A Free Man of Color Reviews

[dave1606]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 11:47pm

Didn't see a post about this tonight.

Saw it tonight and didn't care for it, but thought the cast was extremely talented, and the sets amazing. A lavish production of a mediocre play. I wish everyone involved the best, but wish they had better material to work with.

NY Times (Brantley) is a pan.

NY Times Review

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/18/10 at 11:50pm

[re-post from another thread (https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1024576&dt=1&boardid=1#ixzz15hVMxmSO), since this seems to be a better spot for it:]

I saw the very first preview of A FREE MAN OF COLOR, and then I, too, was at it's Opening performance tonight. It was 30 minutes shorter tonight, thank the theatre gods.

I disagree with you when you say it has nothing important to say. I think it does. I think the battle to be a free man of color in this "free" nation was an important one. I think it's important to tell the story of how a country fought so hard to earn its freedom but failed to fight to maintain it (and that history is repeating today with gay rights).

At least this is what I think the play is. It's hard to say. It's hard to say because the play doesn't know what it is. What starts as a sexcapade later becomes an intellectual piece, and then becomes a political play, and then again intellectual. Sex-comedy. Intellectual. Political. Historical. Political. Intellectual. The play tries to do too much. It tries to earn its "substantial" ending but there is so much setup that the audience doesn't need that by the time the ending comes, we don't care anymore. We just want it to end. (And end for REAL this time, but hint at an ending that actually just becomes a segue into a new scene.)

Jeffrey Wright's Act I performance is interesting and comical. Wright's Act II performance is exhilarating and colossal.

The play will win for Best Costumes at all awards shows for theatre this year.

Spotted in the house: Marian Seldes, S. Epatha Merkerson, Ben Stiller, Tony Kushner, and Ben Stiller.

Updated On: 11/18/10 at 11:50 PM

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 11/19/10 at 9:41am

Entertainment Weekly gave it a D.

[jds2001]

Posted: 11/19/10 at 12:41pm

Hmm, I've got a ticket for Sunday. The reviews seemed to think it was pretty bad, but I've seen that before and thought it was AWESOME :). We'll see how it pans out with this one.

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 11/19/10 at 4:54pm

Yeah, I have a ticket for Sunday's Matinee also. Didn't invite anyone to come with me because not too excited about it. I want to see the costumes though.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/19/10 at 5:03pm

Ouches all around.

I wonder why I'm still curious.

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 11/21/10 at 7:28pm

Just came back from today's matinee and just like most of you I was very disappointed in the book. It seemed to be all over the place in Act 1. I really contemplated leaving but decided to stay and I am glad because Act 2 was a bit better, not much, but a bit. It seemed at one point the playwright was mocking American history and some of the story seemed contrived. D for the book. The acting was good, sometimes over the top and a huge ensemble, too big, I think it could have been whittled down a little. The best thing about it was the spectacular costumes, unbelievable, Tony worthy for sure. The sets at time were very good also. I would give it 2 1/2 stars only because of the costumes and sets.

Quite a few folks walked out at intermission. My row had 4 elderly folks that left. Speaking to an African American woman in front of me, she really hated the show, and contemplated leaving. If you are a history buff give it a try, if you are into costume design ditto, everyone else stay home.

[vinnylin]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 10:12am

Maybe it was low expectations, but I saw this on Friday night and did not think it was nearly as bad as the word of mouth and reviews. A LOT of people left at intermission, but I actually enjoyed it, even the first act which does seem all over the place, but which makes more sense (or at least did to me) after the second act.

If you do go, I would highly recommend you pick up the Lincoln Center booklet on the show (the ones available on the racks throughout the theatre for $1 donation) and read the article which gives an explanation of the key historical events of ths 1801-06 period. Knowing where the story (at least the historical part) is going helps considerably in navigating the first act.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:15am

A FREE MAN OF COLOR, to me, embodies all of the drawbacks of a large-scale historical fantasia, crammed with ideas and meta-theatrical devices without enough of the payoffs to make the experience worthwhile.

I haven't seen so many empty seats since the second act of THE VIBRATOR PLAY. And I've never seen so many people leaving while the play was in progress.

A great shame. Such a fascinating idea for a play.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:21am

I'm pleased to see that Ben Stiller saw it twice in one night at the same time.

[singtopher]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 12:04pm

^Ha!