DTLI Consensus: They say Home is where the heart is — and this moving production, despite a few directorial missteps, lays out a sturdy “welcome” mat for the new Broadway season.
One thing striking reading through the reviews is even when critics like the show, there's often frustration with Kenny Leon's directing.
Jesse Green in the NYT felt the production was "welcome, if perhaps overly faithful to the original vision." Jackson McHenry in Vulture felt "Leon’s approach is serviceable and too respectful."
I get the impression that's intentional in Leon's work in Home and Purlie Victorious. He wants people to experience a somewhat lost great work as it was originally experienced, as opposed to finding new things to say through the play.
Personally I've been finding the faithfulness a little boring, even while findings things I liked about both shows.
I get the impression that'sintentional in Leon's work in Home and Purlie Victorious. He wants people to experience a somewhat lost great work as it was originally experienced, as opposed to finding new things to say through the play.
Personally I've been finding the faithfulness a little boring, even while findings things I liked about both shows."
Well, if Leon is at his weakest directorially when trying to direct a show "as it was originally experienced", we probably shouldn't have to worry about that being an issue with Othello.