Madge & Gwynnie, who's the DQ?
2002-05-13 14:08
London - Let the "Battle of the Boards" commence - Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow go head to head on Monday to see who will be crowned Queen of London's theatreland.
The American stars have given a box office boost to a theatre capital now rebounding from the effects of last year's suicide attacks on New York and Washington.
Paltrow and Madonna may be the best of friends - the Oscar-winning actress flew to Scotland for the wedding of the pop superstar - but now they are to tread the boards at the same time and comparisons inevitably abound.
"Madge versus Gwynnie - who will be crowned Queen of the West End?" asked the Evening Standard newspaper as the pair embarked on preview runs for two hits already sold out before the first night.
Paltrow was first into the ring with Proof, the Broadway hit play by American David Auburn in which she plays the daughter of a mad mathematical genius.
At the previews - when a play is traditionally given an early run through before the critics are admitted - members of the audience said she was spellbinding and brilliant.
As she bedded down into the role in the lead-up to Wednesday's first night, security staff frisked the audience to ensure they were not carrying cameras.
Monday, it is the turn of Madonna to launch previews of Up for Grabs, a tale by Australian playwright David Williamson about an ambitious art dealer. Her first night is on May 23.
Matt Wolf, London theatre critic for Hollywood's Variety trade newspaper, thoroughly approved of all the hype. "Anything that makes theatre sexy and desirable is to be applauded," he said.
But what attracts stars like Kevin Spacey, Nicole Kidman and Matt Damon to abandon their luxury film set trailers for pokey little theatre dressing rooms?
"It certainly isn't the money. They could make more in a half-hour photo shot. It is the exoticism of London. If you make it in London, everyone back home is extremely impressed," Wolf said.
"The runs they are asked to do are very short and that is definitely attractive. It is very hard in New York to do a play for five to six weeks," he added.
But are British actors up in arms about the Tinseltown invasion? Not at all, says Martin Brown of the performers' union Equity.
"I think it is good to have such a buzz round the West End. It fills the theatres and gives good work to our members," he said. "It also has the potential of bringing a newer, younger audience in."
So who is going to be crowned Drama Queen (DQ)?
Brown is ever diplomatic: "Who knows? I wish them both the best of luck".
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