Clybourne Park Broadway Edition

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 11:22pm

Caught Clybourne Park on Broadway tonight and it irritated me even more than I remember it doing so off-Broadway. With all the awards and critical praise this thing has received I just don't get what all the fuss is about. Perhaps I don't have enough white guilt to truly appreciate it? (In keeping with the spirit of the piece I should clarify that that was only a joke and not in any way a racist remark.)

All of the dialogue rang so false to me; afterwards a friend asked if I could see that bunch of people, in either era, sitting around talking the way they did. I answered, no, but I can see a playwright sitting around and writing dialogue thinking he was capturing realistic, revealing dialogue.

For those not familiar, the play takes place in the same house. In the first act it's 1959 and in the second it's 2009. Slight spoilers will follow in this paragraph. Act One concerns a white family who is moving out of the house. The neighborhood association is concerned because a Black family has purchased the house and they're worried about what it will mean for the neighborhood and property values. Act Two shows the neighborhood has become primarily Black and was riddled with crime and drugs during the 70s and 80s. Now a white couple wants to buy the house and the Black community is opposed to the gentrification.

There are so many aggravating things about the writing to me. Why will none of the characters leave the house in the first act? Frank Wood, who gives a fine performance, insults and yells at every house guest and yet they continue to stay and continue the conversation. He tells the pastor to "fukc off" repeatedly, and stays for iced tea.

We have to listen to SO many tangential conversations; it takes forever for any character, save Wood, to get to the point of what they're trying to say. If everyone did speak plainly the play would be over in 10 minutes.

I think the author is trying to show that a lot of racism isn't overt, but creeps into our thoughts in subtle ways. Basically what Avenue Q presented in a clever 5 minute song this play stretches into a tedious play. For example, 1959 Christina Kirk plays a housewife with a maid, Crystal Dickinson, who she claims is one of her good friends. Dickinson reveals she has three children, but late in the act Kirk wishes her TWO children well and Dickinson has to correct her. I guess she was nothing more than the help after all! Gee we just got some insight into her character, now didn't we?!

The unbearable thing about act two is that no one is able to finish a sentence. It's a scene from a Woody Allen movie where everyone talks over everyone else. Except in his films those scenes last two or three minutes. This is nonstop for an hour.

In act one someone brings up that a Black family wouldn't fit in the neighborhood because Black people don't like to ski. Naturally the Black man in the second act recently went skiing in Zurich and the white guy doesn't even know how to ski! Annie Parisse's character isn't racist because she has Black friends (never heard that one before). She even dated a Black guy once.

For the record I don't have a problem with an of the actors. They're all good. It's the material I didn't like. It's masquerading as something new, and the premise certainly holds promise, but in the end I found the "lessons" on racism as after school special as the ones in Memphis. Well, almost as obvious as the ones in Memphis.

Sorry to rant, but I thought it was exasperating and I'd like to know what gives with the love for this play?

PS- There was one really funny joke in act two where all the characters are going around telling racist/sexist jokes trying to offend each other. Dickinson tells this one about white women: What do white women and tampons have in common? They're both stuck up c*nts.

Updated On: 3/27/12 at 11:22 PM

[Skip2]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 11:29pm

Have to agree.

I don't get what the fuss is about. Half baked self-righteousness.

Nothing fresh here.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 11:34pm

To say that I loathed this show tonight would be an understatement. Save your money and don't waste your time on this crap.

[mpd4165]

Posted: 3/27/12 at 11:55pm

Woooooow, I'm surprised to hear the disdain for this show! I saw the production at Steppenwolf in September and found it top notch. The last ten minutes were beautifully rendered. Were there changes to the script, or is it pretty much what has been premiering?

Whizzer, I too LOVE that joke, particularly how my friend cringed after it was said.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:03am

I don't think much has changed to the script since off-Broadway. The physical production was identical as well.

I didn't like the ending/epilogue at all. It felt totally unnecessary. There was no surprising reveal or connective revelation from the past to the present. It just felt tacked on to me. mpd- I don't mean this in a bitchy way at all, but what did you find so great about the ending? What do you think it added?

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:04am

I share the sentiments of the three posters above. That this play could win a Pulitzer Prize is a sad commentary on the critical acumen of the award givers.

It's funny to see today's playwrights portraying the fifties as some sort of cultural desert, when in fact, the era was far more literate and cultured than today. In these playwrights' (empty) heads, the men were all dunderheads, and the women all Lucy on vitameatavegemin. Well, I certainly love Lucy, but I sure as hell do not like these plays, including this tiring, trying, trivial one.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:06am

Uh Oh. Blactor has choice words for anyone who doesn't like a show with black actors in it. Especially saying the dialogue "rang false" is the MOST racist thing you can possibly say according to him. I hope you're prepared for his blwrath.

But other than that how was the white actor, Frank Wood? He's one of my favorite actors and I can't wait to see him in this. I seriously will see him in absolutely anything.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:13am

Thanks for warning...

Like I mentioned Frank is very good in first act; he has almost no role in the second act. He's probably giving the best performance up there, but honestly he has the least annoying character so that probably has a lot to do with it.

Updated On: 3/28/12 at 12:13 AM

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:14am

I saw this last year at A.C.T in san francisco and I loved it, not sure where all the hate is coming from.....

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:15am

Oh, well. I'm thinking of going tomorrow so I'll post my thoughts if I do.....

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:16am

What exactly is the connection to Raisin in the Sun? Is it just a gimmick? Anyway, sounds pretty awful, to me...

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:19am

Clybourne Park is the neighborhood the Younger family moves to at the end of Raisin in the Sun, which takes place in 1959.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:23am

Ha, OK so they are the Black family, but there's no real direct connection like some weird cameo or anything?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:27am

THANK YOU!!!! I HAAAAAAAATED this show off-Broadway with a fiery passion. I didn't understand why everyone loved it so much. I found the writing to be unrealistic and offensive (in terms of content and style). The acting was, for the most part, atrocious (especially from Christina Kirk and Annie Parisse). The direction was dull. I still cannot believe that it was reviewed so well and went on to win the Pulitzer over things like Next Fall and Time Stands Still.

When the Broadway production was announced, I was hoping it would be either the Steppenwolf production or the recent London production. Alas, they opted to bring the original off-Broadway production to Broadway, a choice that I was super unhappy about. I'm not looking forward to making a return visit to this awful, awful play. But alas, I feel as though I must since it will no doubt be reviewed well again and receive numerous nominations/awards.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:32am

bjh- I felt like you did after seeing it off-Broadway. I tried to go back tonight thinking maybe I missed something the first time around, or perhaps I had been in a bad mood. Unfortunately my original opinions were reaffirmed and I wanted to get out of there. Time Stands Still was infinitely better written and acted. Shocking that this beat that for the Pulitzer.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 1:09am

Literally, what's up with the all the haters for this show?

Caught this same production a few months back at The Taper found it incredibly insightful, well-written with exceptional acting. Knowing nothing about the structure of the show and knowing only the slightest - I'm talking tinest of notions - about A Rasin In The Sun, found the witty and topical themes of the show totally entertaining.

Spoiler Alert
I even found myself missing the characters from the first act but seemingly found these very same actors give us theatrical redemption when watching their various differences AND similarities in Act Two.

An excellent night of theater and kudos to the exceptional acting ensemble and playwright.

I'd put this up there with August: Osage County, Doubt and Luise Miller and One Man Two Guvnors (I never saw The Normal Heart or Angels In America - which is wrong on so many levels..) as one of themost riviting stage plays I've ever had the pleasure of watching.

Geesh, with the haters on this...reminds me of last year when people got nasty with Bengal Tiger (which I dug) and Jerusalem (which I totally enjoyed)

[sidjones09]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 2:23am

I strongly disagree with the hate for this play.

I saw it Off-Broadway with the current cast. I thought it was phenomenal.

For me, the play very smartly deals with the issues of gentrification and race relations in an ever changing American community. How do we talk about race across color lines in this country? We're seeing these awkward conversations take place and NOT take place everywhere at this very moment. Just as they did in 1959 and 2009 in this play.

It left me feeling one way on the issue by the end of Act I, and completely turned what I was feeling on it's head by the end of Act II. I left the theater feeling thoroughly entertained, but also filled with so many new questions, which is a home run for me in an evening of theater.

I think Bruce Norris is very deserving of the Pulitzer and I strongly encourage everyone to see it.

[jdrye222]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 2:38am

I haven't seen the Broadway production, but I saw it OffBway and was completely shocked when it won the Pulitzer. I thought it was pretty lame in general, but the writing was especially atrocious. I have seen so many plays that are so good, and for this to win the Pulitzer that year when there were so many great things was astonishing. What this adds to the American theater and culture (the description of Pulitzer worthiness) is beyond me - Avenue Q says more about culture than this. Although, I also hated "August Osage County" so maybe it's my problem.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 5:30am

Saw this both in Melbourne Australia and at the Mark Tapper, loved it both times I saw it. Whizzer I wish you hadn't posted that joke. The first time you hear it it floors you and than the laughter begins.

Go see it and nake your own mind up

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 6:04am

Can't say anything about the play but that joke is NOT new. I've heard it...and many a year ago, I'm sure.


Such a divide in opinions on this play....hasn't helped me decided if I should go and see it or not!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 6:14am

Drama if you can get a cheap ticket, go see it.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 6:48am

"Literally, what's up with the all the haters for this show? "

Literally, they hated it.

Figuratively, I guess they hated it too.

And they specified their reasons fairly clearly, I'd say.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 6:52am

30 dollar general rush, how can you go wrong....

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 7:27am

^

I can think of far better ways to spend $30.

[wexy]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 11:35am

It sounds like it will be "El Paso' for me on this even with TDF prices...