Clybourne Park Broadway Edition- Page 2

[Mister Matt]

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

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.

While I think that is true for most popular "realistic" plays decade after decade, I felt that more strongly in August: Osage County than Clybourne Park. I really enjoyed Clybourne Park at Steppenwolf. My chief criticism being that both acts seemed to start rather clumsily before settling in, but once they did, I was really drawn in.

As for Raisin in the Sun, I believe it is supposed to be the same house that the Youngers purchase at the end of the play, not just the same neighborhood. Clybourne Park not only references Raisin in the Sun, but also events in Lorraine Hansberry's life. When her parents moved into an all-white neighborhood in Chicago, it resulted in a legal case and the house is now up for landmark status. Conceptually, I thought the play was brilliant. I really love the fact that the events of Raisin in the Sun occur simultaneously with the first act of Clybourne Park. And the second act was not only interesting to me, but the characterization was quite valid, though before moving to Chicago, I admit I may not have found the second act quite so believable. The black couple in the second act represented the exact same idealism as much of the community in my mother's neighborhood.

But I get why anyone might find it overrated and not worth the hype. That's exactly how I felt after seeing August: Osage County.

[John G2]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:25pm

I was there for the first preview, and I don't think I've ever seen an audience laugh as much as that - or enjoy a show more. They had to send the cast out for a second bow because the audience would not leave.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/28/12 at 12:55pm

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