The Height of the Storm on Broadway Tickets

By: Florian Zeller (translated by Christopher Hampton)
Director: Jonathan Kent
Producer: Manhattan Theatre Club
Cast list: Jonathan Pryce (as André) and Eileen Atkins (as Madeleine), alongside Lucy Cohu (as The Woman), Amanda Drew (as Anne), James Hillier (as The Man), and Lisa O’Hare (as Elise)
Design: Anthony Ward
Lighting: Hugh Vanstone
Costume: Anthony Ward
Sound: Paul Groothuis
Other info: Original Music by Gary Yershon

French dramatist Florian Zeller once again brings his work stateside with his latest drama “The Height of the Storm,” and he of course brings his knack for heartache and tension along with it. An introspective look at introspection itself, the play sees one couple look back at their 50 years of marriage together and question, frankly, everything. One can gather, after five decades spent with another person, all may not be coming up roses.

Having played a number of hit engagements in London — where it was named by The Guardian as the best play of the year — the piece arrives at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre with a cast led by Tony and Olivier Award winner Jonathan Pryce, as well as “The Crown” star Eileen Atkins. The production, courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club (which also produced Zeller’s previous play, “The Father”), is directed by Jonathan Kent.

Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.

What to watch for

Although “The Height of the Storm” does centralize one couple, it is not a two-hander. In addition to Pryce and Atkins (both of whom reprise their roles from the UK), the six-person cast will also include Amanda Drew, James Hillier, Lisa O’Hare, and Lucy Cohu.

“The Height of the Storm” was originally written in French. It was translated to English by Christopher Hampton, who previously translated playwright Florian Zeller’s “The Father.” Notably, Hampton is not an academic translator and in fact won an Oscar for his adapted screenplay for the film “Dangerous Liaisons.”

If playwright Florian Zeller’s previous Broadway outing is any indication, “The Height of the Storm” star Jonathan Pryce may want to dust off an awards speech or two. For Zeller’s “The Father” in 2016, star Frank Langella won the Leading Actor in a Play Tony Award.

Speaking of “The Father,” that show and “The Height of the Storm” share more than a playwright; they share character identifiers. Both pieces have characters that go by the respective names Andre, Anne, (The) Man, and (The) Woman. None of the shows’ actors appear in both, however.