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#1

A Soldier's Play

I believe A Soldier's Play opened tonight. Was anyone there? Any reviews? Please? A Soldier's Play (and I mean fan reviews; I know it just began previews).

Updated On: 9/20/05 at 11:40 PM

#2

re: A Soldier's Play

I saw it -- the cast is a beautifully put together group. So much of the success of the piece rested in the fate of the casting, because those actors had to click on stage, and they do. They're all very talented, very present actors, and a wonderfully diversified group that just all work to pump life into their characters. Taye is totally captivating -- and all of those to-the-audience monologues he has are not easy to pull off. He does them with the marks of a good actor. This was my first time seeing him on stage, and in a very serious role, and his acting chops are certainly something of a secret weapon. The play is a bit dense, just due to subject matter -- and since much of it is about an investigation, a lot of it takes place in flashbacks, making the action very interspersed, with long stretches of almost no action whatsoever. It's a great play, but can drag on a bit at times. The set is lovely, as Second Stage's sets tend to be. It's one set, with many of the time/places changes being show through lighting technique. Well done.

I wish them the best of luck, and the best of reviews!

A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 9/20/05 at 11:45 PM

#3

re: A Soldier's Play

Thanks, Emcee! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it and that Taye gave a good performance. I hope it does well! I wish I could see it during it's limited run (unfortunately I can't).
#4

re: A Soldier's Play

If it does well, I'd bet on at least the CHANCE of an extention. Premature, but not out of the question!
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#5

re: A Soldier's Play

Ooh, really? That's good to know, I'd love to be able to catch it. When is the official opening?
#6

re: A Soldier's Play

October 17, according to bway.com.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#8

re: A Soldier's Play

Has anyone else seen it?
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#9

re: A Soldier's Play

I am planning on going soon, but I am wondering if I should buy the $20 student in advance or if I can wait til an hour before and do the $10??

Any help via the message board or a PM would be greatly appreciated.
"That Sondheim kid has a big future."-Nathan Lane
#10

re: A Soldier's Play

I'd spend the extra money and do it in advance -- being that they've some Taye Diggs star power, tickets MAY not be all that easy to come by after word gets out. The theatre isn't exactly huge.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 9/23/05 at 04:01 PM

#11

re: A Soldier's Play

Annnd ok, it says on the site that discounted tickets are not available on Friday or Saturday. Unless there is some weird discount, I am assuming that means student tickets too, right?


"That Sondheim kid has a big future."-Nathan Lane
#12

re: A Soldier's Play

I have no idea, sorry. Try calling the box office -- they're very nice.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#13

re: A Soldier's Play

I'm planning on taking a break from the Flea Market tomorrow afternoon (assuming I can tear myself away) and getting the 10 dollar tickets. I'm hoping since it just started, maybe word hasn't spread too much yet and we'll be able to get them. My friends will be quite upset if we can't.

Do you remember about how long it was?
No Child: http://www.epictheatrectr.org/
I Love You Because OCR: http://www.psclassics.com/cd_iloveyou.html
#14

re: A Soldier's Play

Like two hours.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#15

re: A Soldier's Play

thanks.
No Child: http://www.epictheatrectr.org/
I Love You Because OCR: http://www.psclassics.com/cd_iloveyou.html
#17

re: A Soldier's Play

How was Anthony Mackie?
#18

re: A Soldier's Play

When I say they're all fantastic, I mean they're ALL freakin' fantastic. He was actually one of my favorites, though, and if you know the story at all, it hinges a lot on him.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#19

re: A Soldier's Play

That's a great article, Emcee, thanks for sharing.
#20

re: A Soldier's Play

Am seeing this next week. Can't wait!
#21

re: A Soldier's Play

Have fun! Post about it if you can; I'm curious as to what sorts of changes they might have made.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 10/11/05 at 04:54 PM

#22

re: A Soldier's Play

I was really excited to see that article in the Times. In one of my classes (entitled "Freedom and Responsibility") we talked a lot about the racial issues that Katrina brought to the surface (and how they do/don't reflect freedom and such...) The article fit perfectly with our discussion.

It's a great play!
No Child: http://www.epictheatrectr.org/
I Love You Because OCR: http://www.psclassics.com/cd_iloveyou.html
#23

re: A Soldier's Play

Saw it tonight. Really enjoyed it and all of the performances. I wonder if they've made some changes, because I felt that there was good transitions, etc. and that it didn't drag at all. In fact, I could barely believe Act I was over when it was. I was like "That was so quick!" I did feel it was a bit predictable and the "whodunit" aspect wasn't very dramatic or tense. But the underlying messages were very powerful. My hat is off to Mr. Diggs. I thought he did a great job as well as Mike Colter. He stood out to me as well.
Saw the Newsday theater critic there. But couldn't tell whether she was liking it or not :)
Opens officially on Monday I believe so we'll see reviews on Tuesday.
#24

re: A Soldier's Play

It does open Monday; we'll probably be seeing the reviews Monday night, online, at least.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
#25

re: A Soldier's Play

I saw it tonight as well...I too was going to say I didn't feel it dragged at all, totally agree I couldn't believe it was intermission but checked the time and was like oh, wow. In fact, I always used to be more of a musicals snob, but recently have discovered that straight plays can be wonderful too...though those I have seen lately, which include both Pillowman and Doubt which I loved...to me dragged at the beginning, or it just took a while to get me into it. I can't explain why, but I was into this from the get-go.

Em, you also made a good point in Taye's difficult monologues to the audience, also something I thought was great.

Cast is a great unit and everyone ups their energy and plays off each other.

And while I wouldn't say I was shocked at the outcome of the whodunit, I wouldn't exactly say it was predictable. Certainly before seeing the play I wouldn't have thought it turned out that way, takes a different spin on a story that has been told many times.


*SPOILER*







What I mean by that is well I was thinking about this...like the Times article said pointing out racism not only in whites but blacks between each other, I think it's a very interesting point that isn't usually examined in these kinds of plays. And another thing that stuck w/ me was the white captain who was so sure it was the white men and wanted so badly for them to be arrested...usually a character like that would be an angry black man blaming it on the whites, so I found it to be a very interesting choice to make the white man the one to play that part. Also really liked the relationship between the two captains.




*END SPOILER*

Anyway, good show that I definitely recommend. Saw Taye twice on the street(missed him come out) and couldn't say a word. Go me.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

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