BLACKBIRD Reviews

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 6:42pm

Looks like Limelight Mike is off again tonight, so I shall be taking over...

 

The Broadway premiere of David Harrower's play Blackbird starring Tony nominee Jeff Daniels and Three-Time Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams, directed by Two-Time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello!

 

Be sure to post the reviews right here!

[smidge]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 6:48pm

Thanks for starting this thread. I forgot this opened tonight.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 8:33pm

Here's the reviews so far...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-BLACKBIRD-Starring-Jeff-Daniels-and-Michelle-Williams-Opens-on-Broadway-Updating-LIVE-20160310

[woeisme3]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 8:57pm

Pretty solid raves across the board thus far (sans Teachout, but does he like ANYTHING?) Hopefully the Times and Post continue the trend.

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 9:06pm

Based on these reviews, it looks like Michelle Williams and Lupita Nyong'o might be neck and neck for a Tony win (with Williams having a slighter edge)

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 10:17pm

Brantley has now weighed in...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-BLACKBIRD-Starring-Jeff-Daniels-and-Michelle-Williams-Opens-on-Broadway-Updating-LIVE-20160310

[BakerWilliams]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 10:36pm

Brantley just does not like Michelle Williams. Too bad for him, because she's amazing.

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 10:50pm

Michelle's raw and genuine performance has been the highlight of the season thus far. Completely full circle.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 12:39am

Actually, I'm totally with Brantley. He expressed exactly what I felt about Williams but I couldn't quite figure out how to put it into words. She gives so much of herself to completely embody the part, that it becomes alienating.

 

Absolutely, what she does is extremely impressive from an objective stand-point. To do what she does 8 times a week is astounding, and I truly commend her for being so willing to go to that emotional state for the role. Plus, I'm sure she did a lot of research to delve into how a character like this might behave, and what sort of physical and emotional symptoms they would feel under that sort of trauma. 

 

But as an audience member experiencing the play, the degree to which she plummeted in complete and utter despair just felt alienating to me. She went to a place emotionally where I just couldn't follow, and as result I felt taken out of the play -- I felt like I was just observing an actor having a breakdown rather than feeling drawn into the character's emotion. 

 

I'm reminded of one of my acting teachers in particular, who told us to be very careful if we ever cry onstage, because if you're not careful, it becomes about what as the actor are feeling an not what the audience is experiencing. And that's exactly where I felt Williams went wrong. 

Updated On: 3/11/16 at 12:39 AM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 1:18am

Thanks so much for covering for me, Jeffrey. Much appreciated. :)

I was swamped today: Caught the matinee of SOUTHERN COMFORT, then, headed straight to a blocking rehearsal for a production of RENT I'm helming.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 9:14am

BakerWilliams said: "Brantley just does not like Michelle Williams. Too bad for him, because she's amazing."

 

100% agree. He also should stop letting his dislike for her cloud his reviews. It makes him look like a child.

 

[east side story]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 9:23am

I still smell a Tony for Williams. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 9:52am

Oh I certainly hope so, but we haven't seen Jessica Lange yet.

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 11:03am

One could say Ben was a fan of Michelle's previous work

 

From his review of Smelling A Rat off bway in 2002 -

The play, which opened recently at the Samuel Beckett Theater in a New Group production, is titled ''Smelling a Rat.'' But as confidently staged by Scott Elliott -- with a nigh flawless five-member cast that includes a comely young television star (Michelle Williams of ''Dawson's Creek'' ... the cast members are all priceless. If just one of them crossed the line into sitcom caricature, the evening would be spoiled. .

Ms. Williams's sexually ambivalent Melanie-Jane is every manic boy-teaser one remembers from high school. And her faltering, high-heeled walk, an awkward combination of a mince and a march, becomes a blissful metaphor for the unwitting gracelessness of all the characters.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 11:10am

He reviewed her negatively in Cabaret as well (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/theater/cabaret-opens-with-alan-cumming-and-michelle-williams.html?_r=0) , which was my point, but thanks for digging up an article from 14 years ago?

Updated On: 3/11/16 at 11:10 AM

[Jshan05]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 1:55pm

AH these reviews made the show just shoot to the top of my list. I was hoping to rush for either Eclipsed or Blackbird. Anybody have any thoughts on which one would be easier to snag tickets for? Thanks!

[orlikethecolorpurple]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 2:16pm

So conflicted about Blackbird vs. Long Day's Journey into Night for the last show of my trip! 

[BakerWilliams]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 3:43pm

Blackbird is a lot easier to rush from what I've heard (saw Eclipsed at the Public) and I think it's the better show as well.

[broadwayfan250]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 3:50pm

Jshan05 said: "AH these reviews made the show just shoot to the top of my list. I was hoping to rush for either Eclipsed or Blackbird. Anybody have any thoughts on which one would be easier to snag tickets for? Thanks!

 

"

I rushed Blackbird last week for a Tuesday night performance and got there around 9:15am and received front row center tickets.

I actually really loved the show and I'm seeing it again tonight!

[Jshan05]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 3:53pm

broadwayfan250 said: "Jshan05 said: "AH these reviews made the show just shoot to the top of my list. I was hoping to rush for either Eclipsed or Blackbird. Anybody have any thoughts on which one would be easier to snag tickets for? Thanks!"

I rushed Blackbird last week for a Tuesday night performance and got there around 9:15am and received front row center tickets.I actually really loved the show and I'm seeing it again tonight!"

Thanks BroadwayFan and Baker...I think I'm sold on Blackbird, even though I'm more interested in the subject matter of Eclipsed (mainly because I haven't let myself research much about the true plot of Blackbird.) I think I will try and do rush for Blackbird. :)

[Owen22]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 7:41pm

I enjoyed Michelle in Cabaret...but her Una is excruciatingly annoying.  I was actually mad at her, I thought her performance was making me side with Daniels' character, so I didn't get to see the play the way the author wanted me to. Man, I hated her...

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 8:05pm

I will never understand Brantley's dislike toward Michelle Williams. I saw her both in Cabaret and Blackbird, and she simply blew me away with both of her performances in each role. Williams is a phenomenal actress IMO, and I hope she continues to pursue roles on Broadway.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 10:48pm

Owen22 said: "I enjoyed Michelle in Cabaret...but her Una is excruciatingly annoying.  I was actually mad at her, I thought her performance was making me side with Daniels' character, so I didn't get to see the play the way the author wanted me to. Man, I hated her..."

 

How do you know you didn't?

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 3/11/16 at 11:11pm

I still think Michelle was robbed of a nomination for "Cabaret" - she was a whole different person while on stage, and she quickly became my all time favorite Sally. She's a marvel, and if she's snubbed again this year, I would be very surprised. 

[chanel]

Posted: 3/14/16 at 11:22am

Rave for the "searing" Blackbird and "sensational" Michelle Williams performance. Scroll down. http://www.out.com/michael-musto/2016/3/14/david-bowie-costar-eszter-balint-he-was-flirty-dry-and-fab