new life for himself, thinking that he could no longer be found. But Una, now 27, has thought of nothing else since, and on finding a photo of Ray, sets out to find him, looking for answers, not vengeance. Nonetheless, their reunion has a devastating effect that will leave audiences stunned.
The play won the 2005-2006 Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play and the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. I’m assuming WP is cast as the middle age man. I’m a huge WP fan but I’m not sure this is my cup of tea. I’ve still got nearly a year to decide since I’ll probably miss the winter production. What about you?
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I love and support WP’s work. there was an indie film with Dakota Fanning i believe somewhere along these lines. it won acclaim. I want to see the hard work…not the easy. its the hard stuff that they make look real, that i really appreciate. I WILL BE THERE!!!