A Raisin in the Sun Previews- Page 2

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:13am

That's how I view them as well, but the term "first public performance" was the director's not mine.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:32am

Well how's the design and stuff? And cool directing moments?

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:59am

A friend of mine went to the final dress as well and seemed to enjoy it a lot. I know the sentiment around here about curtain pictures, but the picture he shared of the curtain really excited me. I'm not sure how well you'll be able to read the text, but it's the Langston Hughes poem from which the play gets its title.

Updated On: 3/10/14 at 12:59 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 1:24am

I'll be seeing it next week.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 1:26am

I know I'm just judging a show curtain, but that looks ugly.

[aaronb]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 2:43am

Yikes. I still want to catch this, though, since I've only seen the movie.

Also, I thought Sean Combs was pretty good in MONSTER'S BALL.

[tom2000a]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 7:52am

I like the show curtain because I think it let's the audience know where the title comes from and how it relates to the show. That being said, why do they not credit Mr. Hughes with writing the poem!?

[Sweetpsmom]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 8:37am

I'm a newbie, and I purchased tickets for the 3rd week of the preview period. Can someone explain the actual purpose for the "preview" period? I'm taking my son to introduce him to the theatre and am excited to see this classic.

[BudFrump23]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 11:01am

Apparently the show's first late-seating cue is 40 minutes into Act 1. A friend walked by the theater last Saturday night at around 8:20 and saw at least 15-20 patrons fuming in the outer lobby.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 11:03am

^ so they changed it? they were very adamant about no late seating in the first act when i bought my ticket a few weeks ago

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 11:08am

CP time.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 11:16am

^ Ha! I worked regularly at an African-American-run theater company for about five years, and everyone got a lot of mileage out of that. At first it irritated me, but pretty soon I learned that there was mileage to be gained once you accepted everything happened about 15 minutes late.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 11:50am

Does anyone else remember Washington's turn as Richard III in the park back in 1990? I recall full hump, full limp, and nothing more about him after the "Now is the winter" speech at the top.

[The Other One]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:08pm

Good God, all, lighten up on judging anything by a first preview, including seating policy.

Denzel apparently admits he is not the world's best Shakespearean actor. He is a terrific stage actor, however, as anyone who saw him in A SOLDIER'S PLAY and FENCES should be able to tell you.

Again, lighten up!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:20pm

CP Time, really?!! Were all the people "fuming" in the lobby colored?

If that was your attempt to be "cute" you've failed miserably.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:21pm

Lighten up? How do you mean? Are you offended by negative responses about performances from 23 years ago?

I would love to see this admission from Washington that he's "not the world's best Shakespearean actor." Seems odd, since he chose to follow-up Richard II with Julius Caesar (on Broadway) only nine years ago.

Updated On: 3/10/14 at 12:21 PM

[The Other One]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:39pm

"I would love to see this admission from Washington that he's "not the world's best Shakespearean actor." Seems odd, since he chose to follow-up Richard II with Julius Caesar (on Broadway) only nine years ago."

Actually, it seems brave to not give up and play it safe when there is always a big picture offer to take.

"Lighten up? How do you mean? Are you offended by negative responses about performances from 23 years ago?"

Nothing could be further from the truth. I enjoy conversing with people with different opinions. I was responding to people judging this production (or any) by its final dress or first preview. Even the original poster made it plain she or he was not stating anything definitive.

Again, lighten up!

[newintown]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:51pm

So... does that quote exist or not?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:51pm

"Lighten up"-- what a racist thing to say in a thread about black people

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 12:58pm

^ Now THAT is true-wit.

[The Other One]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 1:00pm

newintown: A friend of mine knows him from his Negro Ensemble Company days, and they have remained friends. I heard it from her. I do not know if he's ever said it in an interview. I can't give you anything more specific than that, but I think I have read him talking about it, maybe in a recent article on Wynn Handman? I believe he studied with him back in the day but, again, I am not sure. Sorry for being vague.

And yes, Michael Bennett, that was pretty funny.
Updated On: 3/10/14 at 01:00 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 1:04pm

I like the idea of having the poem as the show curtain, though not without credit to Hughes.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 2:09pm

It seems kind of heavy-handed to me. Or condescending to the audience.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 2:30pm

I would like it if they stopped the action every 15 minutes for a different character to cross down center and recite it to the audience, à la Linus in "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 2:31pm

I thought Washington's Julius Caesar was pretty painful, but it sold tickets, and uneven Shakespeare still is Shakespeare, so that is a good reason to get audiences in to see something they may otherwise have avoided. I am concerned about changing the age of a major character, though. Does that affect the coherence of the play?