Venus in Fur may transfer to Broadway

The New York Times reports that Broadway producer Robert Fox is in talks with the Classic Stage Company (CSC) about transferring their Off-Broadway production of David Ives new play, Venus in Fur, which features Wes Bentley and Nina Arianda, with direction by Walter Bobbie, to Broadway.

Robert Fox told the New York Times, "I think the play is extremely well written and sophisticated, and funny and sexy. It's a great evening in the theater."

Fox has told the paper that he is seeking a small intimate Broadway venue for the two character play. Fox would not commit has to when the show would arrive on Broadway - stating it all depends when "a very intimate house" becomes available.

Fox has brought other small ensemble pieces to Broadway. He is the lead producer of Yasmina Reza's 'God of Carnage,' now playing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, and of Martin McDonagh's 'A Behanding in Spokane' which is currently in previews at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

The play opened to mostly positive reviews: "Get thee to Venus, pronto." (newyorktheatreguide.com); "Good, kinky fun." (NY Daily News); "Devastatingly surreal examination of sex and power." (Back Stage).

Inspired by the infamous erotic novel of the same name, Venus in Fur takes us behind the scenes of an audition, where a man (Wes Bentley) and a woman (Nina Arianda) blur the lines between fantasy and reality, seduction and power, love and sex.

Newcomer Nina Arianda earned critical acclaim for her portrayal. Tulis McCall who reviewed the show for www.newyorktheatreguide.com said of Arianda's performance, "The quite extraordinary Nina Arianda gives a performance that should knock her career into the stratosphere."

Venus in Fur opened at the Classic Stage Company on 26 Jan 2010, following previews from 13 Jan for a run that was originally scheduled to close on 21 Feb 2010, but has since been extended twice and is now paying through to 28 Mar 2010