A Man For All Seasons - Exceptional

[EugLoven]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 9:37am

Thanks in advance to many BWW posters who had seen A Man For All Seasons, for the warning of just how cold it gets inside the American Airlines Theatre! It was chilly.

Fortunately, that was the only bit of advice I took to heart, as most first-preview reviews echoed a "ho-hum" about the show. I have to disagree entirely. Unlike Hunter Bell's character in [title of show], I hold opinions for shows only after seeing them. If you'd like my two-cents, here it is.

One word: Exceptional. I went into this show completely blind to the material and its message; and left feeling as if I'd been told an all-too-familiar story. A story we're living today.

Been said before and will be said again: Theatre holds a mirror to society. A Man for All Seasons, written in 1961, screams "ALLEGORY!" as loudly as Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

Roundabout has picked a script riddled with today's headlines. Conviction without trial. Suspicion. Unjust imprisonment. A dictator twisting the Law of Man under the Law of God for personal gain. A man with morals and a conscious blamed for treason when he chooses to remain silent.

Cromwell=Rove. Henry VIII=Bush. Thomas More=Guantanemo. It doesn't need to be spelled out, but it certainly needs to be recognized. These issues ARE important and dancing right under our nose. It takes a trip to Broadway (or just as providing, Off- and Off-Off) to slap us in the face.

Moments when I said: "Mmm!" outloud included such lines as:
Cromwell: "We will find the law. Or make one ourselves."
More: "It is not that I write about the King. It is that I write. In times like these, that's enough."
Margaret: "He was going to hit you, Father"

Definitely started crying during the final sequence, because I started thinking about all the victims of The Patriot Act and how sick-and-tired I am of American politics.

This was my first time seeing Frank Langella perform live. And he was so top-notch, I do not weep for missing his past shows, but am elated in anticipation to see him on-stage again. His power to utterly silence an entire theatre as he stands literally two-inches from the edge of the stage to deliver his final testament!

Most admirable about Langella is not just his superb acting (my gawd, what a force) but how much he LIFTS UP his fellow actor. This is not a man who desires the spotlight for himself, but instead clearly revels in sharing it. His scenes with Patrick Page were sublime. But all-the-more admirable is how he provides to Broadway-newcomers Hannah Cabell and Michael Esper (both actors I impartially fancy), who shine together.

An excellent play, aptly revived. Timely and precise. Updated On: 9/17/08 at 09:37 AM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 9/17/08 at 12:31pm

Thanks for your thoughtful review. I also enjoyed it, though I looked at it strictly from the church history standpoint, that being my background. (And actually there can be parallels drawn between the play and the current state of affairs in the Episcopal Church following Gene Robinson's ordination at Bishop ~ but that only occurred to me reading your post, so thanks for making me think outside the box of the stage :) .) I'm glad to hear it's shaping up nicely ~ I always take the first preview for what it is. A FIRST preview.

Updated On: 9/17/08 at 12:31 PM

[Mamie]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 4:06pm

I tried to order a ticket for this for my next NY visit (late October) but the site says online tickets are not available now. Does anyone know when they will be? Or IF they will be?

[perfectliar]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 6:19pm

I saw the matinee on Wednesday and I agree with most of what you said. Frank Langella commands the stage so forcefully, and his final scenes were breathtaking. I didn't really think of it as an allegory for our current political situation, but your connections are certainly valid and pretty spot-on. I only have complaints about the length (this particular performance ran 2 hours and 48 minutes), the strange scene-change music, and the temperature of the American Airlines Theatre... seriously, I was freezing.

[little_sally]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 6:35pm

Thanks for the review. I was really considering seeing this but the initial reviews made me think twice. Nice to see someone out there like it.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 6:39pm

^^^^
It really is a great production. The temperature of the theatre only detracted from the experience though. They really need to fix that. If you're planning on seeing the show, pleas bundle up. It's FREEZING!!!!!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 6:56pm

So glad you liked this Eugene. I too was a Frank virgin, and now I'm a fan for life. Truly a stunning performance and I could not agree more about your comment that he is not a scene stealer. He absolutely acts as one member of the cast bringing them all up to a higher level. Throw on a parka and head to the American Airlines Theater for this not to be missed performance!

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:53pm

Saw this last night, and oh what a night of exceptional theater! Agree with Mr. Loven, a play for our times. Yes, 2:45 wonderful minutes of the kind of play you don't see produced on Bway anymore. (What a pity).
Langella and crew were uniformly excellent.
Brief mishap at the top of Act 2, in which in the SM made an announcement and the curtain fell. Started up again about 5 minutes later.
Langella, after taking his final curtain call to a standing ovation, shushed the audience and ever so politely and sweetly "apologized" and explained the Act 2 "mishap" (he had hit his head upon a piece of scenery in the dark, and had a hell of a headache, .....). Of course, the show did go on. The theater itself has such a nice intimacy.