Patrick Macnee - On Stage

Patrick Macnee is certainly best known for his role as John Steed in the Avengers.

But in his view the best work he has ever done is Sleuth.
He is very proud that the piece was a great success and had a very long season on Broadway in New York from November 1970 - October 1973.
Since 3 July 1972 Patrick Macnee played the role of Andrew Wyke in Sleuth on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre. He portrayed Andrew Wyke until October 1973.
Convinced at first that the role of Andrew Wyke was outside his dramatic range it became the greatest challenge in his career and his greatest success on stage. Sixteen months on Broadway in Sleuth on Music Box Theatre bear witness of that.

He finished his career on stage - as he said in an interview because he could get up the
stairs but could not get down again - in Toronto in January 1988 in Sleuth.

All in all he played the role of the successful elderly writer Andrew Wyke in Antony Shaffer's play from 1970 at least thirteen times.
The play involves Wyke seeking revenge against his wife's lover whom he lures to his mansion, where the two men start a challenge in trickery and deceit.
Patrick Macnee received "The Straw Hat Award" for the performance in Sleuth on May 16, 1974 in New York.
He writes in his autobiography, that he was "both thrilled and amused with the award" and sent it to his mother "as she still persited calling members" of his profession "That stew of ragamuffins".

The best list for his work on stage can be found on The World of Patrick Macnee

Sleuth performances

Broadway: Music Box Theatre, New York, United States
Patrick Macnee replaced Paul Rogers
Dates: 3 July 1972 - April 1973 and 21 May - 13 October 1973
There were 1222 performances including Quayle's.

Paper Mill Theatre, New Jersey, United States
Dates: 28 December 1973 - 20 January 1974

Westport Country Playhouse, Connecticut, United States
Dates: 17 - 22 June 1974

Ogunquit Playhouse, Maine, United States
Dates: 24 - 29 June 1974

Pocono Playhouse, Idaho, United States
Dates: 9 - 13 July 1974

Lakewood Theatre, United States
Dates: 22 - 27 July 1974

The Cape Playhouse, Massachusetts, United States
Dates: July - 3 August 1974

Candlewood Theatre, California, USA
Dates: 26 - 31 August 1974

Pheasant Run Playhouse, Illinois, United States
Dates: April - 25 May 1975

Ambassadors, London, UK
Dates: since 18 September 1978

Stage West Dinner Theatre, Winnipeg, Canada
Dates: 22 July - August 1981

Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami, USA
Dates: 26 December 1984 - 28 January 1985

New Century Theatre, Toronto, Canada
Dates: 24 October 1987 - 31 January 1988
(Patrick Macnee's last time on stage
as Andrew Wyke)

Quotes from Patrick Macnee's autobiography Blind in One Ear, Glasgow, 1988