Fry’s Shaw play still on
Despite a shocking announcement that he has undergone surgery for prostate cancer, British actor and comedian Stephen Fry’s one- man show is still slated to open at the Shaw Festival in May.
Fry will perform in the world premiere of his play Mythos: A Trilogy - Gods. Heroes. Men., based on his recent book which takes a humorous new look at some of the world’s most enduring myths. It’s the most high- profile show for the Shaw’s 2018 season, the second under artistic director Tim Carroll.
Best known for his roles in BBC’s Blackadder and the TV mini- series Stephen Fry in America, Fry has been friends with Carroll since they worked together on a production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre in 2012. Fry’s revised version of the comic musical Me and My Girl was part of the Shaw Festival’s 2017 season.
Fry attended a performance of it last May.
On Friday, Fry posted a 13- minute video on his website detailing his battle with prostate cancer in recent months. His prostate was removed in early January, along with 11 lymph nodes to prevent further spread of the disease.
The removed lymph nodes were then tested, revealing high levels of cancer.
“This was clearly rather an aggressive little bugger,” he says in the video, explaining why he has been out of the public eye in 2018.
“For the last two months I’ve been in the throes of a rather unwelcome and unexpected adventure,” he says. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to talk about it ’ till now, but here I am explaining what has been going on.”
Fry, 60, discovered the cancer after a visit with his doctor in December for a flu shot. Urged by his doctor to have a general checkup, it was revealed his PSA ( prostate specific antigen) levels were high.
A follow- up MRI scan and biopsy confirmed the cancer.
“You don’t think it will happen to you,” says Fry, urging men “of a certain age” to get a prostate exam.
When asked about the status of Fry’s play, Shaw Festival public relations co- ordinator Jennifer Anand said “the Shaw’s production of Mythos is still going forward as scheduled.”
Mythos, directed by Carroll, premieres at the Shaw’s Festival Theatre May 24 and continues to July 15.