I agree with much of what you say, Calvin, though I cannot in good conscience recommend this production to anyone. The direction, sets, lighting and sound designs were all dazzling and very effective at creating mood and tension that are nowhere to be found in the actual text of the script. I thought Margulies, Bryggman, Christopher Evan Welch and David Patrick Kelly were all quite good. Hayden and Sisto were also good, but their roles felt underwritten and lacking in arc -- there were drastic shifts in emotion that seemed unmotivated and coming out of nowhere (though they managed to handle the contrasts as best they could).
Ali McGraw is an embarassment to the profession of acting and doesn't belong on a community theatre stage, let alone Broadway. She "indicates" like an undergrad Acting 101 student and speaks the text like English is not her native tongue -- there's absolutely no connection between the words coming out of her mouth and any real emotion. She seems like she's happy to just remember her lines. She's still pretty as ever, but her voice is flat, underpowered and devoid of texture. No her role isn't large, but it's easy to see how a great actress could make a strong impact with it -- both when speaking and also when merely reacting or observing the goings-on. McGraw has no idea what she's doing up there and it hurts the play -- which already has a world of problems to it.
Pinter also came to mind frequently as I watched it, but Pinter's work has a depth that this play cannot approach. All there is here is a rather pedestrian revelation or two which the play tries to blow up into some sort of epic tragedy. The big "secret" here can be seen on Springer and Maury every day of the week. But beyond that, the play's primary focuses -- on the ironies of class and so-called civilized behavior and the need to keep up appearances even in the face of uncomfortable truths and racism and violence and notions of family dynamics and loyalty -- are so muddled and underdeveloped and caught up in the highly stylized, surrealist presentation that they never register with any real force. Director Rufus Norris has done a great job of masking the inherent critical flaws in this material (and there were a few individual moments that were strong and effective) , but, for me, ultimately, this was a mostly empty exercise in style over substance.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 4/8/06 at 02:20 AM
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