Cloud Nine @ Atlantic

[wolfwriter2]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 12:33am

I don't know where to begin with this mess.

 

An exploration or sexuality, oppression, repression and colonial Africa, the play, is basically a very long metaphor...a long-winded excuse to hear the playwright's political opinions. It is a dull play with nothing at stake for the characters. None of the characters have a traditional "journey," nor is there any "payoff" for sitting through almost three hours of this. 

 

Some of the characters are played by people of the opposite gender, but some are not. Although there is, at least, 100 years, between the first and second act, only 25 years have passed for the characters, which calls the costuming, into question. Churchill uses gimmicks (some might call it theatricality), in almost every play, that are meant to be metaphorical, but, to me, just end up being boring and inscrutable.

 

To supply plot points, whatever plot, there is, would be to give away the play, but make no sense on their own, anyway.

 

7pm show let out at 9:45. The pacing is glacial, especially the second act. The first act is better. The in-the-round bleacher seating is very uncomfortable and adds nothing to the evening. It is HOT in the theater. The lights are bright, often at full brightness and close to the audience. Audience members fanned themselves, constantly. A decent number of people didn't return after intermission. 

 

Cast works hard and is mostly good, despite one of the leads, perpetually tripping over lines.

 

I would love to know what others think of this play and this production. I felt like I wasted my time and wish I had bailed at intermission. Atlantic has had more misses than hits, lately, but I so enjoyed 'Guards At The Taj', earlier, this year, that I had hoped things were on the upswing. I'm disappointed that this does not seem to be the case.

 

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 10:08am

I love this play. I've studied it three times and can't get enough of it. Going to re-read it before catching this production. Will report back.

 

Read Churchill's reasoning for her characters and her characterization, written in '83. It appears TCG copy of the play, and I'm sure it's online somewhere. Will probably help you make more sense of the play. And yes, it is "theatricality" that allows the plot's 100 year jump, gender exploration, race exploration, and sexual exploration work. She makes many, many statements on these topics and how the everyday British father (in the Victorian age and in the 70s) views these themes.

 

Churchill is one brilliant playwright. I think her plays need to be studied a bit before seeing them, unless it's an original production.

Updated On: 9/23/15 at 10:08 AM

[wolfwriter2]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 10:42am

Thank you, for the suggestions. I will certainly seek out the information. I love thought-provoking theater, whether I agree with the message or not, but I always feel like Churchill is using gimmickry to preach at me. Whether I agree with someone's point of view, or not, I don't enjoy being preached at and usually zone out. Maybe some background reading will allow me to see it from a different point of view.

I very much look forward to reading your take on this production.

Just be advised that the seats are uncomfortable, but more than that, it is very hot, in the theater. The first act isn't too bad, but the second act is extremely warm, especially for those in the the last few rows, closer to the ceiling.

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 9/23/15 at 10:53am

Thank you for your thoughts and theatre information. I'll have to dress appropriately and prepare accordingly! 

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 10/15/15 at 11:22am

I enjoyed this much more than Wolfwriter2, but I was disappointed that the title song was omitted from this production. I had very fond memories of the 1981 production at the Lucille Lortel when Zjelko Ivanek and E. Katherine Kerr danced to Maury Yeston's beautiful melody. I found my paperback of the play and was surprised to see that Caryl Churchill wrote the lyrics to the song, and it was originally in the middle of act 2, rather than at the end of the play as it was done in Tommy Tune's production.

That prompted me to go on a search of the Internet to see if I could find the complete song anywhere, but I came up empty. Does anyone know if it's available anywhere?

Wolfwriter2 is correct about the uncomfortable seats and heat from the lights. But I still enjoyed myself.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/15/15 at 11:48am

Uncomfortable seats aside, I thought this was a fabulous production of an excellent play, 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/15/15 at 11:50am

It asks a lot out of you as an audience member, but it is absolutely not didactic.