Kevin Spacey, who is scheduled to leave The Philadelphia Story on June 18, will return to the Old Vic production of Philip Barry's play after he finishes filming the role of Lex Luthor in Superman Returns. Four weeks of additional performances have been added to the show's limited engagement--with Spacey coming back for the extension period of August 8 through September 3.
The Philadelphia Story centers on a pretentious socialite Jennifer Ehle who is set to marry an equally pretentious executive when her ex-husband Spacey arrives and stirs things up.
The production, directed by Jerry Zaks, opened to mixed reviews on May 10. Matt Wolf of Variety wrote: "Far from concluding [Spacey's] inaugural lineup on a high, Zaks' first staging to originate in Britain encases Jennifer Ehle's delicious star turn in a sexless package, alternately sluggish and manic. The ever-demanding Tracy, one senses, would not approve… Ehle turns out to be the distinguishing feature of an evening that for the most part feels oddly desultory, as if the Anglo-American company had yet to establish its rhythm."
A replacement star for performances from June 20 through August 6 has not yet been announced.
