BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - Invited Dress / First Preview

[dramadude]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:05pm

I wouldn't comment on a dress rehearsal unless it was positive. I am pleased to say that the production within the walls of the Nederlander Theatre is just as fabulous as the theatre's previous renovation. The show is in great shape. Funny, dramatic, and touching all wrapped up in a great script. Noah Robbins as Eugene was great, perfect comedic timing. Laurie Metcalf was phenomenal. I strongly encourage everyone to see this production.





Updated On: 10/2/09 at 11:05 PM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:06pm

I'll be at the first preview tomorrow (which from the looks of it was heavily papered). I will report back.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:21pm

I'll be there on Saturday! I can't wait! BRIGHTON BEACH is one of my favorite plays.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:30pm

I'll be there Saturday too!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:32pm

I'll be there for the first preview!

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:50pm

This is such a great play. I'm so glad to hear that the production is great!

[stagedoorslacker]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 12:39am

I was there tonight also. I gotta say that this is a REALLY great play.

I had no idea this play was so deep! Laugh out load funny, but some brutally honest scenes between the sisters and the father and son. I gotta a bit emotional. I never expected that.

The kid who plays Eugene is fantastic. You fall in love with him in the first five minutes of the play. I don't know his name.

Great shape even before the first preview.

[April Saul]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 1:06pm

Hi--Sounds great! Running time, anybody who was there last night? Thanks!

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 10:36pm

Anybody go tonight? How was it!?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 11:08am

I saw it last night and have to say I thought it was just ok. The acting was wonderful and the set really wowed me. My problem was with the actual play itself.

I saw the play when my high school did it, and remember laughing and thinking it was so hilarious. This time around I maybe chuckled a few times, but the humor seemed very quaint and corny.

I felt the way some people have noted they feel while watching superior donuts: like you're watching an old sitcom that's comfortable and pleasant, but not as funny as the first time you saw the series.

The darker moments in the second act came off MUCH better for me than the more light-hearted first act. The fights and especially (slight SPOILER) when Blanche finally stands up for herself were great.

I'm sure they'll be tightening and all that good stuff, but the acting is in pretty good shape. The orchestra seemed to be laughing a lot, but the mezz was a good deal quieter. I'll be interested to see if what people who don't know this play at all think of it.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 2:16pm

I was there last night, as well. The play is beautiful, no doubt. This was my first exposure to the play. Some very funny moments, also some incredibly moving ones. One scene between Dennis Boutsikaris as Jack Jerome and Santino Fontana as his son Stanley almost moved me to tears.

Laurie Metcalf is terrific as Kate Jerome -- a truly multifaceted portrayal of this woman. But the performance of the night, for me, goes to Jessica Hecht, as Blache. She was absolutely phenomenal. I had seen Hecht in previous shows and she always left a lasting impression on me, but here, she completely disappears into this role. I never would have guessed that was Hecht if I hadn't known beforehand. A truly specific, detailed characterization that I believed and cared for from start to finish.

I was also impressed by Alexandra Socha's performance as Nora. I wasn't a fan of Socha's performance in SPRING AWAKENING, perhaps because I had Lea Michele's performance to compare her to, but she really shines here in this role.

The set is detailed, accurate to the time period and location, and really fills out the stage.

There appeared to be some sound issues, though. Some, or all, of the actors didn't appear to be miked, or perhaps they weren't projecting enough. I was sitting in the Orchestra, and had some trouble hearing Noah Robbins in his opening monologue, as well as other times. The other actors were a bit hard to hear at times, as well.

But overall, I immensely enjoyed the show. It was only the first preview, and I feel it can definitely use some tightening, but I'm sure by press previews, they'll be in even better shape.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 2:25pm

Ugh, I can't wait to see it tonight! I love this play!

[Kad]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 2:26pm

I'm looking forward to Brighton Beach a great deal.

Broadway Bound... not so much.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 2:37pm

Biloxi Blues

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 2:53pm

Is there a rush or anything for this?

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 3:15pm

Yeah, I also kinda have to wonder why Biloxi Blues is not a part of this...

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 3:18pm

Probably because of the set. With Brighton Beach and Broadway Bound they can use the same set.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 3:35pm

Yeah, Biloxi Blues is a lot more demanding technically than either of these. It's the only one to feature more than one location, and it features the largest cast.

It's also, in my opinion, the best in the trilogy.

I just really dislike Broadway Bound.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/3/09 at 3:41pm

They'd also need a second cast for Biloxi Blues. The only character in that one from the other two is Eugene.

[April Saul]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 12:18am

Hey--
There IS a Brighton student rush, I asked, it's two tickets per ID, I think about $30 each and best available of what they have left...the guy clearly hadn't been asked this before, and had to ask someone else but that seemed to be the answer!

[bjh2114]

Posted: 10/4/09 at 1:37am

I was also at the first preview and thought that the whole thing was incredibly good overall. For a first preview, everything ran very smoothly. I loved the entire cast, with Laurie Metcalf being the obvious standout. However, I thought Santino's and Noah Robbins' performances were spectacular as well. The sound was a slight issue in the mezzanine, but all in all I thought it was a marvelous night of theatre. Easily the best production of the season so far for me (I have yet to see Memphis and Hamlet, though I don't think either of those will take the top spot away from Brighton Beach).