This was a terrible show for me, but there is, quite literally, not ONE public review about it. That is a little crazy. Tons of shows get terrible reviews, and they cannot hide them. What is going on?
I was there over the weekend and it was a disappointment. It really doesn't make a point beyond "fascism is bad and if we don't do something about Trump now, we're in trouble" and it felt like preaching to the choir. The actors are all very good but the direction is lacking so now of the performances are amazing. Plus it's long (about 3 hours, regardless of them billing it as 2:45) and the first act in particular drags.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
Unless they were hoping to extend or move it, the production's nearly sold-out as it is, and the remaining seats will be bought by people intrigued by Brantley's raves for the cast.
Hopefully this well-cast, well-designed production will be a sense of closure for Kushner and Eustis's 30-year journey with this pay.
Raves for the cast? As actors yes, Brantley says the cast is any director's dream. But he offers raves for few of their performances, ignoring most of them, and basically pans the entire play.
Excerpt:
But even if we argue that “Bright Day” is more immediately relevant now than it was when it first opened, is it also revealed to be a truly good play that suffered from being ahead of its time? With hindsight, can we see it clearly as something more than a piece of overwrought juvenilia from a brilliant dramatist? And has it acquired a fresh urgency that will rouse like-minded audiences to world-changing thoughts and deeds?
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Unless they were hoping to extend or move it, the production's nearly sold-out as it is, and the remaining seats will be bought by people intrigued by Brantley's raves for the cast. "
Let's hope so, since as soon as I read the reviews, I put my seats on StubHub.
I saw this last night and very much liked it. Yes, it's lesser Kushner- but lesser Kushner is a greater height than many can reach. The cast is excellent, aside from a decidedly off performance from Grace Gummer. The final scene is quite the gut punch, I thought- chill-inducing. The production is well-paced and clips along in its 2:45-ish run time.
But sold out it very much was not. There were many empty seats- and, sadly, many more after intermission.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
I just got an e-mail this morning that the show got an extension. They're adding an extra week of performances, bringing the closing date to Dec. 22 instead of the 15.
If anyone wants two tickets for next Thursday at 7, I accidentally bought a pair for the night of my office holiday party. Would love to sell for face value ($70 each) but am flexible!
I mentioned above that I am selling three tickets for this Saturday afternoon on StubHub, but if anyone here wants them, I'll sell you them without the extra fees. Three seats, center section, Row F, on an aisle. $180 for all three.
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