BETRAYAL Begins Previews Tonight

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 9:10am

Anyone going? Completely psyched about this production but won't be going until December. Very interested to hear early word.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 9:14am

I'll be there tonight!

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 9:17am

Looking forward to your always insightful review, Whizzer.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 9:20am

Thanks- I'm very much looking forward to seeing Rachel Weisz on stage. She's one of the best film actresses working today, and despite being an Oscar winner I think she's massively under appreciated.

[jaxandmci]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 10:18am

Can't wait for your review, Whizzer! Can you include running time? I'm seeing it on Saturday and trying to figure out when to schedule dinner.

And don't forget all: NO LATECOMERS WILL BE ADMITTED! They seem to be very serious about this and I hope they stick to it!

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 10:21am

I'm going next week. Very excited.

Whizzer will fill us in, I'm sure, but every production I've seen has run about 90-100 minutes. There is no intermission.

[jaxandmci]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 10:32am

Thanks for the info, AC. That's what I was figuring. I was just hoping it wasn't going to be one of those barely-an-hour-long shows.

[abbagirl]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:48am

I know there's probably no chance in heck, but has anyone heard if they might do ANY kind of rush?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 12:15pm

I have no idea about rush, but I did a quick search yesterday to see when the earliest I could find the cheapest rear mezzanine seats and it seems like unless I want to go to a Wednesday matinee I'll have to wait until the first week of December.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 1:38pm

4th preview! And dont expect a rush policy, if it is, it will be like Salesman... which was crazy (I waited 9 hours)

[Patash]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 5:23pm

"Thanks- I'm very much looking forward to seeing Rachel Weisz on stage. She's one of the best film actresses working today, and despite being an Oscar winner I think she's massively under appreciated."

Funny, that same exact thing was said about Juliette Binoche when she did Betrayal back in 2000. I was so excited to see it, but could barely stay awake. Perhaps the biggest problem was I was way up in the balcony (American Airlines Theatre) and trust me, her fine film acting skills just didn't project that far -- at all. I loved the play, but thought the production was so slow and tedious and never had any theatrical emotion.

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 7:02pm

Good play this, Pinter at his best.

Rafe Spall is a very good actor. You'll enjoy this night at the theatre

[abbagirl]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 7:08pm

I asked at the Barrymore this afternoon, they said there will be absolutely no rush tix whatsoever.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 9:20pm

Patash, I agree, and I was sitting further to the stage. Binoche is a great film actor. At least in Betrayal, she did nothing for me on stage. I'm almost tempted to call what she did there over underacting.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 10:19pm

I'm back from the first preview and don't have many strong emotions about the play either way. I don't think I'll ever love the text, but this is a totally respectable and well-acted production. I think people who bought a ticket to see Daniel Craig will be disappointed as he has the smallest and least interesting of three roles.

I found Rafe Spall to be very good, especially in the final scene. He's charismatic and quite handsome. He and Weisz have good chemistry, and the scenes with the two of them were the most enjoyable.

I liked Weisz, but the role isn't very flashy and I wish there was more for her to sink her teeth into.

The set and lighting are both wonderful. They capture the simplicity and economy of the language and really become an extension of the text. The scene changes are fluid and the underscoring is lovely.

The play is so quiet and intimate that I wish I had been watching a movie instead of seeing it on stage. Given the subject matter there isn't any bombastic yelling or melodrama; you're not going to find Emily Thorne and Olivia Pope taking any pages from the Betrayal handbook!

The play is not told in chronological order, and the interest comes in noticing the lies and inconsistencies the characters tell each other as the play progresses.

I don't think this is going to set the world on fire, but it's above board and professionally done.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 10:29pm

I remember being so totally captivated by Juliette Binoche in the last revival, it's a shame that Weisz doesn't bring the same thing to it.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 10:51pm

how was James Murphys original music?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:00pm

I liked the music. It was used to cover the scene changes and added nicely to the atmosphere.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:21pm

Thin gruel.

These stunt plays/musicals that go backwards in time--- who wants 'em or needs 'em?

The acting is good, with Rafe Spall making the strongest impression in the play's best part. The direction eschews fireworks; the design fluid and functional, if not particularly attractive.

The saddest part of the whole enterprise is the disappointment it will inevitably engender in those who paid big bucks first and foremost to see Daniel Craig. This is the second time that Craig has chosen a vehicle--- and here, a part --- that would be sure to let down his fans. Hugh Jackman in Craig's other ill-advised outing, and Julia Roberts in hers did the same. Doesn't anyone think about the public before putting these things on? Other than their money, that is?

Other than their money?

You mean there's anything else that matters?

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:29pm

Their fans aren't idiots. They're not going to see this expecting skydives and fist-fights atop speeding locomotives.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:34pm

The plays they chose were all duds, none of which displayed these stars to their advantage, and none of which held the slightest possibility of pleasing their fans.

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:35pm

Wait...they removed the sky-diving scene? Sacrilege. Someone take my tickets now.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/1/13 at 11:41pm

Shoot, they cut the skydiving Shoot they ain't getting my money, I'm heading out to see Honeymoon in Vegas.... They have skydiving...., Elvises even!

[JayG]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 12:19am

Anyone who can call Betrayal a dud has nothing to say to me (or any other theatergoer interested in real theater - as opposed to dumb musicals)

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 12:27am

Any merchandise? How was the stage door?