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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 29
2010, 01:07:27 AM
New York Magazine is Very Positive:
"In Donald Margulies’s Time Stands Still, two characters, longtime partners in a similar line of work—she’s a photojournalist, he’s a freelance writer—sit at opposite ends of a table in their Williamsburg apartment, their respective laptops open in front of them. “I just sent you something,” one says. The other, after reading the missive that’s just arrived, laughs quietly, not wanting to give the sender too much credit, but unable to hide that the joke has tickled her. The moment is small and throwaway, but it opens a window onto a broader, stormier vista: It’s the seemingly minor amusements that sometimes get you through a day, maybe even a marriage. An e-mail sent across a dining table manages to fulfill E.M. Forster’s entreaty to “only connect.”"
http://nymag.com/arts/theater/reviews/63396/
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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 28
2010, 11:03:15 PM
Entertainment Weekly gives the show an A- (you'll just have to visit the link, as the review is one paragraph long:)
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20340190,00.html
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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 28
2010, 10:54:29 PM
John Simon is a Rave (4 Stars out of 4):
"Donald Margulies’s “Time Stands Still” compellingly demonstrates what a master playwright can do with great economy and efficiency, and with four fine actors who conjure up a commanding cross section of our conflicted, compromising or intransigent world.
Eric Bogosian, Brian d’Arcy James, Laura Linney and Alicia Silverstone, flawlessly directed by Daniel Sullivan, enhance a rare play that encompasses universal issues and personal problems with equal compassionate insight."
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aZ4pPYXjrFIQ
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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 28
2010, 09:22:19 PM
Backstage is Mixed-to-Negative:
"In Donald Margulies' new drama "Time Stands Still," Laura Linney proves yet again she's one of our finest actors. Even when others are speaking, we are drawn back to Linney, watching her reveal more and more simply by listening and observing. I can think of no one today who achieves quite the same empathetic translucency, and you can imagine Margulies keeping it in mind when creating her character, Sarah Goodwin, a tough, committed photojournalist who specializes in documenting the carnage of war. But though the play gives Linney resonant opportunity, Margulies' largely well-observed, intelligent four-hander ultimately can't transcend its predictability. While the journey holds our interest, the destination is disappointing."
http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-broadway/ny-review-time-stands-still-1004063429.story
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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 28
2010, 08:19:50 PM
The Hollywood Reporter is Very Positive:
"There are plenty of social issues bandied about in Donald Margulies' new play about a female photographer and her journalist boyfriend coping with the physical and emotional aftereffects of her near-fatal encounter with a roadside bomb in Iraq. But for all its debates about such subjects as the morality of journalists who observe atrocities without interfering or the psychological ramifications of torture p*rn movies, what "Time Stands Still" is really about is the shifting trajectories of relationships.
It's a familiar subject for the playwright, who explored similar themes in his Pulitzer Prize-winning play about marriage, "Dinner With Friends." And though this latest work occasionally suffers from a surfeit of themes and a lack of focus, it's a nonetheless absorbing, ultimately very moving piece that is receiving a beautifully acted Broadway production."
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/time-stands-still-theater-review-1004063419.story
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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 28
2010, 08:16:43 PM
Michael Sommers is Positive:
"The lived-in looks of John Lee Beatty's set and the understated naturalness of director Daniel Sullivan's Manhattan Theatre Club staging help to dispel the potential sudsy quality of the story that threatens to bubble forth in Sarah's troubled relationship with her boyfriend.
James and Bogosian provide solid support as the key men in Sarah's life while Silverstone brightens her portrait of a trophy bride with a youthful sense of can-do assurance.
At heart a mournful individual, Sarah might be a total downer were it not for the tensile steeliness of purpose that Linney builds into her character. Setting her jaw and lowering her vocal pitch, Linney effectively makes Sarah a woman on a mission to expose the wounds of the world no matter what the personal price."
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/resolute-laura-linney-makes-certain-time-stands-still-on-broadway
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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 28
2010, 06:55:16 PM
The Associated Press is Very Positive:
"Can you be a dispassionate, uninvolved observer of horrific events, recording them for posterity and still keep a sense of right and wrong, not to mention your sanity?
It's one of several questions getting a workout in "Time Stands Still," Donald Margulies' thoughtful new play, which Manhattan Theatre Club opened Thursday at its Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway. The work is smart, stylish, timely and layered with an intriguing seriousness that inspires discussion after the curtain comes down — a rarity these days."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100128/ap_en_re/us_theater_review_time_stands_still
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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 28
2010, 05:45:46 PM
Variety is Positive:
"Donald Margulies' new play is a thoughtful, absorbing work, its strengths maximized in the crystalline naturalism of Daniel Sullivan's production and the incisive interpretations of four astute actors. Reflecting on the divergent growth paths and changing needs of long-term relationships, "Time Stands Still" tends to tack on ethical debate points that reveal as much of the playwright's voice as those of his characters. This makes the drama somewhat amorphous and less satisfying than it could be. But there's a ring of truth to the emotional experience being thrashed out onstage that keeps it compelling."
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117942018.html?categoryId=33&cs=1
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TIME STANDS STILL Reviews
Jan 28
2010, 05:30:29 PM
USA Today gives the show 3 stars out of 4:
"Donald Margulies tends to write smartly crafted, accessible plays that tell us nothing we don't already know. Luckily, these works attract actors who can transcend their clichés and mine their intelligence and good-natured humor."
http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2010-01-28-time-laughter_N.htm
The Wall Street Journal is Very Negative:
"I wish I could say something nice about a play that stars Laura Linney, Alicia Silverstone, Eric Bogosian and Brian d'Arcy James. No can do: Donald Margulies's "Time Stands Still" is a predictable piece of middle-of-the-road Pulitzer bait that has nothing to recommend it beyond the cast, Daniel Sullivan's staging and Mr. Beatty's set, all of which are exemplary."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094304575029203666323036.html
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A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Reviews
Jan 24
2010, 07:04:55 PM
Variety is a Rave:
"Sometimes it's high praise to call a stage director's work invisible. The compliment applies to Gregory Mosher's searing revival of "A View From the Bridge," though it by no means indicates any lack of craftsmanship or insight. Returning to Broadway after a considerable absence, Mosher has instilled in his outstanding cast an unconditional trust in Arthur Miller's text, evoking a time, a place and a 1950s blue-collar community with penetrating integrity. Each scene flows seamlessly from the one before in a production that expertly plants the seeds of inexorable tragedy yet grips with a tension and volatility that make every moment seem unpredictable."
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117941959.html?categoryid=33&cs=1
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A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Reviews
Jan 24
2010, 06:55:58 PM
The Associated Press is Very Positive:
"Although Eddie Carbone, Miller's doomed Brooklyn longshoreman, is inarticulate and confused about his feelings, there is an odd nobility to the man, particularly in Liev Schreiber's mesmerizing performance in a powerful revival of the play that opened Sunday at Broadway's Cort Theatre. Schreiber captures Eddie's moral rigidity with astonishing fidelity. It's a rigidity that turns to rage as his world begins to unravel.
But then the entire cast, under Gregory Mosher's astute direction, contributes to the production's effectiveness. Beside Schreiber, the revival stars Scarlett Johansson as Catherine, Eddie's attractive, 17-year-old niece and the object of his deeply repressed lust. Johansson, making her Broadway debut, is a revelation, giving a shaded, nuanced performance. At first, she's sweetly fond of her uncle, only later realizing his unspoken attentions. And check out her impeccable Brooklyn accent."
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wirestory?id=9650555&page=2
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A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Reviews
Jan 24
2010, 06:25:51 PM
Backstage is a Rave:
"...Since Van Heflin originated the part on Broadway in the 1955 one-act version, memorable Eddies have been created by Anthony Quayle (premiere of the two-act version, London, 1956), Raf Vallone (film version, 1962), Robert Duvall (Off-Broadway revival, 1965), Tony LoBianco (Broadway, 1983), Michael Gambon (London, 1987), and Anthony LaPaglia (Roundabout Theatre Company, 1997). Now Liev Schreiber, one of the few American star-level actors to return to the stage on a regular basis, sinks his teeth into this meaty steak of a character and has a regular feast.
His Eddie has a vulnerability and thoughtfulness often overlooked. You can tell he not only harbors sexual urges for his wife's niece Catherine but also loves her like a father. These conflicting emotions play across Schreiber's face as Catherine explains her growing love for Rodolpho, an illegal immigrant the family is protecting. Also watch as Eddie moves to a pay phone with the intention of turning his rival over to the authorities. His physical behavior is informed by his knowledge of the consequences of his actions: If he makes this call, he will be branded an informing rat, a fate worse than death in his clannish Brooklyn neighborhood. He's literally sickened by what he's about to do, but his passion drives him on. The whole performance is filled with such intimate details and grand yet believable gestures."
http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-broadway/ny-review-a-view-from-the-bridge-1004061319.story
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re: RAGTIME Reviews
Nov 16
2009, 01:16:59 AM
frontrowcentre2, it's Critic-O-Meter: http://criticometer.blogspot.com/
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re: Ben Brantley on Charlie Rose
Nov 3
2009, 05:57:54 PM
I never really hated Brantley: I think he's doing his job fairly well, and you can tell how much he loves the theater. What I hate is how his writing sometimes borders on gossipy teen-speak (like the heading for his EXIT THE KING review: "Sorry, Your Highness, But You're So Over"), and how condescending and nasty he can be about shows he doesn't like (HIGH FIDELITY wasn't a good show, but it didn't deserve a pan on the level of THE LITTLE MERMAID).
But even if you do hate Brantley, ta
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re: BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS reviews
Oct 25
2009, 07:49:52 PM
USA Today gives the show 3 1/2 Stars out of 4:
"As a character in a Neil Simon play might observe, it has not been a great season for menschen on Broadway. From the haughty heroine of After Miss Julie to the ranting student and teacher in Oleanna, few leading characters in drama have aspired to the agreeability and overt decency suggested by that Yiddish word.
Under any circumstances, then, a revival of Brighton Beach Memoirs, Simon's portrait of a thoroughly endearing Jewish family in late 1930s Brooklyn, would be a welcome diversion. But the new production (***½ out of four) that opened Sunday at the Nederlander Theatre is a lot more than that."
http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2009-10-25-brighton-beach-memiors_N.htm
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re: BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS reviews
Oct 25
2009, 07:22:09 PM
The Associated Press is Positive:
""Brighton Beach Memoirs" was first seen on Broadway in 1983 with Matthew Broderick as Eugene. Now it's returned in an enjoyable revival, which opened Sunday at the Nederlander Theatre, with Noah Robbins, a gawky, thoroughly ingratiating young actor, as the play's narrator and anchor. Robbins' self-deprecating charm sneaks up on you as Jerome struggles to deal not only with his parents but the outside world as well.
You could call "Brighton Beach" a comedy-drama, a play peppered with amusing, often jokey dialogue alternating with poignant moments of personal confrontation and reconciliation. Yet the disconnect is not as disruptive as it could be thanks to David Cromer's smooth, seamless direction and an accomplished cast."
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=8913253
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re: BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS reviews
Oct 25
2009, 07:09:48 PM
The Hollywood Reporter is Positive:
"...Although Eugene's monologues still score big laughs, much of the rest of the humor has been toned down, giving the play a somewhat more realistic feel even while paradoxically exposing its essential lack of depth.
Still, the evening largely works thanks in large part to the excellent ensemble. Robbins, whose credits include playing Max Bialystock in his high school production of "The Producers," is a real find as Eugene, managing to be touching and hilarious. Metcalf's harsh Kate takes some getting used to, at least until the actress slowly and cannily reveals the character's underlying vulnerabilities; Fontana is warmly engaging as Stanley; Boutsikaris is moving as the physically and emotionally exhausted Jack; Hecht, though sometimes mannered, is effective as Blanche, and Socha and Lawrence do fine in the relatively undeveloped roles of the daughters."
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/brighton-beach-memoirs-theater-review-1004030252.story
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re: BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS reviews
Oct 25
2009, 06:48:26 PM
Variety is a Rave:
"Hats off to the farsighted producers of "The Neil Simon Plays" for taking a risk on their choice of director. While David Cromer's most recent New York hits, "Adding Machine" and "Our Town," mined piercing depths in timeworn texts, they did so in an austere presentational style that seemed a million miles from the warm-hearted humor of "Brighton Beach Memoirs." The first installment of a Simon double that continues with "Broadway Bound," opening Dec. 10, the revival strikes an exquisite balance between comedy and pathos, its impeccable ensemble landing every laugh while exploring every emotional nuance to build a tremendously moving portrait of family life."
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117941446.html?categoryid=33&cs=1
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re: Anyone going to the first RAGTIME preview tonight (10/23)?
Oct 23
2009, 06:50:26 PM
A play or musical uses previews, Mr. Tenor, to smooth out the production, to work out the kinks.
The entire show is performed every night, but tickets are sold at lower prices.
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Anyone going to the first RAGTIME preview tonight (10/23)?
Oct 23
2009, 01:17:29 AM
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