After the Dance: Benedict Cumberbatch heading to B'way?

Johan Persson
Nancy Carroll and Benedict Cumberbatch in NT's After the Dance

Baz Bamigboye of London's Daily Mail reports that Benedict Cumberbatch may make his Broadway debut in a production of Thea Sharrock’s National Theatre revival of Terence Rattigan’s After The Dance, which could arrive on the Great White Way in the Spring of 2012. There has been no official announcement.

Cumberbatch came to fame for his leading role in the recent British TV series "Sherlock Holmes." He currently stars as 'Dr Frankenstein' and the 'Monster' in National Theatre's production of Nick Dear's stage adaptation of 'Frankenstein.' On film, he is soon to be seen starring in Steven Spielberg’s "War Horse" and Tomas Alfredson’s "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," which are currently in post-production and go on general release later this year.

Director Thea Sharrock's production of After the Dance played to acclaim at London's NT's Lyttelton Theatre from 1 Jun - 11 Aug 2010. The production won four 2011 Oliver Awards, Best Revival, Best Actress (Nancy Carroll), Best Actor In A Supporting Role (Adrian Scarborough) and Best Costume Design (Hildegard Bechtler).

Discussions for the Broadway production are in early stages, and Benedict Cumberbatch is said to want both of his olivier award-winning co-stars, Nancy Carroll and Adrian Scarborough, to join him in reprising their roles on Broadway.

After the Dance opened to excellent reviews: "Driven by intelligent wit, well-defined and interesting characters and a compelling story, it easily maintains interest and keeps the audience guessing about the outcome."(londontheatre.co.uk); "This excellent production reminds us that we should simply accept him (Terence Rattigan) as one of the supreme dramatists of the 20th century." (Guardian); "Superbly articulated production" (The Stage); "Handsome, shrewdly conceived and expertly acted." (The Independent).

In Rattigan's After the Dance the world races towards castastrophe, a crowd of Mayfair socialites party their way to oblivion. At its centre is David (Benedict Cumberbatch), who idles away his sober moments researching a futile book until the beautiful Helen decides to save him, shattering his marriage and learning too late the depth of both David's indolence and his wife's (Nancy Carroll) undeclared love. But with finances about to crash and humanity on brink of global conflict, the drink keeps flowing and the revelers dance on.