UK Roundup - Jerry Springer, Joanna Riding, Kevin Spacey

The onstage events of Jerry Springer the Opera; bitching, shouting, backstabbing, are being mirrored in the producers' offices this week, as the Olivier Award winning musical plans to take one of Britain's biggest selling newspapers to the High Court. A columnist in the Daily Mail said the show was losing £40,000 a week and getting tickets for a Saturday night was easy. Avalon, the producers of the show, were not amused by this claim.. they are seeking damages from the paper on the grounds that they've lost business as a result of the claim, which was supposedly 'hugely popular'. As a result of all this it seems likely that the show will announce a closing date of January 8^th 2005 (despite last week announcing an extension to October).

But despite Avalon disputing claims that Springer is losing money, sadly the truth is that it probably is (I hope I don't get sued for saying so). I saw the show shortly after columnist Richard Kay's 'accusation' and the theatre was half-full. Lack of discounts and appearances on TKTS for many months must have put many theatregoers off as top price is £50, amongst the most expensive in London. It's sad that it has come to this as at The National Theatre tickets were like gold dust, going on eBay for more than twice the price. The thrill of seeing such daring new work in Nicholas Hytner's inaugural season meant its West End transfer lost the initial spark, plus the ticket prices rose to commercial levels. Whatever Springer's fate may be – it remains the freshest, most exciting pieces of theatre in London's West End. I sincerely hope it ruffles Broadway's feathers. If you think Avenue Q is 'rude', you ain't seen nothing yet..

Joining the cast of National Anthems at the Old Vic with Hollywood star Kevin Spacey and Broadway's Stephen Weber (last seen as Leo Bloom in The Producers) is Mary Stuart Masterson, who played Luisa Contini in last year's Broadway revival of Nine. The actress, who was nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the Tony's, will appear at the OldVicTheatre from February 1st – April 23rd 2005. The play, a three-hander set in 1980s Detroit, marks Spacey's debut at the Old Vic, though he played the role previously at the LongWharf Theatre in Connecticut. Currently playing in Spacey's inaugural season is Cloaca, which opened to lukewarm reviews, followed by Aladdin with Ian McKellen as Widow Twankey.

The multi-talented Olivier Award winning actress Joanna Riding returns to the West End in a transfer of Peter Hall's Blithe Spirit from the Theatre Royal, Bath. At the Savoy Theatre, newly vacated by Murderous Instincts' short-lived run, the actress is joined by another Olivier winner Penelope Keith. Both are regular stage performers - Riding has won two Oliviers (for My Fair Lady and Carousel) and Keith too won in 1976 for Donkey Years. Though best known as a musical theatre actress - she recently performed in Jason Robert Brown's concert - Joanna Riding has recently turned her attention to plays with two appearances at the Manchester Royal Exchange. She was initially in the running for Mary Poppins - she sang the part in the workshop – but was supposedly too old to create the role.

After a season of big budget musicals such as The Producers, Billy Elliot and Mary Poppins, one which is less likely to be splashed all over the press is The Far Pavilions, based on MM Kaye's novel of the same name. With a cast featuring Hadley Fraser and Karir Bedi, both of whom are relative unknowns, the new musical will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre in April. The book - published in 1978 – is about a British officer who falls for an Indian princess already destined to marry a tyrannical ruler. The author, who saw her work made into a TV film with Ben Kingsley, had been closely involved with the stage project until her death in January, quoting "I have heard the music and lyrics and am thrilled to bits." The music for the show is by Phillip Henderson and book and lyrics by Martin Guerre's Stephen Clark.