After a 30-minute halt in the performance, understudy Mark Carlisle stepped into the role. Two weeks earlier, the production was also stopped when Glenister became ill.
A November 13 statement from the show's publicist reads, “Unfortunately due to illness Robert Glenister has missed four performances of Glengarry Glen Ross, and the role was played by his understudy Mark Carlisle over this period. We are pleased to report Robert is on his way to recovery and can now confirm he will return to the show next week [the week beginning November 20]. Mark will continue to play the role of Dave Moss in his absence.”
Golden Globe winner Slater, seen on the London stage in Swimming with Sharks and on Broadway opposite Jessica Lange in The Glass Menagerie, plays Ricky Roma in the West End revival of Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. Sam Yates directs the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, which began performances October 26 and continues through February 3, 2018, at the Playhouse Theatre.
Slater is joined by Glenister (Hustle, Spooks) as Dave Moss, Kris Marshall (Death in Paradise) as John Williamson, Stanley Townsend (Girl from the North Country) as Shelley Levene, and Don Warrington (Death in Paradise) as George Aaronow: the other members of the deal-chasing, cut-throat sales team.
Glengarry Glen Ross made its world premiere at the National Theatre in 1983, earning the Olivier Award for Best Play; the 1984 Broadway premiere garnered multiple Tony Award nominations (and a win for actor Joe Mantegna) and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 1992, the play was adapted by Mamet into an Academy Award-nominated film featuring Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, and Jonathan Pryce.
Glengarry Glen Ross is produced by ATG Productions, Act Productions and Glass Half Full Productions.
