Break a leg, The Importance of Being Earnest

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/13/11 at 7:23pm

Post reviews here!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/13/11 at 7:25pm

I adored this production.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/13/11 at 7:50pm

I did too, I'm curious to hear the official reviews as they get posted!

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 1/13/11 at 8:12pm

Can't wait to see this on Sunday!

[whyohwhyoh]

Posted: 1/13/11 at 8:30pm

VERY curious. I had seen this production at Stratford, found it a bit summer stock and miscast but thought the Broadway production a HUGE improvement, especially the two boys and the amazing Paxton Whitehead. Still not mad about the theft of a great woman's part Lady B, but who can deny the brilliance of Bedford??

[Kevn520]

Posted: 1/13/11 at 9:41pm

This is such a delightful production. I hope the critics feel the same way.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/13/11 at 11:36pm

"One of the great performances of the season; to miss it would most definitely look like carelessness."

--Isherwood, New York Times

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 4:36am

The Faster Times is a rave.

"All it is safe to say is that Bedford’s performance is reason enough to see this production of “The Importance of Being Earnest.” But there are many other reasons as well."


http://thefastertimes.com/newyorktheater/2011/01/13/the-importance-of-being-earnest-review/


Even though I've never HEARD of The Faster Times.

Updated On: 1/14/11 at 04:36 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 4:39am

TheaterMania, too. Although he spends so much time talking about the plot it's hard to find his review.

"...This new Broadway mounting, directed by and starring Brian Bedford, is as nearly perfect as it gets."
http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/reviews/01-2011/the-importance-of-being-earnest_33129.html

Updated On: 1/14/11 at 04:39 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 4:42am

The NYT joins the party:

Quote already provided above by PalJoey

http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/theater/reviews/14importance.html

Updated On: 1/14/11 at 04:42 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 4:48am

There's a lot of love being spread around.

Hollywood Reporter Ravishly Raves:

"Oscar Wilde’s wittiest comedy sparkles in this Broadway production, and when its director is onstage, it delivers pure bliss."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/importance-earnest-theater-review-71658

[whyohwhyoh]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 12:07pm

This show had a lot of shills on the boards- but they seemed to be justified. Great reviews all around. No one had a problem with a great woman's role lost to a man and that's the society we live in. I thought Bedford was wonderful but was sad for the female star's performance that we will never see. Oh well, I guess it's a revival of Arsenic and Old lace next with Chris Plummer amd Brian Denehey! LOl i was thrilled that Santino and David Furr got wonderful reviews ad who can argue with the incomparable Dana Ivey (Would LOVE LOVE to see her Lady B.)and Paxton Whitehead. Congrats to all for a fine production. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 1:14pm

A fat, fast-talking Jack and an Algernon with a lisp!!1!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 2:01pm

I really loved the production and am recommending it to everyone. It's a sheer joy from start to finish!

Updated On: 1/14/11 at 02:01 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 2:15pm

I really loved it to and am doing the same. I was smiling from start to finish. It was easily one of the quickest 2.5 hours I've spent in a theatre.

[whyohwhyoh]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 6:22pm

Not in this production!!! Huge applause to Furr and Fontana!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 6:47pm

I don't remember any shills for this show. Some folks saw it early and liked it and a bunch of others (including myself) were excited to see it. Shills? Didn't see any. There hasn't even been THAT much talk about it. (Not suprisingly as straight plays seldom get a lot of buzz here.)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 9:02pm

I'm not a shill.

I don't work for the show. I didn't invest in the show. I don't have a personal relationship with anyone connected to the show.

Well, I did have a conversation with Dana Ivey at a party once, but I doubt she'd remember and a passing conversation certainly wouldn't give me shill status.

I just loved the show and have admired Brian Bedford's performances for decades and thought WhyO's meanspirited comments were uncalled for.

And I'm glad (but not surprised) no one shared his bizarre notion that the role of Lady Bracknell was somehow "stolen" from an unspecified actress or actresses.

But shill? No, not I.

I'm just happy that people who love the play will see this good a production, and that people who don't know it will have this as their introduction.

[whyohwhyoh]

Posted: 1/14/11 at 11:11pm

You seem to think my remarks are aimed at you- they are not. You have clearly NOT read my posts praising the production over and over. The ONLY caveat I had was a disappointment that a great ACTRESS could not have claimed a role that is a prize. The great roles for actresses of a certain age are few and when a plum is snatched I find it sad for the great actresses of the theatre. I assume you are a man and therefore don't seem to care how lopsided theatre can be. Ask any actress over 40 is you are curious. Again, and it seems as if people are NOT hearing me- I LOVE BEDFORD. I am a FAN. I have been a fan for over 50 years. I simply think this kind of thing (men playing Bracknell) is old hat and let's MOVE on!
Updated On: 1/14/11 at 11:11 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/15/11 at 2:18pm

But you called people shills -- implying you believed that the early birds checking on this with positive comments were only doing so because of some sort of compensation.

I'M a woman and I'm not slighted at all by a man playing this role. Bedford was sublime. Sure its been done before -- it's also been done by women before. I love that he played the role and it had nothing to do with "playing" a woman. I would love to see a Tony nod for him.

The funny thing about your comments though: I felt the same way about the Hairspray casting of men as Mrs. Turnblad. It was just a gimmick. I can't explain why this didn't rub me the same way--but it didn't. Maybe because I'D never seen a man play the role before (although I'd known it had been done.)

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 1:35am

What was the show curtain for this? I know from the pictures that the sets are incredible.

[fosca3]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 10:02am

I guess that's a serious question -- the show curtain is AMAZING. It's handpainted in a gorgeous design, with metallic gold accents. It's a work of art

And I LOVED this show. I can't remember the last time I heard so much audience laughter -- pretty much every few seconds. It's a show that makes everyone happy

It's dead-clever, altogether Oscar Wilde. You can't help but laugh, it's just FUN