This production began performances on 20th June and closed on 25th September 2010.
Mel Edison (Jeff Goldblum) can't sleep. In the heat of a New York City summer, his air-conditioning has broken, his neighbours won't shut up, his job is hanging by a thread and there are a gang of burglars on the prowl. As things go from bad to worse, Mel heads for a meltdown and his loyal wife Edna (Mercedes Ruehl) is left to pick up the pieces.
Following his sell-out success in Speed-the-Plow, Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum made a hotly-anticipated return to the London stage in Neil Simon’s brilliantly observed, award-winning comedy, The Prisoner of Second Avenue. Academy Award Mercedes Ruehl also starred in this bittersweet, comic masterpiece about a man at breaking point. The play ran at the Vaudeville Theatre from 30 June - 25 September and was directed by Terry Johnson.
Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning writer Neil Simon is best known this side of the Atlantic for his plays The Odd Couple, Barefoot in Park and Lost in Yonkers. He has also written the books for many musicals including Promises, Promises and Sweet Charity.
Terry Johnson is a multi-award-winning playwright and director. His recent shows include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Rain Man and La Cage aux Folles, the current Broadway production of which has received 11 Tony Nominations.
Jeff Goldblum's numerous film credits include The Fly, Jurassic Park, Independence Day and The Tall Guy. His Broadway credits include The Pillowman for which he won an Outer Critics' Circle Award.
Mercedes Ruehl won an Oscar for her performance in The Fisher King and multiple awards including a Tony for her Broadway performance in Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers, alongside Old Vic Artistic Director Kevin Spacey.
The Old Vic Theatre Company/Old Vic Productions plc, Sonia Friedman Productions, Robert G. Bartner/Norman Tulchin present “THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE”, a comedy by Neil Simon.
CAST
JEFF GOLDBLUM – Mel Edison
MERCEDES RUEHL – Edna Edison
PATTI LOVE – Jessie
AMANDA BOXER – Pearl
LINAL HAFT – Harry Edison
FIONA GILLIES – Pauline
CREATIVES
TERRY JOHNSON – Director
ROB HOWELL – Designer
NEIL AUSTIN – Lighting Designer
JON DRISCOLL – Video Designer
GARETH FRY – Sound Designer
COLIN TOWNS – Composer
LIS MAKIN – UK Casting
JIM CARNAHAN CSA – US Casting