Network (play)
Network is a play by Lee Hall, adapted from the 1976 film of the same name which had an Academy Award–winning screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky and was directed by Sidney Lumet.
| Network | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg.webp) Poster for the National Theatre production | |
| Written by | Lee Hall (play) Paddy Chayefsky (film) |
| Date premiered | 13 November 2017 |
| Place premiered | Lyttleton Theatre, National Theatre, London |
| Original language | English |
Production history
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The play premiered in the Lyttleton Theatre at the National Theatre in London on 13 November 2017 (following previews from 4 November) and ran until 24 March 2018. The production was directed by Ivo Van Hove and starred Bryan Cranston as Howard Beale.[1][2]
The play featured set and lighting design by Jan Versweyveld, video design by Tal Yarden, costume design by An D'Huys, music by Eric Sleichim and sound design by Tom Gibbons. It was produced in association with Patrick Myles, David Luff, Ros Povey and Lee Menzies and supported by Marcia Grand for the memory of Richard Grand.[3]
The play also featured a live onstage television studio and an onstage restaurant titled Foodwork, where audience members could enjoy a three-course meal while watching the play.[4]
The production premiered on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre, with previews beginning on 10 November 2018 and officially opening on 6 December 2018. Originally, the production was scheduled to run for 18 weeks only to March 17, but extended multiple times before closing on 08 June 2019, the day before Cranston won the Tony.[5][6] Originally, the transfer was scheduled to play the Cort Theatre, but following the early closure of Gettin' the Band Back Together, producers announced that the play would open at the Belasco Theatre. Cranston reprises the role of Howard Beale alongside Tatiana Maslany in her Broadway debut as Diana Christensen[7] and Tony Goldwyn as Max Schumacher.[8]
Plot
The plot closely follows that of the 1976 film but uses stage devices and audio visual technology to immerse the audience as participants.[9] The audience becomes part of the play both as diners and a studio audience. The distance between fact and fiction is reduced, mimicking the blurring of truth and fiction in contemporary news media.[10]
Reception
The London production of the play received mostly rave reviews, singling out Cranston's performance.[11]
Cast and characters
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| Characters | London (2017) | Broadway (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Howard Beale, anchorman | Bryan Cranston | |
| Harry Hunter, associate producer | Charles Babalola | Julian Elijah Martinez |
| Max Schumacher, head of News | Douglas Henshall | Tony Goldwyn |
| Frank Hackett, executive | Tunji Kasim | Joshua Boone |
| Louise, Schumacher's wife | Caroline Faber | Alyssa Bresnahan |
| Ed Ruddy, chairman | Michael Elwyn | Ron Canada |
| Diana Christensen, director of Programming | Michelle Dockery | Tatiana Maslany |
| Schlesinger, her researcher | Evan Milton | Susannah Perkins |
| Nelson Chaney, executive | Tom Hodgkins | Frank Wood |
| Jack Snowden, presenter | Robert Gilbert | Barzin Akhavan |
| Arthur Jensen, head of UBS | Richard Cordery | Nick Wyman |
| Director | Ian Drysdale | Bill Timoney |
| Sheila, production assistant | Paksie Vernon | Nicole Villamil |
| Floor manager | Stuart Nunn | Jason Babinsky |
| Continuity announcer | Patrick Poletti | Henry Stram |
| Technicians | Tobi Bamtefa Andrew Lewis Beverly Longhurst Rebecca Omogbehin |
Gina Daniels Nicholas Guest Joe Paulik Jeena Yi |
| Secretary | Isabelle Della-Porta | Camila Canó-Flaviá |
| ELA member | Danny Szam | Eric Chayefsky |
Awards and nominations
Original London production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 |
Critics' Circle Theatre Award[12] | Best Actor | Bryan Cranston | Won |
2018 |
WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Actor in a Play | Bryan Cranston | Nominated |
| Best Video Design | Tal Yarden | Nominated | ||
| Laurence Olivier Awards | Best New Play | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Bryan Cranston | Won | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Jan Versweyveld | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design | Eric Sleichim | Nominated | ||
Original Broadway production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 |
Tony Awards[13] | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Bryan Cranston | Won |
| Best Direction of a Play | Ivo van Hove | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design of a Play | Jan Versweyveld | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design of a Play | Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design of a Play | Eric Seichim | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards[14] | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Tal Yarden | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical) | Eric Sleichim | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actor in a Play | Bryan Cranston | Won | ||
| Drama League Awards[15] | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | Nominated | ||
| Distinguished Performance Award | Bryan Cranston | Won | ||
References
- Brown, Mark (27 January 2017). "Bryan Cranston to star in National Theatre production of Network". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- Kitchener, Shaun (27 January 2017). "Network, classic 1976 movie, returns with Bryan Cranston in London stage adaptation". Daily Express. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- "New for 2017 and 2018". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- Wiegand, Chris (8 September 2017). "The food Network: play starring Bryan Cranston becomes immersive dining experience". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- "Network". IBDB - Internet Broadway Database.
- McPhee, Ryan. " 'Network', Starring Bryan Cranston, Extends Broadway Engagement" Playbill, December 12, 2018
- Clement, Olivia (10 September 2018). "Emmy Winner Tatiana Maslany to Join Bryan Cranston in Network on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- "Tony Goldwyn & Frank Wood to Join Bryan Cranston & Tatiana Maslany in Network on Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- "Network | National Theatre". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- Trueman, Matt (14 November 2017). "London Theater Review: Bryan Cranston in 'Network'". Variety. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- " 'Network' starring Bryan Cranston at the National Theatre – review round-up" The Stage, 16 November 2017
- "2017 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 31 January 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- "Hadestown, Ain't Too Proud & Tootsie Lead 2019 Tony Award Nominations".
- Lefkowitz, Andy (23 April 2019). "Hadestown, Tootsie & Oklahoma! Lead 2019 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Broadway.com. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- McPhee, Ryan (17 May 2019). "Network's Bryan Cranston, Hadestown Among 2019 Drama League Award Winners". Playbill.com. Retrieved 17 May 2019.