Brantley tramples FESTEN early!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 11:46pm

This has got to be an all time first - a NY TIMES review two days before opening night. Whoops...

It's on their new podcast program...

[Lamc16]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 11:56pm

Oh boy, he's going to stomp on Mcgraw!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/7/06 at 11:58pm

Ah darn. I think they took down the review. Well, he didn't like the show much. At least the producers won't have to wait with baited breath on opening night.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:01am

Did they really think Sir Ben would like it ?

[Lamc16]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:03am

They didn't take down the podcast. I just listened to it.

[joniray]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:04am

Apparently he loved it in London.

[Lamc16]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:05am

Yeah, that's what he said. That's too bad.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:15am

I saw it tonight, and I really haven't decided what I thought of it yet.

But guess who the only person to get entrance applause was?

[Lamc16]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:26am

hmmmm....

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:46am

I saw it a couple of nights ago and while I thought the staging dynamic and atmospheric and a few of the performances were very solid, my only response to the play itself was "Huh? THIS is what people have been raving about for the past year?"

I didn't get it.

A major disappointment for me.

[bigrab1018]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:14am

Hmmm...given the fact that there were coupons for free tickets to Festen at Sombrero's restaurant, it doesn't seem like this is going to be a smash hit...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:21am

Wait - they were giving free tickets to a Danish play at a Mexican restaurant?

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:43am

It's not a Danish play. It's an English play(well, it's an English theatrical adaptation of a Danish movie). Either way it probably doesn't belong anywhere near a mexican resturant.

kmc

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:44am

Margo, that was kind of my thoughts. I was not blown away by the script at all, and my expectations for the script were high. However, I had lower expectations for the cast and was pleasantly surprised by many of them. Jeremy Sisto was outstanding. Juliana Margulies, I'm still working out my perception of her -- her part was just bizarre. So amorphous. And I didn't think the conceit of melding three scenes into one set added much.

However, there were a couple of moments that were truly uncomfortable to watch, and the sadistic side of me appreciates that in the play. But I don't know. It seemed like there was this ominous build-up to, well, nothing. It felt like Pinter without the payoff.

The audience members around me, for what it's worth, loved it. But from hearing them talk, it sounded like they loved it because they thought they were supposed to love it.

I still would recommend it, though, if I had to boil it down to a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. It has me really looking forward to History Boys, though.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:50am

You know all we care about Calvin and Margo is what level of trainwreck Ali McGraw was at your performance...

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 2:02am

My mother always said: If you can't say anything nice...

I went in knowing what everyone has said about her, and I can't really disagree with any of it. Her one big speech was really flat. The rest of the time she was kind of a non-entity on the stage. However, there were a few times when I could almost see the director's point in casting her. Being a non-entity, an unemotive shell kind of makes sense for the role.

Maybe that's like trying to rationalize why God causes hurricanes. But I would not say that her casting is the sole factor in this show's shortcomings. And -- she still has her fans. I heard one guy walking out saying he was in awe of being in her presence, and I did not detect any sarcasm.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 2:20am

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.

Updated On: 4/8/06 at 02:20 AM

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 4:46am

I was there tonight as well.

I thought there were 15 minutes of decent action going on, other than that, there are no words to sum up this underdeveloped trite of a play.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:11am

Many of us have been debating these same points for two or more weeks, and it's interesting that there's a consensus of sorts about the nature of the problems in this play/production. How ultimately a talk show topic has been exploited rather than explicated with fresh insight.

Producers out there: audiences are smarter than you think, for film and theater. We're not fooled by an ad campaign with a key hole design and "secrets" promised. This play has no real secret, and certainly doesn't have a "twist," as is also suggested by some.

15 minutes in, we know all we're going to learn. That's the depressing bottom line about how the topic is handled.

As for Brantley taking down MacGraw: I've never really enjoyed seeing flies swatted with a sledgehammer. And an already old and wing-less fly at that. To me, it'll be a joyless to see this 67 year old bad actor destroyed. But I cannot argue with those livid with her as a choice. On B'way, she is where she surely doesn't belong -- and at 96 bucks a pop, shouldn't have been invited.

Updated On: 4/8/06 at 10:11 AM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:12am

I saw it last Saturday. A major dissapointment for me as well, seeing as I loved it in London. None of the actors seemed especially connected or even interested in what was going on around them. Margulies and Sisto made the best of what they had to work with, and Hayden was floundering like a fish out of water. Bryggman walked through the show.

Ali MacGraw gave one of the single worst performances I've ever seen on ANY stage in my life. There were girls in my ninth grade intro to acting class who were more skilled and natural than she is. I felt embarrassed for her, and there is nothing I hate more than feeling embarrassed for other people. A truly terrible performance.

I can't imagine this play running very long. I can't even imagine them staying open until Tony time, with the reviews it's going to get.

[Brodybaby03]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:33am

Well I haven't seen it....I don't think I will....as a DYNASTY fan I prefer to remeber Ali @ her finest.

I did however see Jeremy Sisto while I was grabbing coffee in Union Square....he will always be Elton from CLUELESS to me. I wanted to go up to him and go, "God Elton can't you SUCK!" ....but I didn't.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:41am

If Festen is the only show my wife missed due to her fractured elbow last weekend we got off easy. Changed tickets we had for Brel that Sunday to Memorial day weekend

I saw it & sold the other ticket. OK but not great & no chance in hell of making it. They obviously spent no money on the sets

The most annoying song I have heard in many a day was that insipid birthday song they sing in it. For that reason alone, it deserves to flop . Oy vey

[Hawker]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 11:59am

It just goes to show you that West End success no matter how historic ("Blood Brothers") doesn't always translate to Broadway.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:06pm

MEFFIE,

I'm curious. What made it work so well in London? Presumably the text is exactly the same and they have the same director and all of the same design team. The only difference here is the cast and except for Ms. McGraw, this one seems to be at least competent in most roles. While their British counterparts may have been better, the play is still the play which strikes me as a rather trivial affair. Even if Judi Dench were playing the McGraw role and you had Michael Gambon and Simon Russell Beale and Judy Davis up there, I find it hard to believe this play would suddenly be transformed into a brilliant evening of theatre ..... well, maybe with THAT cast.

Many people who saw the London production call it one of the highlights of their theatregoing lives. I don't get it.

[chad2]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:11pm

I am going next Saturday on early advice from this board! I am getting nervous! I am also seeing Threepenny, sounds like the most iffy shows of the season. I should have stuck save and gone to see old stand-bys! Guess that is the price to pay to be daring! Help me not get too sad!