Stewart stews onstage
Thesp upset over lack of publicity for 'Mt. Morgan'
After weekend performances, Stewart took to the stage of the Ambassador Theater and made the following post-curtain-call announcement to the audience:
"Arthur Miller and I no longer have confidence in our producers’ commitment to this production -- especially the Shubert Organization -- or their willingness to promote and publicize it," said Stewart, still in costume. "I know we have an extraordinary, provocative and vastly entertaining play. What is also needed is promotion and publicity. People need to be told a play is out there. This I find deeply puzzling, if for no other reason than this is an important play by America's most distinguished living playwright. Arthur and I feel frustrated and helpless, so all we can do now is to ask you, our audience, for help."
In addition to the Shuberts, "Mt. Morgan" is produced by Scott Rudin, Roger Berlind, Spring Sirkin and ABC Inc.
Phil Smith, president of the Shuberts, issued a written statement: "The producers’ commitment to 'The Ride Down Mt. Morgan' could not be stronger. To have Patrick Stewart star on Broadway in an Arthur Miller play is a producers’ dream come true. All of us are looking forward to the continued success of this play."
After the play’s Broadway premiere on April 9, Stewart complained to the producers regarding the total absence of front-of-theater display quotes from positive reviews. Apparently, his decision to speak out against the producers crystallized when an early edition of the Sunday New York Times, which he saw Saturday morning, did not carry an advertisement for the play. Later editions of the Sunday Times did publish a 4 column by 5 inch ad, which is approximately the same size used for other recently opened shows of limited-run engagements, such as "True West," "Rose" and "A Moon for the Misbegotten."
Prior to the play’s Broadway opening, the "Mt. Morgan" producers had announced a closing date of July 23.
