the actress who played Annie in the original staging, although, as Stoppard notes, he developed his plot before Kendal took the role. Productions Felicity Kendal originated the role of Annie and Roger Rees originated the role of Henry. Glenn Close played Annie and Jeremy Irons played Henry in the Broadway production, with Mike Nichols directing. Close and Irons both won Tonys for their roles, as did Christine Baranski for her featured performance as Charlotte. Supporting players during the play's run on Broadway included Peter Gallagher, Simon Jones, D.W. Moffett, Steven Weber, Cynthia Nixon, and Yeardley Smith. In his review for The New York Times, Frank Rich wrote that "The Broadway version of The Real Thing – a substantial revision of the original London production – is not only Mr. Stoppard's most moving play, but also the most bracing play that anyone has written about love and marriage in years." The production was recorded and released by Nonesuch Records. The play was revived in 2000 with Jennifer Ehle as Annie and Stephen Dillane as Henry. It played on Broadway and at the Donmar Warehouse in London. Ehle and Dillane both won Tony Awards for their roles and the production won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. A Broadway revival opened on 30 October 2014, at Broadway's American Airlines Theatre, produced by the Roundabout Theater Company and directed by Sam Gold. Ewan McGregor and Maggie Gyllenhaal starred as Henry and Annie, with Josh Hamilton as Max and Cynthia Nixon, who played the role of Debbie in the original Broadway production, as Charlotte. Unlike previous productions, it received mostly negative reviews. Reception Michael Billington listed The Real Thing as one of the 101 greatest plays ever written. Awards and nominations Awards 1982 Evening Standard Award for Best Play 1984 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play 1984 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play 1984 Tony Award for Best Play 2000 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play 2000 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play References External links The Real Thing study guide, (Archive) from Remy Bumppo Theatre Company 1982 plays Broadway plays Drama Desk Award-winning plays New York Drama Critics' Circle Award winners Plays by Tom Stoppard Tony Award-winning plays Plays set in London Metafictional plays Plays about actors