LONDON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey will mount his first British production of Shakespeare next fall in the title role in "Richard II."
Daily Variety said the production will kick off Spacey's second season as artistic director of the Old Vic Theater. Variety characterized Spacey's first season in the post as "fairly rocky" -- with critics questioning the two-time Oscar winner's choice of material.
"Cloaca" and "National Anthems," two new works that opened Feb. 8, drew harsh reviews.
When Spacey took over the Vic, he told Variety he planned to surprise audiences.
"I didn't want to start with perhaps what people thought we would start with, or do the classics or do Shakespeare," he said, "because I thought people are going to expect that; let's do the unexpected."
British critics were unimpressed. In his review of "National Anthem," the Daily Telegraph's Charles Spencer called on Spacey to go back to the classics.
"Let's see him in Shakespeare and the American classics," wrote Spencer, "not mediocre fare like this."
"National Anthems" has more than $1.88 million in advance ticket sales, the highest advance sales for any nonmusical currently playing in London.
