A Raisin in the Sun Previews

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 9:16pm

Did anybody go? Thoughts?

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 11:41pm

No one saw the show tonight?

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 9:13am

is this such a non-event that none of our contributors were there? Whizzer, I count on you to keep me in the know, what happened?

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 6:18pm

I too want to know how it was- there seemed to be a lot of buzz on the boards about it.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 6:28pm

I went to the invited dress. I don't want to share too much because it was the first public performance, and some of my opinions aren't glowing.

Anika Noni Rose is fantastic as Beneatha. One of the best I've seen. She also really looks like a teenager, and not just against her older counterparts, she legitimately looks age appropriate. She didn't miss a beat.

Sophie is the best Ruth I've seen since Ruby Dee. I liked her so much more than Audra. She is totally in it for every single moment of the show. She really captured the period and is totally invested. I can't go on enough about her performance.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson has all the makings of a great Lena. She needs to find her footing a bit, but that's understandable considering her stinted involvement with the show. I actually prefer her choices to Rashad's. Her performance is much closer to the Lena in the original film.

There are some other fine performances, and some that are less than fresh, but it was the first public performance so my hope is that things will shape up nicely with time.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 6:33pm

...and what about Denzel?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 6:35pm

Denzel musta been REAL bad if you don't mention him at all.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:01pm

No mention of Denzel and some that are "less than fresh"? yikes....can we get more info??

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:04pm

He was better than Sean Combs. They changed the age to 40 for the line "I'm 40 years old, I been married..." for obvious reasons. They changed a few other lines in the show. Small changes, and a few omissions.

I'm very hesitant to fully disclose on Mr. Washington because I'm hoping that, the performance I saw wasn't it. The director before hand expressed that they are still in process, and tightening a few things up, and I just don't feel right sharing until I go back, and see the show again. I feel like I would be in some way disrespecting the invited dress etiquette. I'm just very grateful that I had the opportunity to share that moment with the company.

I'm sure someone else will be posting a review very soon.

Updated On: 3/9/14 at 07:04 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:13pm

"He was better than Sean Combs."

That's like saying "She was better than Paz de la Huerta."

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:17pm

Im curious how David Cromer was....

[Kad]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:26pm

Considering Denzel is the sole reason this production is occurring, it's... rather disconcerting you won't talk about him. "Tightening up" is picking up cues and working on moments. Not turning a performance around.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:26pm

"He was better than Sean Combs."

Hahahaha, which isn't saying much at all!

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:36pm

That's like saying "Bebe was Better then Wendy Williams"

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:48pm

is anyone surprised, Denzel was WAY too old to play that part, what a joke.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 7:51pm

I went but left at intermission so it's ... tough to comment.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:02pm

Sutton: Come on, explain

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:11pm

A friend of mine was at the invited dress and all he said was that the show was "stunning," and I didn't press for details considering it hadn't opened to the public yet. I know that's not at all helpful, but it did seem to have a very positive impact on him at least.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:14pm

*sigh* I couldn't get in to the play because I felt some of the performers weren't even into it. It wasn't engaging, at times sloppy, and I hate saying this because I was so excited to see Mr. Washington but... he wasn't good. He seemed tired, frustrated, and bored the whole time. I had to leave I sincerely hope it gets better for all involved.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:21pm

hmmm now Ms Carroll departing the production is making more sense.....

[Simon Damon]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:27pm

why is there no facebook page??

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:30pm

No social media pages at all from what I can find.

[RW3]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:51pm

This just seemed to be put together hastily.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 9:51pm

there wasnt any social media for Betrayal either, I guess Rudin figures they dont need it considering they already have 10 million in the bank.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:01am

Visceral_Fella, isn't an invited dress a private performance, not a public one?