Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
#0Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 1:29am
Has anyone seen or read this play? I just came back from a fantastic performance in Toronto. What a brilliant play -- the circular symantic games are typical of Albee, but the Greek tragedy component (emphasized by the production I saw) is something new.
I was wholly taken in by the play. Albee was very clever to write in a gay son: without him, the central conflict would have, ironically, just been an allegory for homosexuality. But with the openly-gay son already addressing that particular issue, the play's themes are broadened considerably to explore the boundaries we create for ourselves, the arbitrariness of (and mechanics behind) what is acceptable and what is condemnable, and the conflict between natural behaviour and imposed expectations.
What are other people's thoughts?
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
#1re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 1:39amI read the play first and, shortly thereafter, I saw a production of it at the Goodman Theater. It's a great read; 'the kiss' was actually very touching for me. But the play was performed on stage as a Greek tragedy, complete with histrionic acting. I found that really distancing, a strange thing for something that has the potential to be accessible notwithstanding its unusual content.
#2re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 1:48amI read the play and saw the excellent production at the Alley Theatre. I think it is a fantastic play--darkly hilarious and touching. Albee is a bad*** that 40 years later, he could still be so provocative.
#3re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 1:51am
Ironically, as a gay man, I was very uncomfortable when "the kiss" occurred. I kept thinking: oh no, don't let it turn into that kind of play. But the dialogue that followed was so sensitive and moving, that I came to understand the significance of having the kiss.
There are so many moments in the play when it could have fallen into being an "issues" dissertation, so I was uber-impressed that Albee was able to straddle fleshing out important themes and keeping the audience in a constant state of questioning.
People in the audience gasped in distressed horror when Sylvia was brought out at the end.
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
Updated On: 12/9/05 at 01:51 AM
#4re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 1:52am
Someone directed this using classical styles of performance? That must have been a train wreck!
I saw "The Goat" in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum and it was wonderful. Everything--sets, costumes, lighting, and acting style--were very naturalistic which totally worked. The point is it's a simple story of adultery with one major difference which should make us question the boundaries we set in our relationships (as the original poster said). The only thing that should really make the piece look like a greek tragedy is that last Medea-esque moment.
#5re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 1:53am
Someone directed this using classical styles of performance? That must have been a train wreck!
I saw "The Goat" in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum and it was wonderful. Everything--sets, costumes, lighting, and acting style--were very naturalistic which totally worked. The point is it's a simple story of adultery with one major difference which should make us question the boundaries we set in our relationships (as the original poster said). The only thing that should really make the piece look like a greek tragedy is that last Medea-esque moment.
Link Larkin Wanabe
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#6re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 2:06am
BlueWizard,
I'm glad you liked CanStage's version, but most of my friends that saw it thought it was pretty dreadful. They all read it first and loved the script, but thought the acting and direction was pretty bad.
Akiva
#7re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 2:14am
Yeah, Richard Ouzounian gave it a scathing review. I'm beginning to question my ability to discern good theatre: I enjoyed CanStage's THE GLASS MENAGERIE too, but everyone else panned it.
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
Updated On: 12/9/05 at 02:14 AM
#8re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 2:17am
Shows are generally meant to be enjoyable. Don't feel bad if you go into them with an open mind and come out liking them.
I've seen several shows (films and plays) in the last week that I've liked. Come to find out most people didn't. Oh well, right?
Link Larkin Wanabe
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#9re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 2:18am
I didn't catch Ouzinian's review or see it myself, so I am just going by my friend's reviews (most of whom were actors). I'm a horrible critic these days, too. I pretty much love all theatre. As long as a show has ONE good aspect I will just focus on that.
Akiva
#10re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 2:43am
I think there has been some bad blood between Ouzounian and CanStage ever since they produced his musical LARRY'S PARTY a few years back (which, by the way, was a very good show and I am sorry so little of it has been recorded!)
RO did not like GLASS MENAGERIE (which I and most of the other critics loved), TAKE ME OUT (we were all pretty mixed on the direction of that one), MY MOTHER'S FEET (whch was dreadful), HABEUS CORPUS (which was more fun that RO gave it credit for ), THE GOAT and now CROWNS. Of course he did give AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' a rave and found the whole thing on the dull side, though not through any fault of the performers or the production.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#11re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 6:14amSaw it twice on Broadway and found it to be totally captivating.
DG
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
#12re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 9:33am
I also saw the LA production and agree with everything mygf said - especially the performance by Brian Kerwin!
And it really shouldn't be THAT surprising that Mr. Albee knows what he's doing 
ShbrtAlley44
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
#13re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 9:40amI love this play. I did a scene from it in class and I use chunks of it as a monologue. Deeply affecting and very interesting.
#14re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:08amI saw it once on Broadway, and my jaw pretty much scraped the floor the entire time---I was gobsmacked by this show! I would definitely see it again---not so my friend, who I think is still angry with me for picking this show to see!
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#15re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 12:30pm
Richard O has too much of a "director" mentality- he often judges a work not on it's own merits/deficiencies BUT where it differs from how HE would have done it. Not quite a true critical mentation. I usually trust Robert Crew's review's more. OH and the reviewer for NOW is the pits!!
Updated On: 12/9/05 at 12:30 PM
#16re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 12:35pmI like that CanStage takes risks but most of the time they backfire. Case in point this production and there horribly overconceptualized and overchoreographed production of Sweeney Todd
I got rid of my teeth at a young age because... I'm straight. Teeth are for gay people. That's why fairies come and get them
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#17re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 12:39pm
I agree w the risk taking and am thus very anticapatory re the March production of "Hair" esp w the multi media directors they have brought frm Oz. Will be either the top o the mountain or the
bottom of the quarry.
#18re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 12:42pmOh man, I might have to make another trip up for that. I really hate productions that turn HAIR into a multimedia experiance. This could be an interesting train wreck, as opposed to Sweeney which was just painful.
I got rid of my teeth at a young age because... I'm straight. Teeth are for gay people. That's why fairies come and get them
#19re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 1:10pmI took my parents to the production at the Goodman and we all loved it. After seeing or working on three new Albee plays (The Marriage Play, The Lorca Play, The Play About the Baby) that I didn't like, I was hesitant to see The Goat, but I was absolutely roaring throughout the show. I only wish I could have seen it with Sally Field.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Danielm
Broadway Star Joined: 3/17/05
#20re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 1:12pmI love this play, at the Taper I was stunned, although I thought the actress who played his wife played too much to the audience sometimes, she was funny but I think it changed the intent of the play and diminished the final moment of the play. I think this play should be performed as naturalistically as possible, these people should be smart and clever but should always stay based in reality. I also think the set at the Taper, while beautiful, looked like a museum lobby. I thought if these people seemed more upper-middle class than upper-upper class it would have been more effective.
Yes, we do need a third vampire musical.--Little Sally, Gypsy of the Year 2005.
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#21re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 2:40pmI guess I just saw a bad production of it in London. I failed to see what all the fuss was about.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
#22re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 10:28pmNot all of your friends hated it, Akiva! I saw the CanStage version during previews (with Simon) and we both loved it. It was over a month ago, so my mind's a little muffled as to why we loved it, but it was enough to make me think about seeing it again. I know my parents also liked it quite a bit.
#23re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:16pmRead it for the first time a couple weeks ago actually. Loved it. WEIRD though...
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#24re: Albee's THE GOAT (or WHO IS SYLVIA?)
Posted: 12/9/05 at 11:39pmI read it a while back. Its brilliant but only for certain tastes. It's very very surreal and odd but stunningly masterful.
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