Betty Buckley fans listen up (and fans of good theatre).....- Page 2

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/9/13 at 12:14am

I was front and center for this. And I'm still not sure what all I thought? The first act I found it hard to pay attention. The second act, I was riveted. I've never seen these actors on stage before - minus Cotter Smith - so I'm not sure how I felt by Ms. Foote. She was so timid and her voice/line readings were so strange, but it worked for me. Buckley and Coxx were just awesome. Hilarious. They ruled those parts. Smith didn't do anything for me. Her pauses made it seem like she just couldn't remember her line and she'd do actions after the fact as if she was thinking "oh, now I do this." I just didn't buy anything she was saying or doing. I was very aware she was acting.

After seeing this and Trip to Bountiful - I'm still not sure I totally grasp Foote's writing. I'm not sure I "get" what's so great about his style and whatnot. They're slow-burners for sure, but I sort of dislike his use of minor characters. Do we really need to see/hear the two maids? I think they both have 5 lines total. There's just no reason to have those characters at all. I felt the same way with Bountiful. There were just some characters who weren't needed, and it could have been cleaner.