Has Sam Mendes lost touch with British theatre?

Guardian Unlimited: Arts blog: "Yesterday, the Old Vic's Bridge Project was announced, which brings Mendes back to the UK stage to direct three repertory seasons of two plays a year, in both London and New York, from spring 2008. Mendes must have racked his brains to come up with the most exciting possible lineup of plays - and, having failed, he chose The Tempest, Hamlet, The Winter's Tale and The Cherry Orchard instead. By doing so, he argues, he is helping save that beleaguered species, the classic play."