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

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 8:02am

To those familiar with McDonagh's other plays, how does this one stack up? What do you think its chances of taking the Tony award for Best Play are?

I'm hoping that as soon as I move back to the city in May I'll be able to see it, but I'm pretty bummed I probably won't have the chance to meet Martin. As a playwright, he's been a huge inspiration on my work.

[Patash]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 8:39am

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".

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 1:04pm

I'm not saying they weren't funny or won't get big laughs, Patash. My audience seems to really enjoy the show, but their vocal reaction to a lot of it was kind of muted -- the demographic was very old-person-y.

As to where it stacks up, hard to say, but it's definitely more algned with THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE (emphasis on comedy, with some slight shading/depth) than THE PILLOWMAN, BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE or "In Bruges" (mix of dark comedy and genuine pathos/emotion/weighty themes).

[Patash]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 1:51pm

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.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 11:12pm

I saw tonight's performance. It's a scream. The play itself is slight; don't go in expecting anything like The Pillowman or Beauty Queen of Leenane. I was doubled over in laughter for the entire ninety minutes. The entire quarter is terrific, but Sam Rockwell walks away with the show (and makes it look easy). If he's nominated in the featured category, he'll be the one to beat. Walken was great but had some audibility problems at times. Kazan and Mackie had a great dynamic as one of the most f*cked-up couples on stage in recent memory.

Re: rush. I was the first person in line today. Got there at 8:30. By 9:00 there were four people on line; by 9:30, it was down to the Booth. I'm pretty sure everyone was seated, though, as both the last row and all of the boxes were full.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 11:14pm

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.

[fallingawake]

Posted: 2/20/10 at 10:39pm

Didn't want to start another thread, but curious for opinions...

my parents are coming into town in mid-march, and I'd really like to see this play. They are mid-60's and rather liberal, but I've seen people talk of McDonagh's other plays as something of a gauge. Having never seen anything by him before, is this to mean black humour with lots of swearing and violence that others mentioned?

My mother wants to see 'Race' as the ladies on the View have told her that's what everyone in NY is watching, what are your views on the choice between Behanding and Race?

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 2/20/10 at 11:15pm

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.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 3:20am

Race tries to address serious issues but mostly fails.

Behanding tries to make us laugh and succeeds enormously.

It'll certainly be a formidable opponent in Best Play. It really does depend how Enron and Next Fall are received, really. It'll definitely be represented with acting nominations, though I wonder how they'll split up the actors- if Chris Walken will get Leading, Rockwell supporting? Though really, I suppose Mackie and Kazan are onstage more than both of them, as Walken is really only in the first ten minutes and the last twenty.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 8:59am

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_fan85]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 11:06am

The placement of the actors into leading vs. featured is going to be quite interesting because all of them are above the title right now.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 12:02pm

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

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 2:43pm

Generally speaking, yes. The actors might be put into different categories if the producers petition the Tony Nominating Committee to do so. The entire situation might end up like Glengarry Glen Ross back in 2005 where all of the actors were above the title, but ended up being considered in the Featured Actor category.

To me, at least, it makes more sense to go this route, because if they keep Christopher Walken in the Leading Actor category he'll be competing with: Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, Michael McKean, Michael Cerveris, James Spader, Victor Garber, Liev Screiber, and presumably Alfred Molina, Norbert Leo Butz, Denzel Washington, whatever happens with the actors in Lend Me a Tenor and Next Fall, and others that I'm sure I'm forgetting. This category seems a lot more competitive than Featured Actor this season.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 3:42pm

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.

[fallingawake]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 4:31pm

thanks for the advice everyone. I was able to sell the case and we're going to see Behanding in March! I'm excited to see it!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 4:46pm

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

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 2/21/10 at 7:29pm

He's right handed.