Oscar and three-time Tony winner MARK RYLANCE "proves again that he is one of the great actors of our age" (Time Out London) in FARINELLI AND THE KING, coming to Broadway following sold-out runs at Shakespeare's Globe and on London's West End. Written by Claire van Kampen and directed by John Dove, this captivating new play "celebrates the restorative power of music and how it can transform us" (The Telegraph).
FARINELLI AND THE KING is inspired by the fascinating true story of Philippe V (Rylance), a Spanish monarch on the brink of madness who finds unexpected solace in the voice of world-renowned castrato, Farinelli. Soon, Farinelli and the King forge a powerful connection, and the celebrated singer must make a difficult choice: return to throngs of adoring fans or perform forever for an audience of one.
Rylance leads an acclaimed cast, including countertenor Iestyn Davies, who "sings with rapturous virtuosity and uncanny beauty" (Independent) throughout the play. Like Broadway's Twelfth Night and Richard III, this contemporary work is presented in the signature style of Shakespeare's Globe - traditional baroque instruments are performed live in a gallery above the stage; the audience enjoys intimate seating with several rows onstage; and the story is told by candlelight, creating an enchanting theatergoing experience and "a pleasure that verges on the sublime" (The Guardian).
In the paradoxically plaintive and joyous sound of a castrato's voice channeling Handel's music, the King has glimpsed a paradise beyond his fractious court and his burdened royal self. Trying to create that idyllic vision in the real world, in a rustic outpost in the forest in the second act, is an experiment doomed to failure. But watching Mr. Rylance's Philippe experience Farinelli's voice, we hear what we hears. And an actor and a singer temporarily turn a night at the theater in an anxious city into an Eden beyond worldly care, all the more precious for its evanescence.
Really, though, this is a play about the curative qualities of music. While it would be satisfying enough to simply embrace Rylance's mastery and the glorious works of (mostly) Handel, there is a more significant message, one well documented by research but perhaps more valid to theater lovers in the soaring popularity of 'You Will Be Found' from 'Dear Evan Hansen.' Bullied, anxious, depressed? Music can make you feel better.
2017 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Play | Jonathan Fensom |
2018 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play | Paul Russell |
2018 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Wig and Hair | Campbell Young Associates |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design | Paul Russell |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Farinelli and the King |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Claire van Kampen |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Play | Jonathan Fensom |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Paul Russell |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Mark Rylance |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Play | Claire van Kampen |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Play | Jonathan Fensom |
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