Hughie

Forest Whitaker's Broadway Debut

Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker treads the Broadway boards for the first time in Spring 2016, starring in Eugene O'Neill's Hughie. A short, eccentric character study, the play is essentially one long conversation between small-time hustler Erie and the night clerk of a 1920's New York motel, whom Erie regales with his flowery stories of booze, gambling and women.

Written in 1941, the play didn't make its Broadway bow until 1964, with Jason Robards in the role of Ernie. It's since enjoyed numerous revivals, most notably a 1996 Center in the Square production, directed by and starring Al Pacino. This new staging is helmed by acclaimed British theatre director Michael Grandage, whose 2014 Broadway transfer of The Cripple of Irishmaan, starring Daniel Radcliffe, was nominated for six Tonys.

An Actor's actor

One of the country's most versatile performers, Forest Whitaker's first major film role came in 1988, when he starred as Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood's biopic Bird. Renowned for his intense characterisations, he's since turned in countless memorable performances, including his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, which earned him an Oscar, Bafta and Golden Globe.

What is Hughie About?

It's 1928 in New York City, and two-bit hustler Erie Smith returns to a rundown motel hoping to find Hughie, the night clerk. Hughie may have been a bit of a chump, but he could always be counted on to listen with rapt attention as Erie spun endless tall tales about the women he'd bedded and the money he'd raked in on the horses. Sadly, the new night clerk Charlie (Tony winner Frank Wood) informs him that Hughie has passed away.

Still in need of someone to give him the validation he craves, Erie settles on Charlie as his new audience. Yet, this new night clerk isn't the awe-struck sucker that his predecessor was, and their conversation begins to take on a very different flavor than the one Erie had planned.