Chastain stars in A DOLL'S HOUSE On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 3

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 7:25am

Lord. It’s Broadway. Get an actual cigar. 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 11:09am

Curious to hear how much changes in these early performances or if it is already pretty tight. Debating going soon or post-opening.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 11:55am

I'm all for reinvention. A previous poster said this director is known for small, nuanced, and intricate work. That's great for a small off Broadway house in the round. However, when the people in the back and up top can't see the nuance in your low lighting, you're going to lose them. This isn't a film. It's theatre. 

[AP1979]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 12:26pm

I attended the preview on 2/14. I'm here just to fill everyone in on seating info. I was row O seats 12 and 14. For being on the side I found them to be great seats, especially for only $99 each on today tix. It is definitely a high stage so you definitely don't want to be super close up. Also, it's two hours  and ten minutes no intermission, and they make it very clear if you get up to use restroom you will not be allowed back in. If anyone is curious at 7:45pm the stage starting moving and here is what happened. The entire theater was filming it and ushers were allowing it and even getting out of the way so people could film it as long as phones were off my 8pm. I found that interesting. Here is a link to see what I mean:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y13aRgKige66dvFRczyi7jxfs_STR0eS/view?usp=drivesdk

. Sorry I have never tried to upload pics or video lol I hope it works. 
 

[sm33]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 5:38pm

AP1979 said: "I attended the preview on 2/14. I'm here just to fill everyone in on seating info. I was row O seats 12 and 14. For being on the side I found them to be great seats, especially for only $99 each on today tix."

Thank you so much for this info! I was wondering about those seats. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 6:30pm

AP1979 said: "I attended the preview on 2/14. I'm here just to fill everyone in on seating info. I was row O seats 12 and 14. For being on the side I found them to be great seats, especially for only $99 each on today tix. It is definitely a high stage so you definitely don't want to be super close up. Also, it's two hours and ten minutes no intermission, and they make it very clear if you get up to use restroom you will not be allowed back in. If anyone is curious at 7:45pm the stage starting moving and here is what happened. The entire theater was filming it and ushers were allowing it and even getting out of the way so people could film it as long as phones were off my 8pm. I found that interesting. Here is a link to see what I mean:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y13aRgKige66dvFRczyi7jxfs_STR0eS/view?usp=drivesdk

I think you're a little bit off on the run time.  I was there last night too -- the actual "show" started at about 8:09 (following the 15 minute "pre-show", and I was out on the street at 9:55pm.

 

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 11:33pm

Attended tonight’s preview so I’ll break it down into sections:

 

Seat: I got the TodayTix Rush expecting to be sat somewhere crappy and ended up in the FRONT ROW - C114. The stage is indeed high but, at 6’8, I didn’t struggle at all.

 

Show: WOW! I had some concerns based on early reviews that the austere design played against it, but all it did was remind me of how much I loved the revival of Betrayal and how it forced me to focus on the performances and direction more intensely. I’m going to be honest - Chastain runs away with the whole show, like a slow moving train wreck before having her “A-Ha” moment that finishes her journey strong and triumphant. Suffice to say she is definitely in the mix for a nomination and will put up a strong fight against McDonald and (very likely) Comer and Warren for the trophy. Arian Moayed plays the cad that is Torvald very well and I found Oak Onadoawan to be a quietly menacing Krogstad and could definitely see him in the Featured Actor mix. This was an abnormally strong third preview and I can only imagine it will go up from here. 

 

Merch: They have a windowcard for $20 - that’s it.

 

Stage Door: It’s happening over on 45th Street. Everybody except Oak came out. It is VERY organized and one of the best experiences I’ve had in the post-COVID world. They asked everyone be masked (as a requirement) and everyone signed and selfied. Jessica, particularly, takes her time with every single person and is as sweet and pleasant as you could possibly imagine her. The selfie rule with her is one person must be masked (either her or you) and she has her own marker. The security guard also said that Jessica does call down and if the crowd is too rowdy, she skips. 

[forfivemoreminutes]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 11:40pm

quizking101 said: "Attended tonight’s preview so I’ll break it down into sections:



Seat: I got the TodayTix Rush expecting to be sat somewhere crappy and ended up in the FRONT ROW - C114. The stage is indeed high but, at 6’8, I didn’t struggle at all.



Show: WOW! I had some concerns based on early reviews that the austere design played against it, but all it did was remind me of how much I loved the revival of Betrayal and how it forced me to focus on the performances and direction more intensely. I’m going to be honest - Chastain runs away with the whole show, like a slow moving train wreck before having her “A-Ha” moment that finishes her journey strong and triumphant. Suffice to say she is definitely in the mix for a nomination and will put up a strong fight against McDonald and (very likely) Comer and Warren for the trophy. Arian Moayed plays the cad that is Torvald very well and I found Oak Onadoawan to be a quietly menacing Krogstad and could definitely see him in the Featured Actor mix. This was an abnormally strong third preview and I can only imagine it will go up from here.



Merch: They have a windowcard for $20 - that’s it.



Stage Door: It’s happening over on 45th Street. Everybody except Oak came out. It is VERY organized and one of the best experiences I’ve had in the post-COVID world. They asked everyone be masked (as a requirement) and everyone signed and selfied. Jessica, particularly, takes her time with every single person and is as sweet and pleasant as you could possibly imagine her. The selfie rule with her is one person must be masked (either her or you) and she has her own marker. The security guard also said that Jessica does call down and if the crowd is too rowdy, she skips."

Thanks for all this detail! How is the rake in the first few rows of the orchestra? I’m 5’0, and I want to be as close as possible to the stage in order to see faces well, but I also don’t want to end up either not being able to see because the stage is too high and I’m too close or because the rake is poor and there are tall people in front of me. Do you have a recommendation for the best spot to sit given these considerations? I’m guessing the stage would be too high in the front row given how short I am.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/15/23 at 11:51pm

Wow. My friends and i still talk about how incredible Jessica was after “The Heiress”, spending countless time with fans even in the brutal winter of 2013. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 1:25am

@forfivemoreminutes - There is not much of a rake until the mid-orchestra about 8-10 rows back. You should still be able to see faces just fine from there.

@Jordan Catalano - Obviously, mileage may vary in the future, but she definitely made a point to spend time with every single person and you can tell she enjoys the interactions and isn’t just going through the motions. She love talking about the play, her other works, and getting to know people. One person who came to see her from China was talking to her and she conversed with them about different places she had visited. She has such a great “I want to go get a coffee with you” energy.

[Voter]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 1:35am

I am seeing the showing on March 10. Are there any sensory or trigger details in this production?

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 1:50am

Voter said: "I am seeing the showing on March 10. Are there any sensory or trigger details in this production?"

To my recollection, no. However, there are signs in the lobby mentioning that the show can contain upsetting content (paraphrasing) and to speak to an usher for more information.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 4:29am

quizking101 said: "I’m going to be honest - Chastain runs away with the whole show, like a slow moving train wreck before having her “A-Ha” moment that finishes her journey strong and triumphant. Suffice to say she is definitely in the mix for a nomination and will put up a strong fight against McDonald and (very likely) Comer and Warren for the trophy."

Now I'm personally not a huge Jessica Chastain fan. Not that I have anything against her at all, especially like that idiot Grace Randolph. I just wouldn't necessarily call myself a fan. I'm also one of those people who really didn't care for her Oscar win last year (most of her competition would've been much better options). As someone who doesn't make it out to New York that often, let alone see that many shows there, I won't be able to catch this on my next trip. Therefore, if Chastain does well in this year's Tony race or not, I won't have anything to celebrate nor complain about.

Updated On: 2/16/23 at 04:29 AM

[dshnookie]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 5:44am

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "quizking101 said: "I’m going to be honest - Chastain runs away with the whole show, like a slow moving train wreck before having her “A-Ha” moment that finishes her journey strong and triumphant. Suffice to say she is definitely in the mix for a nomination and will put up a strong fight against McDonald and (very likely) Comer and Warren for the trophy."

Now I'm personally not a huge Jessica Chastain fan. Not that I have anything against her at all, especially like that idiot Grace Randolph. I just wouldn't necessarily call myself a fan. I'm also one of those people who really didn't care for her Oscar win last year (most of her competition would've been much better options). As someone who doesn't make it out to New York that often, let alone see that many shows there, I won't be able to catch this on my next trip. Therefore, if Chastain does well in this year's Tony race or not, I won't have anything to celebrate nor complain about.
 

I was waiting for the “but” yet it never came. BUT thank you for sharing your opinion, I guess.

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 8:58am

Suffice to say, I initially wrote this off as a “skip” because I thought it was going to end up just an awful vanity project (like the awful Parker-Broderick PLAZA SUITE), but I was riveted the whole time and this is a MUST SEE.

When you have nothing but the clothes on your back and a few chairs, you damn well better have the acting chops to carry the show and she does and then some

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 10:12am

forfivemoreminutes said: "quizking101 said: "Attended tonight’s preview so I’ll break it down into sections:



Seat: I got the TodayTix Rush expecting to be sat somewhere crappy and ended up in the FRONT ROW - C114. The stage is indeed high but, at 6’8, I didn’t struggle at all.



Show: WOW! I had some concerns based on early reviews that the austere design played against it, but all it did was remind me of how much I loved the revival of Betrayal and how it forced me to focus on the performances and direction more intensely. I’m going to be honest - Chastain runs away with the whole show, like a slow moving train wreck before having her “A-Ha” moment that finishes her journey strong and triumphant. Suffice to say she is definitely in the mix for a nomination and will put up a strong fight against McDonald and (very likely) Comer and Warren for the trophy. Arian Moayed plays the cad that is Torvald very well and I found Oak Onadoawan to be a quietly menacing Krogstad and could definitely see him in the Featured Actor mix. This was an abnormally strong third preview and I can only imagine it will go up from here.



Merch: They have a windowcard for $20 - that’s it.



Stage Door: It’s happening over on 45th Street. Everybody except Oak came out. It is VERY organized and one of the best experiences I’ve had in the post-COVID world. They asked everyone be masked (as a requirement) and everyone signed and selfied. Jessica, particularly, takes her time with every single person and is as sweet and pleasant as you could possibly imagine her. The selfie rule with her is one person must be masked (either her or you) and she has her own marker. The security guard also said that Jessica does call down and if the crowd is too rowdy, she skips."

Thanks for all this detail! How is the rake in the first few rows of the orchestra? I’m 5’0, and I want to be as close as possible to the stage in order to see faces well, but I also don’t want to end up either not being able to see because the stage is too high and I’m too close or because the rake is poor and there are tall people in front of me. Do you have a recommendation for the best spot to sit given these considerations? I’m guessing the stage would be too high in the front row given how short I am."

Side aisle.  Seat #1 or 2 (respective sides).  Never an issue, since you don’t really look over the person’s head…you look through the aisle (very naturally).  In terns of far back, sounds like you want rows #4 through say 12.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 10:16am

Jordan Catalano said: "Wow. My friends and i still talk about how incredible Jessica was after “The Heiress”, spending countless time with fans even in the brutal winter of 2013."

Yeah, I was surprised too especially because the stage door was a zoo due to Dan Stevens Downton fame at the time. Jessica was really really sweet. She talked to me for quite a bit, recommended some vegan sushi places. She is snuggling me in the photo we took. She actually took the photo because she was better at selfies. It was pretty remarkable how down to earth she was. 

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 10:27am

That’s so funny. I have like 5 pics because she kept retaking them to “get the perfect one for us” and she’s hugging me tightly in them, too and she fully broke down filming “Tree of Life” when I asked her about what it was like filming with Terrence Malick.  Dan was a total sweetheart also - it was unexpected at the time for either of them to spend that much time and energy after the show. But this shows it’s something she truly enjoys doing which is pretty awesome for someone like her who’s only gotten bigger in the years since her last show. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 10:36am

She was saying last night how she can’t believe it’s been 10 years since her last show. She also worked with the SD people to make sure everyone who took a picture got it under  good lighting and everything.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 11:06am

JSquared2 said: "i think you're a little bit off on the run time. I was there last night too -- the actual "show" started at about 8:09 (following the 15 minute "pre-show", and I was out on the street at 9:55pm.”

If the poster is including the pre-show, you’re at about the same time. 

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 6:02pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "JSquared2 said: "ithink you're a little bit off on the run time. I was there last night too -- the actual "show" started at about 8:09 (following the 15 minute "pre-show", and I was out on the street at 9:55pm.”

If the poster is including the pre-show, you’re at about the same time.

"

The original poster said "Also, it's two hours  and ten minutes no intermission"  -- so you're saying that 9:55 and 10:10 are "about the same time"? 

Sure, whatever you say.

 

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/16/23 at 8:10pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "quizking101 said: "I’m going to be honest - Chastain runs away with the whole show, like a slow moving train wreck before having her “A-Ha” moment that finishes her journey strong and triumphant. Suffice to say she is definitely in the mix for a nomination and will put up a strong fight against McDonald and (very likely) Comer and Warren for the trophy."

Now I'm personally not a huge Jessica Chastain fan. Not that I have anything against her at all, especially like that idiot Grace Randolph. I just wouldn't necessarily call myself a fan. I'm also one of those people who really didn't care for her Oscar win last year (most of her competition would've been much better options). As someone who doesn't make it out to New York that often, let alone see that many shows there, I won't be able to catch this on my next trip. Therefore, if Chastain does well in this year's Tony race or not, I won't have anything to celebrate nor complain about."

I also don’t think she should have won for Tammy Faye; however, I absolutely feel that she should have won for Zero Dark Thirty, and that she should have been nominated for Miss Sloane and Molly’s Game, all strong female characters.

I am really anxious to see what she does with Nora, the antithesis of those other characters.  I have my tix for mid-May, my next time in NYC.

[forfivemoreminutes]

Posted: 2/21/23 at 12:08am

I just saw this tonight and I absolutely adored it. This was my first experience seeing A Doll's House and I thought the source material was excellent - the staging didn't thrill me but also didn't detract from the exquisite script, the incredible acting, and particularly the powerful last scene. Since I wasn't familiar with A Doll's House before this production, I'm wondering what (if anything) was changed from the original source material for this production? Were parts of the plot or certain lines changed to modernize the show, and if so, which ones? Thanks to anyone more familiar with the material than me who's willing to answer this. :)

[Ricey2]

Posted: 2/21/23 at 12:31am

I saw this tonight and was left a bit underwhelmed. A friend bought my ticket and we were in the balcony. With the staging being so minimal and us being so far back, it was hard for me to connect with the faces and emerge myself fully into things. This felt very intimate, but like intimate in the other room where I couldn’t interact. 
 

I will say, they were all amazing actors. I just wish that it hit me more. Jessica was amazing at the stage door and really took her time with every single person. Like the previous poster said a few posts back, the stage door experience was excellent. Very organized, very calm. It made me feel better about the show, in a way. 
 

I do think that later in the run, I will try to do the todaytix rush and get a closer seat to be able to really connect more with the stage. 

[JaggedLittlePal]

Posted: 2/21/23 at 6:31pm

Damnit! Already bought tickets five rows from stage. Should I try to change these? Thanks