‘Stanley’ Heads for Broadway With Four Olivier Awards

“Stanley” dominated the Laurence Olivier awards here Sunday, boosting its Broadway opening later this week with honors for best new play, best actor, best supporting actress and best set design.

The play, by Pam Gems, is based on the life of the English painter Sir Stanley Spencer (1891-1959). Best actor Antony Sher and best supporting actress Deborah Findlay will repeat their roles on Broadway. The set design award went to Tim Hatley.

“Tommy,” the Broadway version of Peter Townshend’s rock opera, was named outstanding musical production, and Des McAnuff was named best director for his work on the show. “Tommy”--which originated in San Diego and closed recently in London--had received eight nominations for the annual awards, which honor theater, opera and dance. Other winners included:

Janet McTeer, best actress in a play for “A Doll’s House”; Trevor Eve, best supporting actor in a play for “Uncle Vanya”; “Art,” by Yasmina Reza, best new comedy; “Martin Guerre,” the newest venture from the creators of “Les Miserables” and “Miss Saigon,” best new musical; Robert Lindsay, best actor in a musical for “Oliver!”; Maria Friedman, best actress in a musical for “Passion”; and Clive Rowe, best supporting performance in a musical for “Guys and Dolls.”

Sher, a 47-year-old South African, secured his reputation in England in 1984 when he played Richard III as a crutch-wielding psychopath for the Royal Shakespeare Company.