Born Yesterday?????

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 3/31/11 at 8:54am

So--Is anyone Planning to catch this tonight or this weekend?

Would love to hear opinions on it! I can not believe that there is not any chatter about this show on here!
Updated On: 3/31/11 at 08:54 AM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 3/31/11 at 9:11am

I'll be there tomorrow night.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/31/11 at 9:12am

I was considering going next weekend, so I'm definitely looking forward to hearing from people seeing it before then.

[once a month]

Posted: 3/31/11 at 11:31am

I'm extremely curious! I thought the previous revival with Madeline Kahn, Ed Asner and Greg Jbara merely satisfactory. I've not thought about it since, except when we lost Madeline Kahn.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/31/11 at 12:11pm

I was very unhappy with the Kahn/Asner production -- it was going to be the must-go-to show that year and I made the mistake of going.

My biggest question mark about the new production is Jim Belushi. He was horrible when he took over Conversations With My Father after Judd Hirsch and had a reputation of being very difficult to deal with (I knew one of the other cast members). After the sterling reviews she got last year for Venus in Furs, I'm curious about the woman playing Billie Dawn (can't remember her name off the top of my head). Robert Sean Leonard sounds ideal for Paul Verral (spelling?). I'm sure I'll try to see a late preview as a second show of the day as Born Yesterday doesn't require a brain surgeon mentality. Best of luck to all!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/31/11 at 12:18pm

Ed, her name is Nina Arianda. I didn't see her in Venus in Fur, but I was just reading an interview with her and I didn't realize how young she is (26). But knowing that she got such great reviews for Venus in Fur, I'm very curious to see her as Billie Dawn.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 3/31/11 at 1:31pm

This has been a theatre week for me. I saw ARCADIA and BENGAL TIGER yesterday. Seeing BORN YESTERDAY tonight. Looking forward to this production. Also glad to be seeing something light and funny after those two shows yesterday.

I can't say how Jim Belushi will be on stage. I've never seen him in a play before. But if you know the play, he is perfect casting for the role.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/31/11 at 8:41pm

Didn't Jim Belushi replace Kevin Kline as the Pirate King in PIRATES OF PENZANCE, way back when?

[gravity87]

Posted: 4/1/11 at 2:42am

Looks like I'm the first to weigh in. Saw the 1st preview and it was very much that. There is definatley work to be done here, but I'm sure that things will come together as previews progress. As it was first preview I'm not going to give a real review. However, I must say, Nina Ariadna is giving hands down one of the best comedic performances I have ever seen. This girl is an absolute STAR. By the second act (of which there are 3, with one intermission) she had the audience eating out of her hand. Come act 3 she was receiving applause combined with uprorious laughter after most of her lines -- no, I'm not exagerating. Her performance alone is an absolute must see. I just loved everything she did. She manages to be compelling simply reading a book. And she is just hillarious! Despite the absurd character she plays, she is so honest, believable and present. I could continue gushing but I'll force myself to stop. Just go see her. Interestingly enough, despite the cast of theatre and TV names, Ariadna is given the final bow. She is a serious tony contendor.

Is this a great overall production? Not as of yet (though the deisgn is stunning.) But this is one performance you shouldn't miss!

[newintown]

Posted: 4/1/11 at 1:24pm

I would truly love to see Arianda try this role, but will probably avoid the production, partly because of Belushi (strictly sit-com talent), but mostly because of Leonard, one of the laziest actors I've ever seen. He has two tricks: relying on boyish charm, and speaking slowly (which many people mistake for intelligence). He really turns me off.