Orson's Shadow

Sir Laurence Olivier. Orson Welles. Vivien Leigh. Joan Plowright. Kenneth Tynan. When these champions of the theatre get together to rehearse Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, mere mortals best step aside. With lightning wit and scathing insight into the true nature of genius, Austin Pendleton’s play opens the private worlds of these very public people, exposing their warmth, their egos, and their glittering madness.

Directed by Rosalind Ayres
Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg
An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring:

Caroline Goodall as Joan Plowright
Glenne Headly as Vivien Leigh
Martin Jarvis as Laurence Olivier
Robert Machray as Orson Welles
Orlando Seale as Sean
Simon Templeman as Kenneth Tynan

Associate Producer: Susan Raab
Recording Engineer/Sound Designer/Editor: David Kelly for Voice Box Studios

Recorded before a live audience at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles in February 2003.