"I am My Own Wife" to close early 10 Dec 2005

"I am My Own Wife" to close early 10 Dec 2005

The one man show I am My Own Wife , by Doug Wright, starring Jefferson Mays, has posted early closing notices at Duke of York's Theatre. The last performance will be on Sat 10 Dec 2005, closing after a run of only 5 weeks. (The show was originally booking to 4 Feb 2006)

Directed by Moises Kaufman, the show was a hit off-broadway before transferring to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre opening 3 Dec 2003, following previews from 11 Nov 2003 and running to 31 Oct 2004. The show has since been touring.

The play and its star have won many awards in the USA including a Tony for Best Play and Best Actor; Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Solo Performance; Lucille Lortel awards for Outstanding Solo Show; Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Broadway Play and Outstanding Solo Performance; Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Play.

However, the London popular press were not impressed: NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Dull production lacks animation and variety of tone." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, " I can't help feeling that Wright's play is over-worshipful and under-investigative." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Thanks to Mays's increasingly creepy performance, with its gathering hints of psychiatric disturbance, it makes for spellbinding theatre." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "Broadway triumph creates West End expectations that, for me, I Am My Own Wife doesn't quite fulfil."