"The Real Thing" April 10-June 5, 2010 Old Vic London

Either my novenas worked or it's just a wonderful coincidence but on Monday (Pearl Harbor Day) a bomb was dropped on me and other Toby Stephens fans--he'll star in a revival of Tom Stoppard's play "The Real Thing" at the Old Vic in London, opening April 10 and running through June 5.

This is a very interesting play, the one some think made Tom Stoppard's genius absolutely clear, if it hadn't been already. That's because it deals with love and emotions, and not with current events and less "interior" subjects; Stoppard's background in journalism made his early plays less clearly the work of a playwright, and possibly the work of a craftsman...but "The Real Thing" changed all that. I suggest those who are curious about the play do some reading of the literary criticism, which is fascinating. For those of us who are of a certain age (i.e., over 50) this play has some personal nostalgic appeal because it contains numerous references to music and events we all grew up with. Lots of music from the British rock groups of the '60s and '70s, and do-wop stuff, too (the Big Bopper, Richie Valens, etc.) are alluded to. Should be great for us oldsters.

And then there's Toby Stephens. He has one of the most beautiful speaking voices in the entertainment world. I would have said in the "English-speaking world" except that he speaks other languages and has a real talent for accents. He himself has acknowledged this--he says others have an ear for music and his is for accents. You'd never guess when he is portraying an American (he played Jay Gatsby as well as Gen. Custer, to name two all-American roles) that he isn't born and bred in the USA. Besides, he is just beautiful to look at. He's the son of two titans in the English theatre, Dame Maggie Smith and the late Sir Robert Stephens.

I suggest that if you're going to be anywhere near London in the late spring (Chelsea Flower Show anyone?) you book your tickets at the Old Vic for this play; I found Ambassador Tickets a very simple way to do it from this side of the pond. The female lead hasn't been announced, so do it now because if the actor who is cast as "Annie" is as big a draw as Toby the tickets will get very scarce.