Brendan Fraser, pictured alongside Paul Sparks.Photo:Daniele Venturelli/Getty; John Lamparski/Getty
Daniele Venturelli/Getty; John Lamparski/Getty
Brendan Fraserunfortunately won’t be taking to the stage before the start of spring.
They shared a photograph of actor Paul Sparks, 53, as they revealed he will be filling in forFraserin the show, which runs from Feb. 4 to March 16, at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre in New York City.
“We are excited to announce Paul Sparks (Boardwalk Empire, Lost on a Mountain in Maine) has joined Brian J. Smith as a member of theGrangevillecast, replacing Brendan Fraser, who has had to step away due to unforeseen circumstances,” the caption read.
Brendan Fraser, pictured.Amanda Edwards/Getty
Amanda Edwards/Getty
“You might have seen Paul Sparks at Signature in Edward Albee’sAt Home at the Zooback in 2018, and we can’t wait to welcome him back to the Center,” the caption added.
Sparks donned a black T-shirt with a leather jacket and had a serious expression on his face in the photo, an almost recreation of Fraser’s expression in theimagesportraying the play’s character Jerry.
PEOPLE has reached out to Fraser for comment on his exit fromGrangeville.
A synopsis ofGrangevilleshared on theSignature Theatre website, says, “Across a void of thousands of miles and oceans of hurt, two half-brothers tentatively reconnect over the care of their ailing mother.Grangevilleis a new play about the fallibility of memory, the stories we tell to make sense of our suffering, and the complexity of forgiveness.”
Theatergoers have shared concern for Fraser having to leave the production in the Instagram post’s comment section but said they are excited to watch Sparks star as Jerry oppositeSense8’sBrian J. Smithas Jerry’s younger brother Arnold, an artist living in Rotterdam.
“Sad about Brendan and hope everything is alright, but always thrilled about a new Sam Hunter play,” one commenter wrote. “Paul will be great!”
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Paul Sparks, pictured.Bruce Glikas/Getty
Bruce Glikas/Getty
The announcement thatFraserwill no longer be in the play comes a month after the actor attended the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia.
He revealed that he had recently finished filming Anthony Maras’ thrillerPressure.
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The Oscar-winner also spoke fondly of his horse Pecas as he reflected on the years when he thought his career was over, according toVariety.
“I had a horse for a while there. He’s not with us anymore, I’m sad to say. He’s in horsey heaven. He saved… not my life, but he certainly saved an emotional part of me,” Fraser said per the outlet.
source: people.com
