BIRTHDAY CANDLES Previews- Page 3

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/30/22 at 3:03pm

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 3/30/22 at 3:10pm

This play really wasn’t anything new, but I honestly did have such a lovely time at it. 

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 4/2/22 at 9:23am

I'm with the dissenters on this. I found the acting all around to be pretty bad; no one listening to one another, no real sense of relationship, just presentational and surface level. And I truly wish playwrights would stop writing exit lines that beg for applause. They always land with a thud. Messing in the early scenes is doing something very strange and stilted, coming nowhere near capturing the spirit of someone in their late teens. She fairs better later as the character ages, but then she's only doing a Katherine Hepburn impression. To her credit, her physicality as she ages is impressive. The production itself could probably use a strong cup of coffee. I think there's supposed to be a sense of the years getting away from you, how they feel impossible to hold onto, and yet the pacing feels pretty sluggish throughout. However, my partner was terribly affected by the whole play and was touched very deeply. So, who's to say? 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 11:23am

So after all I read about the play (Lifetime/Hallmark movie-ish, predictable plot line but enjoyed it, etc) I decided I seeing this last night.  LOVED it.  It’s 90 minutes, no intermission and the performances make the ride fantastic.  Messing truly is fabulous and those years working in front of a studio audience on WILL & GRACE taught her how to use her presence, and where to insert comic nuances.  Watching her age from 17 to 101 without the use of a costume change, or make-up, or wigs is a true showcase of what she can do as an actress.  The entire audience was truly captivated and beautiful hearing sniffles as it showed how involved they were.  Keep an eye out on Crystal Finn.  What a Broadway debut and her Joan was hilarious and had the audience roaring.  The time change was implied by a bell sound so you knew when it was happening.  One bit was hilarious as they had the daughter’s timeline change in 3-4 seconds.  By quickly changing bags she went from schoolgirl, college student, to business intern in seconds.  Loved how the audience got the joke and embraced it.  A goldfish in a fishbowl remains on stage the entire time after he’s brought on and I LOVED that Messing gave him the final bow after hers.  

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 11:35am

BrodyFosse123 said: "So after all I read about the play (Lifetime/Hallmark movie-ish, predictable plot line but enjoyed it, etc) I decided I seeing this last night. LOVED it. It’s 90 minutes, no intermission and the performances make the ride fantastic. Messing truly is fabulous and those years working in front of a studio audience on WILL & GRACE taught her how to use her presence, and where to insert comic nuances. Watching her age from 17 to 101 without the use of a costume change, or make-up, or wigs is a true showcase of what she can do as an actress. The entire audience was truly captivated and beautiful hearing sniffles as it showed how involved they were. Keep an eye out on Crystal Finn. What a Broadway debut and her Joan was hilarious and had the audience roaring. The time change was implied by a bell sound so you knew when it was happening. One bit was hilarious as they had the daughter’s timeline change in 3-4 seconds. By quickly changing bags she went from schoolgirl, college student, to business intern in seconds. Loved how the audience got the joke and embraced it. A goldfish in a fishbowl remains on stage the entire time after he’s brought on and I LOVED that Messing gave him the final bow after hers. "

 

Does that mean that the goldfish is a union member?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 11:52am

Dollypop said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "So after all I read about the play (Lifetime/Hallmark movie-ish, predictable plot line but enjoyed it, etc) I decided I seeing this last night. LOVED it. It’s 90 minutes, no intermission and the performances make the ride fantastic. Messing truly is fabulous and those years working in front of a studio audience on WILL & GRACE taught her how to use her presence, and where to insert comic nuances. Watching her age from 17 to 101 without the use of a costume change, or make-up, or wigs is a true showcase of what she can do as an actress. The entire audience was truly captivated and beautiful hearing sniffles as it showed how involved they were. Keep an eye out on Crystal Finn. What a Broadway debut and her Joan was hilarious and had the audience roaring. The time change was implied by a bell sound so you knew when it was happening. One bit was hilarious as they had the daughter’s timeline change in 3-4 seconds. By quickly changing bags she went from schoolgirl, college student, to business intern in seconds. Loved how the audience got the joke and embraced it. A goldfish in a fishbowl remains on stage the entire time after he’s brought on and I LOVED that Messing gave him the final bow after hers. "



Does that mean that the goldfish is a union member?"

I think it’s safe to assume that as it’s an Equity production on Broadway.  

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/6/22 at 12:46pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Dollypop said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "So after all I read about the play (Lifetime/Hallmark movie-ish, predictable plot line but enjoyed it, etc) I decided I seeing this last night. LOVED it. It’s 90 minutes, no intermission and the performances make the ride fantastic. Messing truly is fabulous and those years working in front of a studio audience on WILL & GRACE taught her how to use her presence, and where to insert comic nuances. Watching her age from 17 to 101 without the use of a costume change, or make-up, or wigs is a true showcase of what she can do as an actress. The entire audience was truly captivated and beautiful hearing sniffles as it showed how involved they were. Keep an eye out on Crystal Finn. What a Broadway debut and her Joan was hilarious and had the audience roaring. The time change was implied by a bell sound so you knew when it was happening. One bit was hilarious as they had the daughter’s timeline change in 3-4 seconds. By quickly changing bags she went from schoolgirl, college student, to business intern in seconds. Loved how the audience got the joke and embraced it. A goldfish in a fishbowl remains on stage the entire time after he’s brought on and I LOVED that Messing gave him the final bow after hers. "



Does that mean that the goldfish is a union member?"

I think it’s safe to assume that as it’s an Equity production on Broadway.

 

so it's a Fish Called Equity!

"

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/9/22 at 10:36pm

Sweet Baby Jesus, I loved this. To the people sitting near me, I apologize for the loud sobbing. I have a real soft spot for these types of plays/stories and I thought this was done so so well with a leading performance that at least I will remember and talk about for a very long time. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/9/22 at 11:04pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Sweet Baby Jesus, I loved this. To the people sitting near me, I apologize for the loud sobbing. I have a real soft spot for these types of plays/stories and I thought this was done so so well with a leading performance that at least I will remember and talk about for a very long time."

Yup.  Even with all the disclaimers about it being predictable, etc… I loved this.  The positive word-of-mouth is truly merited.  The 90 minute ride is fabulous and one detail Messing did keeps floating in my head: how she lowers the large heavy sugar and flour containers from the cupboard when she’s 101.  The audience was in complete silence during this subtle moment.  

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/9/22 at 11:21pm

Oh the way they lingered on her lifting those was stunning. I honest to God have such a newfound respect for her as an actress after tonight. 
 

As for it being predictable, my reaction is “Duh”. It’s a story about a persons entire life spoken in (mostly) universal themes. Of course large parts are going to be predictable. But that doesn’t take anything away from the beauty of the script or the performances. And it’s the timelessness and that beautiful simplicity of the script that’s going to make sure this play is done for many many years to come.
 

I understand the comparisons to “Our Town”, what I consider to be the finest play ever written. And while I don’t think it’s a totally accurate comparison, watching the ending I was reminded of those two lines from it  - 

Emily: They don't understand, do they? 
Mother Gibbs: No, dear. Not very much.

 

Again, this will sit with me for a long time to come  

 

Updated On: 4/9/22 at 11:21 PM

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 4/9/22 at 11:35pm

So glad you loved this, Jordan! I’m still thinking about Messing’s performance. I hope she gets a well deserved Tony nomination. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/9/22 at 11:40pm

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/10/22 at 8:24am

BrodyFosse123 said: ""

This scene confused me a lot.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

During this scene where photo was taken, Debra Messing now lives in a nursing home but somehow left it at 3am to go back to her former house to bake a cake on her birthday? The wife of the couple who now owns the house kept saying how she placed her grandmother in the same nursing home Debra Messing mentioned where she now lives. So the wife didn't recognize her own grandmother? This scene was just confusing for me. 

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/10/22 at 8:53am

I feel you misinterpreted things as I didn’t take it that Ernestine was the grandmother she’s referring to.  The way the play is written, the scene would have been written with the woman reacting to grandma not some strange old lady had that been the implication.  Due to the constant changing of people and periods, the playwright intentionally wrote things to not be confusing.  

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/10/22 at 8:57am

Thanks for the clarification. 

Since they were reusing actors in different roles in different generations I think that's why I got confused and misinterpreted that Debra Messing was the young wife's grandma from the nursing home.

Updated On: 4/10/22 at 08:57 AM

[joshdog2014]

Posted: 4/10/22 at 8:34pm

Dollypop said: "Does that mean that the goldfish is a union member?"

Maya Phillips weighs in during her NYT review: 

“Even a poor goldfish, a nonunion actor in a round bowl on the kitchen table, works his tail off as a stand-in for what Kenneth calls “the divinity within yourself.”

Updated On: 4/10/22 at 08:34 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/22 at 9:24pm

Reading those reviews, I feel like I’m taking crazy pills with how much I loved this play. 

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/10/22 at 9:56pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Reading those reviews, I feel like I’m taking crazy pills with how much I loved this play."

Yeah, this play was trash. Glad the reviews made that clear. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/22 at 9:59pm

K.

[undercoveractor]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 5:44pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Sweet Baby Jesus, I loved this. To the people sitting near me, I apologize for the loud sobbing. I have a real soft spot for these types of plays/stories and I thought this was done so so well with a leading performance that at least I will remember and talk about for a very long time."

Yup. Even with all the disclaimers about it being predictable, etc… I loved this. The positive word-of-mouth is truly merited. The 90 minute ride is fabulous and one detail Messing did keeps floating in my head: how she lowers the large heavy sugar and flour containers from the cupboard when she’s 101. The audience was in complete silence during this subtle moment."

Man, I wanted to love this. I really did. To my great disappointment, I could not wait for it to be over.
As for the moment when she struggles to get the flour and sugar down, I wasn't as impressed as you. It was SO over the top that later all I could imagine was how the hell did this old lady manage to get that fishbowl to the kitchen.
And when the cast was changing characters so fast at the end, nobody wore shoes. Was this in reference to the 'shoes off' rule of measuring, or a cop out so that everyone could change clothes faster?

Anyway, to each his own. This was not for me.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 5:46pm

Yeah, this play was trash. Glad the reviews made that clear."

Lolz. 

 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 12:05am

Did anyone happen to see Kate Hampton go on this past week? I know Debra Messing was out the other day but the show still went on.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 12:26am

nativenewyorker2 said: "I’ll admit i am not the biggest Debra messing fan and i only saw the show because I saw it for $20 on today tix an hour before the show today, but…I’m glad I did. Heartfelt and funny, messing at least deserves a Tony nom.

Now the performance by the user screaming to everyone as they walk in “this is your warning, if I see your nose I will escort you out” was a bit much"

A bit much? It’s downright assaultive. No one is on trial here. We are customers. “Mask Up” signs are sufficient.

Decorum and decency are truly disappearing. 

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 10:28am

Rudy2 said: "nativenewyorker2 said: "Now the performance by the user screaming to everyone as they walk in “this is your warning, if I see your nose I will escort you out” was a bit much"

A bit much? It’s downright assaultive. No one is on trial here. We are customers. “Mask Up” signs are sufficient."

 

That has not proven to be the case, in my experience, nor (I would guess) in the experience of most front of house teams. "Mask-up" signs do little for audience members who are already determined not to give a crap about proper mask protocol - which is many, many people. It's audiences who have lost their decorum and decency, eliciting the need for a more aggressive enforcement from front of house. 

[Tom5]

Posted: 5/20/22 at 11:22am

If a persons nose is uncovered they are almost entirely endangering themselves (and anyone they may come in contact with later)  more than anyone else.