(13 May 1999) STORY
‘THE PLAY’S THE THING’ FOR THE STARS OF BROADWAY
The 65th Annual Drama League Awards in New York brought a huge turn out of stars from stage and screen. MARTIN SHORT the comedian star of films like ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘The Three Amigos’ hosted the event which saw honours go to a number of New York’s leading theatrical figures, despite a big presence of British stars.
In an evening which had at times a distinctly English feel, Oscar winner DAME JUDI DENCH presented an award for ‘Unique contribution to Theater’ to British playwright SIR DAVID HARE. He has not only written for the stage but also written and directed ‘Paris by Night’ and ‘The Secret Rapture’ for the big screen.
Stars out to enjoy the event included KEVIN SPACEY, whose films career includes films such as ‘Seven’ and ‘The Usual Suspects’. He was hoping that his performance in Eugene O’Neill’s ‘The Iceman Commeth’ might have won the award for the ‘Revival of a Play or Musical’. The award however went to ‘Death of a Salesman’, a production which starred veteran film and stage actor BRIAN DENNEHY whose film credits include ‘FX’, ‘Best Seller’ and ‘Last of the Finest’.
The British contingent were represented by SAMANTHA BOND and DAME JUDI DENCH who are appearing in Sir David Hare’s ‘Amy’s View’ which was nominated for ‘Distinguished Production of a Play’. Samantha Bond played down the large influence from across the Atlantic saying she thought that the presence of so many Brits was “…just a fluke.” The play lost out to the eventual winner ‘Wit’.
Also present were CORIN REDGRAVE the distinguished British stage actor, NATASHA RICHARDSON actress wife of LIAM NEESON and American comedienne BERNADETTE PETERS.
In an event which has always aimed to promote the best that American threatre has to offer, awards also went to the musical ‘Fosse’ and actress Kathleen Chalfant.
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