Shakespeare is on tap at the Old Vic

Kevin Spacey has opted for the safety of Shakespeare comedies and sure-fire hits in his attempt to revive the flagging fortunes of London’s Old Vic theater.

Critics have turned on Spacey for what they see as a poor record at the helm of the famous London venue, and one questioned whether the Oscar-winning American actor should resign as artistic director after Robert Altman’s production of Arthur Miller’s “Resurrection Blues” was panned.

Spacey announced a new season Tuesday, calling it a celebration of “great acting, big plays and a sense of event.” It begins with Eugene O’Neill’s “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” in which Spacey himself will perform.

Early next year the Old Vic will stage two Shakespeare comedies, “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Twelfth Night,” both performed by Propeller, an all-male company. Then comes a production of “The Entertainer” to mark the 50th anniversary of John Osborne’s play, with British actor Robert Lindsay as the struggling comedian Archie Rice.