Anyone seeing the first preview of A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE tonight? — Page 3

My audience, Tuesday night's preview, seem very uninhibited. The n word got increasingly bigger laughs as it was used, and there were big laughs for what are above being described as awkward silences.
I think it is by far his FUNNIEST play. It is less "deep" or thought provoking -- more like a piece of very, very dark but funny "fluff".

Perhaps that was part of the difference. The audience Tuesday night was quite young over all. The older people next to me were pretty quiet, but the audience as a whole was probably the biggest bunch of laughers I've seen in any show in the past month.

And you are right, I'd equate it with Lt. of Inishmore more than any of his other plays in the overall tone.

I had an easier time hearing Walken on Tuesday night in the last row of the mezzanine than I did tonight in Row N of center orchestra. Especially when he was on the phone towards the end of the show.

I've seen both and out of those two plays I prefer Behanding, but I'm biased because McDonagh is my favorite playwright. I love everything he's written. They're such different shows, so it all depends on what you're in the mood for. Behanding is much funnier. It's not as deep, though; Race addresses some serious issues. Yes, Behanding has black humor and lots of foul language and maybe if you're squeamish you might not like it (I don't want to say too much). I just thought it was hilarious, and the acting is very strong.

Saw Behanding at yesterday's matinee. I bought tickets last year to give to my husband for Christmas (he loves Walken's movies, well, except maybe for Balls of Fury), so we were eagerly awaiting it.

What an excellent show! Very funny! You aren't sure where it will go, so just hang on for the ride.

Walken's part seems like it was specially written for him, that's how good a match it is. He is the master of generating a huge laugh without saying anything and then getting an even bigger one with a simple one liner.

I wondered though if he would be more appropriately placed in Tony's featured category rather than lead? I don't know enough about how these things are determined.

Anthony Mackie (Of The Hurt Locker, my fave film of last year) and Zoe Kazan were also terrific. As for Sam Rockwell, I thought his monologue fell a little short humor-wise, and it slowed the show down. Maybe it should be re-worked. In this performance, I think Mackie was better because he had more emotional scenes to do and handled them really well.

Stage Door: Not mobbed at all. Mackie and Kazan signed, both making sure that everyone got autographs that wanted them. Rockwell walked on by without signing, and then security announced that Walken was not coming out between shows.

Hubby and I concur that if Walken and Liev Schreiber are put in the same category, Schreiber wins handily because of the depth of Miller's play, the richness of his character, and his riveting performance.

FallingAwake- Take mom and dad to Behanding, I think they'll have a blast!

ETA: Walken is soft spoken. We were in the second row, it was perfect, can see and hear just fine.

Updated On: 2/21/10 at 08:59 AM

Frogs, is that how categorization is determined..name above title?

Thanks, Frogs that is interesting.

My thoughts are, regardless of name placement, Walken belongs in featured actor for time on stage, part size, and character interaction.

How could Walken possibly sign if he's missing a hand?

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