Anyone seeing the first preview of A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:20am

Anyone going?
I can't wait to read how it is.


http://www.playbill.com/news/article/135489-A-View-From-the-Bridge-With-Schreiber-Johansson-Hecht-Cristofer-Fontana-Returns-to-Broadway
Updated On: 12/28/09 at 01:20 AM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:20am

Please let us know, first nighters! Seeing it later this week, myself.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:35am

I'm very much looking forward to seeing this show. Looking forward to reviews!

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 12:20pm

Seeing it Wednesday, I'll let you know.

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:07pm

I will be there tonight.
I'm a theatre nut from out of town who comes into NY 3 or 4 times a year just to see shows. I've never been to a 1st preview, but I really wanted to see this show and won't be back in town before it closes. I love Miller. I have 1st Row Mezz seats. Hope it goes well.
I'll write up my thoughts for y'all after the show tonight. Anything specific you're going to want to know?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 5:14pm

I got my tickets to see it at the end of January. I'm really excited for it. I'm mostly interested in knowing how the cast fares.

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 6:04pm

i would really like to know about the set design and if they bleached Fontana's hair (becuase the character is supposed to be a blonde).. that's about it

going jan. 5.. can't wait!!
Updated On: 12/28/09 at 06:04 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 6:15pm

If anybody rushes the show, I'd appreciate it if you could post the details (seat locations, suggested time of arrival, etc). Thanks in advance.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 6:16pm

I think Santino is wearing a wig.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 6:25pm

I saw him milling around Shubert Alley on Saturday with hair his natural? color.

[sydneyboi]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 7:22pm

I hope this show doenst close before Im there in April 1st

I know it says April 4th but how well have the tickets been selling :)

Thanks

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:00pm

Anyone?

If you were there I would like to know the following if possible:

How full was the theater?

When did you get out?

Was it at all a feel good show? (I apologize, I'm not familiar with the show)

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:08pm

there is nothing "feel good" about this play

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:11pm

Was it at all a feel good show? (I apologize, I'm not familiar with the show)

Has Arthur Miller EVER written a "feel good" play? His works are always depressing.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:12pm

LOL. Yeah this isn't exactly the kind of show I'd go to if I want that warm fuzzy feeling.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:13pm

<3 lol the play is described as a Greek tragedy. I haven't seen it before, but I know that much.

I really can't wait to see this. I hope tonight went well. Updated On: 12/28/09 at 11:13 PM

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:17pm

Wow. I was very impressed with the show. I have never been to a first preview before, but to me it seemed very strong for a first shot. For me, it was up there with Mary Stuart, The Norman Conquests, and Our Town in my favorite plays of the year (of course I guess technically it will count as a play from next year, not this year) but your mileage may vary.

OK, first of all, to answer some questions:
The show started at 8:07. Intermission was exactly one hour later at 9:07. Intermission was exactly 15 minutes, and the show ended at precisely 10:00.
No, it is not a feel-good show. It's a straight-up Arthur Miller tragedy. Think Death of a Salesman, or All My Sons. However, it still made me feel good because the acting was so strong.
Santino's hair is blonde...but it looks like a bad dye job, not a wig. I couldn't tell if they were trying to make it look like a bad dye job or what, but it definitely did not look natural.
It was a full house and it got a well-deserved standing ovation (of course who knows if that means anything nowadays).
The set was awesome. The opening scene happens outside the Carbone apartment on the street. The buildings are on an angled forced perspective that make it look like they are getting bigger as they get closer and move stage left. I kind of took this as metaphor of Eddie's jealousy getting more and more uncontrollable. I dunno, call me crazy. The buildings are brick and are very impressive. You can also see all of the lighting instruments on the grid above the buildings. I don't know why I loved that so much...
Any way, a large section of the buildings is on a turn-table that revolves throughout the show to reveal the inside of the Carbone apartment and a couple of other locations. Very very nice. I really loved the set design. Not only was it impressive, but it brought me right into the situation and feelings of the story like a good set should. And the turntable never malfunctioned.
I'll comment on the actors in my next post...

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:19pm

^ Thank you for your thoughts. I can't wait to read more! If you post about the plot please give a spoiler warning.
Can't wait to see this!
Updated On: 12/28/09 at 11:19 PM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:22pm

Wow, Act 2 was really only 38 minutes? They must be keeping it at a pretty swift gallop.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:30pm

I can't wait to see this!

Did anyone rush today who would have details on their experience?

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:31pm

they play itself is only 86 pgs.. it is SO quick and i have seen it with and without an intermission, the intermission does make a big diference and it comes at a perfect time

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:36pm

All of the acting was very good. No entrance applause for anyone...which was actually kinda nice. It started a bit slow and it seemed like Liev, Scarlett and Jessica were dropping some cues here and there in their first scene together, but they picked up the pace as it went on. I'm sure those issues will be long gone by next week at least.
All of the performers were solid and natural. Of course, if there has to be a standout, it would be Mr. Schreiber. He gave a very emotionally charged and honest performance. You felt his character succombing more and more to his passion and frustration as the show went on. Which I guess is a testament to not only Schreiber's brilliant acting talents, but Mr. Miller's writing and Mr. Mosher's directing. Liev took the dialogue and made it all his own. I really believed he was thinking every word for the first time. I was very impressed with him.
Scarlett gave a very strong Broadway debut in my opinion. Good for her I say. I kind of wasn't expecting her to be as good as she was. She was 100% solid in the first act. In the second, when she had a little more heavy stuff to pull off, she wasn't as flawless, but I was still very impressed over all.
Jessica Hecht was not as great as I was expecting her to be at first. She seemed a bit slow and strangely forced with her gestures toward the beginning, but she was very strong at the end. She really is a fabulous actress. Michael Cristofer's character acts as a kind of narrator (I assume it is his view the title is referring to) and outside voice to the conflict in the Carbone family. I loved him. He was very very strong and passionate as an actor. I didn't realize it was the same guy who won a Pulitzer for writing "Shadow Box." I'm very impressed with him. The two scenes between Liev and Michael in his office were phenominal. I could have watched the two of them all night.
Santino Fontana is one of my favorite actors...I'm so sad I missed him in Brighton Beach. He was good here. Nothing spectacular. He is doing a thick Italian accent and that combined with the weird hair led me to not connect with him as much as I wanted to, but he was still very charming and likeable as his role should be.
My only other complaint (besides Santino's hair ...oh and the accents could use a little more polishing so that they sound a bit more natural) was that there were multiple small scenes that were staged downstage left that I could not see at all from where I was sitting (front row right mezz). I noticed others straining their necks to see as well.
So, over all, I give major props to not only the entire cast, but especially Gregory Mosher. Welcome back to Broadway, good sir.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:48pm

I'm excited to see this! I always though Miller was kind of dull, but after seeing All My Sons I'm so excited to see this! I was hoping it might pop up on TDF for a day or two but nope. I hope the rush situation isn't insane.

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:04am

A strong production of a great play. It's not as finely etched as the Anthony LaPaglia revival some years back, but it's once again a powerful, masterful evening in the theatre. The acting is very good, especially for the first preview. I thought both leads did a fine job, and Santino Fantano proves himself to be a most versatile actor. It's definitely one of the best plays I've seen this year.

The only depressing thing about this evening is that it underscores how far we have come from the kind of theatrical writing we had when "A View From the Bridge" was written. Just compare a gripping work like this to the fatuous drivel that passes for theatre nowadays, and, that, alas, gets raves, like "Circle Mirror Transformation," "This," "Body Awareness," and others of their ilk, and you want to weep in despair.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:14am

The show was outstanding tonight. I honestly didn't know what to expect and I was blown away.

They don't write plays like Arthur Miller anymore...the text was wonderful.

Liev Schreiber was perfect. I love every single acting choice he made - and the accent was spot on. He will be nominated for sure. And I can totally see Anthony LaPaglia in this role...wish I could have seen that production too.

Jessica Hecht was also wonderful. I really loved her in BRIGHTON BEACH and I'm glad that she will have a longer run in this show. Was very impressed with her acting.

Scarlett Johansson did just fine for her Broadway debut. She didn't make too much of an impression, but she didn't embarass herself either. I'm sure she will improve as previews go on.

Santino Fontana was wonderful in his supporting role. His character in BRIDGE was so different that his character in BILLY ELLIOT and he pulled both of them off. A very versatile actor...glad he (like Hecht) has rebounded from BRIGHTON BEACH.

I also enjoyed Corey Stoll and Michael Cristofer in their respective roles.

The set design was outstanding, as was the lighting.

I was shocked as to how much I enjoyed this production...the audience seemed to love it too.

Congrats to the cast and crew. I hope this show gets the rave reviews it deserves...and the extension through the Tony Awards.