CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF First Preview Review (No Spoilers)- Page 3

[bwayfascination]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 2:24pm

When I saw the Roundabout production, the thing I "got" for the first time was how Big Daddy and Big Mama are just like Maggie and Brick, just at a different time in their relationship - years down the road. For some reason, that revelation brought the whole play together for me. Margo Martindale, who played Big Mama, was amazing - she made Big Mama central to the proceedings in a way she just isn't in the movie or in any other production I've ever seen.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 2:33pm

"Margo Martindale, who played Big Mama, was amazing"

I didn't get to see that production, but I've always thought she would be excellent in the role.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:13pm

I'm seeing this tomorrow night with my Acting class, so I'm looking forward to seeing it.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:21pm

Sounds like it was a great first preview!

[nmartin]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:39pm

If this production is being played in an All in the Family dysfunctional style, then something is wrong. I still don't get it being played all African-American. It seems like a David Merrick stunt.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 3:56pm

How many times do we need to hear about people not being informed that rich black people lived in the south for years, including before and after the civil war! Do some research people! Just because you don't know about it, does not mean it did not happen! Please stop denying actors roles because they don't fit your image, or the original image of the play!

I posted this about a month ago and another one before that and it is just starting to make people look ignorant because TonyaFanatic and I have on many times corrected people on this topic and it is like you don't want to listen!



"Maybe you should read more. You can find MANY books about this subject! Many black families lived on plantations, had a lot of money and had black servants, that yes they called by names like that. I know a lot of people are just not informed, but they even had rich, free and land owning blacks pre civil war.

This is a great book on the black upper class in the 40's and 50's.
Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Kind-People-Inside-Americas/dp/0060984384/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?

Here is another great one about rich blacks from 1880-1920!
Aristocrats of Color: The Black Elite, 1880-1920

http://www.amazon.com/Aristocrats-Color-1880-1920-Community-Studies/dp/1557285934/ref=pd_sim_b_title_2


I read a lot about this not talked about group of people so if anyone needs a history lesson, you can pm me!"

Update: Fixed link
Updated On: 2/13/08 at 03:56 PM

[johnsolt]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 4:24pm

Did anyone rush today (Wed.)...were there a lot of seats available? I'm looking to go tomorrow.

Thanks

[nmartin]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 4:30pm

NYC, I am informed about that but how can Cat on a Hot Tin Roof address that? It can't.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 8:05pm

link didn't work

Updated On: 2/13/08 at 08:05 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 8:32pm

Black, white, green, purple, yellow. None of it matters as long as the actors deliver a credible performance.

If the audience cracks up when James Earl Jones yells "I worked like a n*!" there's something wrong.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 9:18pm

"If the audience cracks up when James Earl Jones yells "I worked like a n*!" there's something wrong."

maybe you dont get the fact that a rich african american would refer to a working class african american as a n*. maybe you just have never been around black people, or heard them use the n word?

"NYC, I am informed about that but how can Cat on a Hot Tin Roof address that? It can't."

that is the problem there! that you can't accept a great story, by an amazing playwright being done by african americans! You would not accept it as a colorblind cast, so they used an entire black family so that african americans can play these wonderful roles. it does not need to address anything! They are just actors who happen to be black. The story is about crisis within a marriage. It is about family. It is about lies. it is about sexuality. It is NOT about race! This is so unreal and frustrating. Why does EVERY show involving just one race BESIDES white, HAVE to be about race? PLEASE answer me bc I am ignorant of that answer.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 9:23pm

""If the audience cracks up when James Earl Jones yells "I worked like a n*!" there's something wrong."

maybe you dont get the fact that a rich african american would refer to a working class african american as a n*. maybe you just have never been around black people, or heard them use the n word?"


OR it could be the fact that Jones is such a recognizable persona, combined with the fact that Allen has apparently directed the production to go for laughs, which is THE PROBLEM.


NYC4Life, you are MUCH, MUCH too defensive. Not everything is about the skin color of the actors.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 11:10pm

Any one see the show tonight?

[kissmeimirish]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 11:11pm

the revival a few years back with ashley judd and ned beatty wasn't a roundabout production...was it?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 12:07am

Yankee, the audience didn't laugh at that part as far as I noticed. Actually, I thought it really resonated coming from a black man, it just made it sound so powerful.
The main problem with the production is that people are seeing James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad on stage, not Big Daddy and Big Momma. Rashad's performance starts with lots of comedic stuff going on (and I actually enjoyed it) but eventually, it just hurts the play. She is so grotesque and hard to like that when Big Daddy has the big scene with her, the audience is simply mocking her and laughing at her, I found it heart-breaking but most people just enjoyed James Earl Jones diminishing this woman to nothing.
Oh, also, I think Terrence Howard has been directed to play Brick's drunkenness a bit too broadly. He does a good job at getting progressively drunk, but at the end he is just your stereotypical drunk which makes the audience laugh. His final scene with Maggie loses a lot of power because of that. I will say that as much as I enjoyed Howard's performance, Anika Noni Rose sweeps the floor with him. The last scene needs work.
These are all critiques but honestly, the play is fantastic and I highly recommend it to everyone. The first act alone is reason enough to get to the Broadhurst and buy tickets right away.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 11:10am

Did anyone else see the show this week or this weekend?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 1:23pm

I attended the performance on Wednesday, February 13th and I must say that I absolutely loved the show. When I walked into the theater, there was no curtain, so you could see the set already and it looked fantastic. I was already excited to see this revival due to the amazing cast and I was really curious to see what Debbie Allen would do with it.

First of all, the play itself is a masterpiece. I hadn't seen the movie or the play before Wednesday evening, and I was completely engaged the entire show. The dialogue, the storyline, the characters...wow. Thank you Tennessee Williams for writing such a fantastic play, which I think it still relevant to today.

The actors were all excellent. Terrence Howard has an admirable broadway debut here as Brick. I didn't care much for him in Act 1, but then felt he did a better job in Acts 2 and 3 (I think that has a lot to do with the way the play is written though).

Phylicia Rashad was excellent as Big Mama...she doesn't have too much to do in Acts 1 or 2, but really shines in Act 3. After reading some of the criticisms about Rashad on this board, I am baffled. I think she is a brilliant actress, and such a sweet person as well.

It was absolutely thrilling to be able to see James Earl Jones live on stage...and he got the biggest hand upon his entrance in Act 2 (though all four of the leads did get entrance applause). Even though he flubbed a couple of lines, his Big Daddy was extremely powerful and well-acted. His voice is recognized by everyone in the U.S. His scene with Terrence Howard in Act 2 was incredible.

The star of the show, for me, was Anika Noni Rose. I am still in awe of how she is able to deliver Act 1 (which is basically a monologue for her) with such perfection. She was stunning as Maggie...you could tell she did her research...the choices she made, her line deliveries...I was blown away. Also, her scene with Terrance Howard at the end of Act 3 was incredible. She is a Broadway star and I hope she works on Broadway a lot more in the future.

Two other actors who deserve mention are Lisa Arrindell Anderson as Mae and Giancarlo Esposito as Gooper, who were both wonderful.

The lighting was great for the most part...the only thing that annoyed me was that at one point during each act, there was a spotlight on one of the leads as he or she was delivering part of a monologue...I wasn't really sure why that was needed, but maybe if I saw it again, I would understand.

Also, I'm not sure why we needed the saxophone player at the beginning of each act and at the end of the show...he was a great sax player, but what did that bring to the production?

Debbie Allen has certainly redeemed herself with this production. After 20 years of being away from Broadway, Ms. Allen is back and better than ever. Her direction of this show was excellent in my opinion. People were criticizing her for allowing for too many laughs in the show, but I think that helped it. Yes, it is a very serious show that touches on important issues, but her direction helped the show move forward. I was not bored once during the entire show. My friend who I went with, who is not a fan of Debbie Allen, really enjoyed the show and said to me "Well, even Debbie couldn't screw this one up!" meaning that the show is so well-written that it directs itself.

The stage door was pretty crowded. Terrance, Anika, Phylicia and Debbie Allen all signed and were more than gracious. The crowd in general was most excited to meet Terrance...I was most excited to meet Debbie. Anika was so sweet and she also signed my Caroline, or Change CD cover. Debbie was so nice as well and yes, she did sign my Carrie Souvenir Program. She looked at it, laughed, and said "you must be one of the few people in the world who owns one of these!" Then she signed it, and blew on it to make sure it wouldn't smudge, and then handed it back to me.

All in all, I would highly recommend this show...and frankly, I can't believe it is only running until April 13th. I guess the actors have other committments after the show closes. When I got to work on Wednesday, I told a bunch of people how great the show was and two coworkers bought a pair of tickets each! I hope the show gets rave reviews and that everyone who goes to see it will love it as much as I did.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 2:11pm

Guy at the B.O told me they were selling tickets through the 13th but that there would probably be an extension, not sure how reliable that is but it sounds hopeful.
I'm glad you enjoyed it WAT and it does look like the show has gotten a bit tighter from the first preview.
I agree with most of your comments. Rashad's best moment is indeed in Act III but I still feel that she should have toned down the broad comedy in Act I so people wouldn't have laughed so much at her scene with Big Daddy in Act II. It just caused a certain shift in the tone of the play when I saw it. Perhaps it's playing different now.
Howard is not good in Act I. Yes, Act I is basically written as a monologue for Maggie and Brick is supposed to be aloof, but I think Howard goes beyond aloof to wooden. I also thought he could have played the scene when Maggie begins talking about Spencer a lot better. He definitely makes up for it in the following acts and Riedel was right about rumors that Howard and Rose have good chemistry on stage, but I hope he gets more comfortable with the role in Act I.
Glad that another person agrees that Anika Noni Rose was the star of the night, she is at the top of her game in this play.

The lighting was great for the most part...the only thing that annoyed me was that at one point during each act, there was a spotlight on one of the leads as he or she was delivering part of a monologue...I wasn't really sure why that was needed, but maybe if I saw it again, I would understand.

If you notice, this happens whenever the characters seem to be in trance talking about their memories of the past. I know in Act I it happens when Maggie is delivering her monologue about Spencer and if I remember correctly, it happens during similar memory monologues in the following acts.

Two other actors who deserve mention are Lisa Arrindell Anderson as Mae and Giancarlo Esposito as Gooper, who were both wonderful

I agree, they make a great impression.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 4:40pm

Saw the show on Valentines Day with my class and I thought it was good, but at times I felt it dragged abit like the scene between Big Daddy and Brick in Act II.

I thought every one in the cast was great especially Terrence Howard, Phylicia Rashad, Aniki Noni Rose, and James Earl Jones. As an added bonus it was great to hear James Earl Jones say F*** and poontang and block a door with his butt.

I thought the sax player was great, but I didn't think he was needed and it did feel to me that some of the more dramatic moments were getting laughs when they shouldn't have been. I forget the line but Big Daddy insults someones kids and that got some laughs.

I would've enjoyed it more if the guy infront of me took his hood off and did not move his head in the direction that mine was in. I would be looking to the left and then he would move his head to the left, and like I said before he had his hood on. Everyone I said that to said, "Why didn't you ask him to take his hood off?" I've been regretting that for awhile now that I didn't say excuse me could you take your hood off, it's hard to see with you wearing it.

There were some cell phones going on off, some were in the Acting I class that my professor teaches(I'm in Acting II). There were alot of late comers, I think it was probably half way through Act I that all of them were seated.

One final thing, am I wrong in saying to someone that it matters where you sit at a theatre even if you're in the same row? I only ask that because this one kid who was talking to some of his friends from his Acting I class was sitting in one of the seats that some people that I knew from my Acting II class were sitting in and I turned to him and said, "You do know that there are people that are going to be sitting there?" and he said something similar to the statement, "Does it really matter where you sit as long as you're in the same row?" To which I turned and said, "This isn't a movie theatre, this is a Broadway theatre. It matters." If it didn't matter where you sat, they wouldn't have put a seat number on the ticket or on the seats and you would be able to sit in the front row.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 10:42pm

i saw a pic of the set model, are the walls clear/plastic?

[DidYouReallyHearMe]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 2:44am

Saw the show on 2/15.


The direction/analysis of this production are awful.

The actors we're not playing real human beings...they were stereotypes...and no...that NOT how a Tennessee Williams character is.

The serious arguments were turned into comedic bits...


When it opens, it will get reamed.

[DidYouReallyHearMe]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 2:44am

Double post.



Updated On: 2/17/08 at 02:44 AM

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 1:47pm

wow....reviews for this show are on both sides of the spectrum Good and Bad....interested to see what the real critics have to say about it

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 4:14pm

I think this production will polarize critics in the same way it is polarizing the audience.
I just hope Rose gets her well-deserved Tony nod.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 2/17/08 at 4:30pm

"i saw a pic of the set model, are the walls clear/plastic?"

The walls I believe are made of scrim.