A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS - First Preview Thoughts- Page 2

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 11:44pm

I agree with wickedrocks that the only actors worth noting are Langella and Page...the rest were not very good.

...and yes, EQUUS is absolutely worth full price...

(i love how i'm turning every thread on this board into an "i love equus" thread)

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 11:52pm

How long was it?

[FinishingTheHat2]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 11:53pm

Was anyone else freezing their ass off in there? I couldn't feel my hands by the end! But i liked it alot, though it does need ALOT of cleaning up.

[musikman]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 11:59pm

While I know that reading a play and seeing it live are two exteremly different mediums, I do remember that reading this play was long, slow, and boring.

Therefore, I'm not too surprised to hear that these reviews are using those same words. However, I do hope it gets better as Frank Langella is a true artist, and this could be a tour de force.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:02am

Yes, it was FREEZING in there...

[shira467]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:02am

I was frozen, absolutely. I actually bought a scarf today and it was worth its price during the show!

Yes, it's definitely slow at places, I almost fell asleep at times. But Frank Langella is good.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:04am

I will agree with those who found the play difficult to read.

I did find the movie version very enjoyable though. It moved much faster for me.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:05am

I was extremely cold, especially having stepped in puddles thanks to tourists pushing me into them so I had wet feet. That said...

Personally I enjoyed it, but then it is something right up my alley. For me it was watching a church history lecture come to life. Knowing the "cast of characters" so to speak probably helped me keep up with who was who and keep people straight. Still, I can see how someone without that background or interest (Not meaning that in a bad way or as an insult at all! Promise!) wouldn't have found it as interesting.

[Little-Lotte]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:11am

I also attended the first preview and YES I was freezing! Thank God I brought a sweatshirt!

I'm a big Tudor history enthusiast so I was really excited about this though I'll admit I have never actually read/seen the play or the film its based on.

And I'll agree with everyone else that it feels long and slow. The outside board said it would only be 2 1/2 hours with intermission but it was more closer to 3. Langella is very brilliant and I do expect a Tony nod for this performance. However due to the flaws that others mentioned you find yourself not caring all that much which is a shame because Langella is just wonderful in the role.

I thought Patrick Page brought light to another wise dull act with his one short scene. Seriously it was like a breath of fresh air when he came onstage (which fits so extremely well with his character) and I wish that he had gotten more to do.

The only other notable performances I felt were Maryann Plunkett as More's wife Alice and to a lesser extent Zach Grenier as Cromwell but I only really liked him in Act 2.

The set design I thought was very well done with the use of pseudo Tudor era architectural design. And the costumes were absolutely gorgeous!!

Things went well for a first preview I thought. I thought I had more issues with the play itself when I left than the actual production but by some of the reviews that have been posted it seems like it might not be that entirely.

It was good, I only paid $10, but I don't think I'd pay full price on it.
Updated On: 9/13/08 at 12:11 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:14am

I was there tonight, too.

Count me among those who found the whole thing dreadfully dull. There were a few nice moments, but most of it was absolutely sleep-inducing.

Langella is fine, completely serviceable. However, there is nothing exciting or particularly memorable about the performance. He's playing the morally upright character surrounded by mostly immoral people.

The highlight of the show for me was Patrick Page, who in his one scene as King Henry, managed to make more of an impression than those with larger roles.

The rest of the cast is nothing to write home about.

The whole production is monotonous and routine, and just sort of plods along. Very ho-hum.

I was disappointed

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:14am

They list the times of each act in the lobby. Act One was around an hour, Act Two was about an hour and twenty minutes.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:17am

I was on the street at 10:44 tonight.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:19am

<< The show itself is very flawed and repetetive and at times excruciatingly slow>>

Totally agree !! Just got back, and I dont remember ever looking at my watch so many times. The running time was closer to 2:30 (rather than the 3 hrs that was mentioned), but at times it felt like it was longer than "August: OC" !!

Page was VERY good, but not on stage enough. To me, he stole the scene that he shared with Langella. Langella was excellent as usual, but not spectacular.

Was glad that I only paid the $10 !

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:21am

Sounds like another quality Roundabout production.

It's a shame. I really like Frank Langella.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:24am

I actually really like the play, especially the second act where the pace really picks up. I was very emotionally involved and ****possible spoiler***** the scene where More's family visits him in prison killed me.

I can't rave enough about Langella's performance. I really felt like I was watching a master at work. His transformation from wealthy nobleman to run down prisoner was amazing. It was a joy watching an actor so fully commit to a character that the work seemed effortless. He remained true to himself without ever coming across as preachy or self-righteous. Simply brilliant work!!

The first act could move along a little more quickly, and some of the supporting actors need to grow into their roles a bit, but overall the production was solid. Due to Langella's performance I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone and will probably see it again myself after it opens.

[Little-Lotte]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:24am

Sorry about the 3 hours I mentioned, my cell phone clock must be a bit fast because it was 10:50 when I got out of the theater and I was one of the first batch to leave. But yes, it did feel like 3+ hours when you're sitting there.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:29am

Oh, and what was up with that music?

Were we on safari in Kenya?? Look, an elephant!!!

Every scene ended with BOOM! chimes!! drums!!

Completely wrong for the period.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:32am

I totally agree with you about the music...but that is something that can easily be fixed.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:32am

To echo everyone else, the theatre was freezing... and didn't really help to keep me awake when I started nodding off in the first act. But I was completely enthralled with the second act and was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:34am

The music was random AND way too loud.

Was I the only one who found Maryann Plunkett as Alice to be almost laughably bad at times? No depth to the character, no motives, no stakes, just line-reading.

[Little-Lotte]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:35am

WiCkEDrOcKs: I personally liked her, but she really didn't impress me until the prison scene. I thought she was great in that scene but that's just my opinion.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:37am

And ditto to (I think it was) Patricia Hodges.

When she ran on right before the last moment, she screamed the line (a la the farmboy during DAINTY JUNE AND HER FARMBOYS/BROADWAY in the current GYPSY revival) and I actually let out a laugh.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:39am

Did anyone feel like Triney Sandoval, playing the Spanish guy, was performing a completely different play than the rest of them? It was like he walked out of a 19th century French farce or something.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:41am

Was there a show curtain?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:43am

"Did anyone feel like Triney Sandoval, playing the Spanish guy, was performing a completely different play than the rest of them? It was like he walked out of a 19th century French farce or something."

My friend leaned over to me and said "I am Aldolpho!" I started laughing...there was a resemblance.