CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF Reviews — Page 2

Rose is a Broadway name, but with earlier reports that the producers wanted someone like Beyonce Knowles in the part, I am surprised that Allen was able to cast her.
One of the most genius casting choices of the season.

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The whole play takes place in Maggie's and Brick's bedroom in this production. The set is basically the bed, a bar, and a sofa and a chair I believe downstage center. There is a glass door on each side of the upstage wall.

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No they do not use a show curtain.

Updated On: 3/7/08 at 02:34 AM

Every production of Cat is set in Brick and Maggie's bedroom because that's where the play takes place. In one review I read, it mentioned that years ago there was talk of casting Audra as Maggie.

It seems that most of the problems with the production can be blamed on Ms. Allen. Why she has hired is beyond me. As for her cringing at Howard's performance, if she isn't happy with it, replace him or better yet, help him improve. It's one of the basic duties of a real director.

If the scene between Jones and Howard is the highlight of the production, it appears that, at least, Ms. Allen had some sense to get out of the way and leave the actors alone. Of course, actors need to be directed/ guided, but if a real director isn't around, they have to do it on their own.

I hope this weathers the mixed feelings and reviews. Such a strong, wonderful cast.

I also hope I get the chance to see it.

https://www.broadwayworld.com./viewcolumn.cfm?colid=25777

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Just a note of trivia -- originally James Earl Jones was to have played Big Daddy to Kathleen Turner's Maggie in the earlier revival. He pulled out before it got to rehearsal.

Can you imagine if this production had been Directed by *fill in the name of any white guy* instead of Debbie Allen?

I suspect that people wouldn't be so quick to defend this ludicrously conceived production.

Some might actually be offended by how the white director reduced Williams' work and a great cast of actors to the level of WB sitcom.

Why? Why? Why? couldn't George C. Wolfe have directed this?

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Updated On: 3/7/08 at 01:17 PM

Landerson, can you please fix the link? It's messing up the page.

I have said before that George C. Wolfe would have been the ideal director for this production. If someone could have handled Williams' beautiful poetry, it's him. However, I think people are being WAY too harsh on Allen.

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Yeah know Bruce Vilanch has written for the Academy Awards every year.. so does that make him equal to Tennessee Williams?

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I found this on Playbill.com. Enough said.

This left the director, Debbie Allen, to explain his new-found "Puff Daddy." She gamely sallied forth with: "I said at the beginning that I didn't want to follow all the stage directions. I wanted us to find the play. There are places where we changed the blocking. I said, 'Why don't we walk around? Walk behind Terrence, James, while you're talking,' and it turned into that tender moment. A father loves his son—that's what it's all about."

Allen, a Tony-nominated Sweet Charity when she last performed on Broadway, now comes in hyphenated form—director-choreographer—and this is her Broadway-directing debut. It's a dramatic (nonmusical) debut for her, but you wouldn't have guessed it, save for a "Happy Birthday" that comes with special choreography (she couldn't help herself). There is also an Allen-esque flourish that starts the play. A saxophone player (Gerald Hayes) enters stage left and wafts across the stage playing a haunting blues riff, never to be seen again but heard during nonverbal, emotional-recovery time. "Wasn't that wonderful?" the director beamed proudly. "I fought for that." And you know she did.

On a random note, Terrence Howard stopped by my school (Temple University) the other week and gave a small presentation to a large group of students in one of our large lecture halls.

I found him to be grotesquely arrogant and unappealing - and he offered the following "advice" to us. I quote: "I am the most important person in the world". and he also gave us tips on how to handle a difficult director - after getting a note, and not liking the note, do it the same way and when your director asks, "did you change anything?", say you have.

I'm sure a personality as obnoxious as this walked all over the admittedly amateurish Allen - which I would assume leads to the unfocused relationship between Big Daddy and Brick that Brantley references.

Shame, really. I think i still want to see this though, for Rose.

I have the prime opportunity to see CAT from front row at the Broadhurst in May, and I'm wondering if it's worth it? I REALLY REALY want to see this for the cast - legends of their time - James Earl Jones and Ms. Rashad. Any and all insight appreciated.

Best,
- Mike

I stand corrected...

But, is CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF worth seeing???