DOWNSTATE - reviews — Page 2

Considering they produce A Parallelogram a few seasons back and already have a relationship with Norris, it would be nice to see Second Stage partner w/ PH and bring this to the Hayes next season, but might be one non-profit entity too many to make it worth peoples time financially

Playbill.com lists a closing date of 1/22/23, but the Playwrights Horizons site still shows 12/22/22. Typo? Or announcement forthcoming?

Saw this tonight and I just have no words. Yes, it's the best play of the year and maybe the single best piece of theater of the year, as well. Need to process this over the next couple of days.

At a talkback, someone asked Pam McKinnon if she would bring the play at ACT (where she is artistic director), and she said that she would like to, with this cast again, but made it clear that there weren't any plans yet.

I would love for this to transfer to Broadway so that everyone can win Tonys. Maybe a Pulitzer win in the spring could lead to a transfer next fall? A Strange Loop, Fat Ham, and Cost of Living all announced their Broadway productions after Pulitzer wins. (And, for the record, there is precedent for shows winning the Pulitzer the year of their New York premieres rather than their world premieres. The Humans premiered in Chicago in 2014 but was a Pulitzer finalist in 2016, after it premiered in New York.)

As to the poster who asked if anything had changed since the Steppenwolf production, it's nearly identical. At the same talkback I mentioned earlier, MacKinnon and Norris indicated that the only edits to the text were the removal of specific references to the "me too" movement that Tim Hopper's character made, which had set the play specifically in 2018. Those couple phrases were removed so that the play still takes place "now". The new cast members are well integrated (though I personally preferred Cecilia Noble's performance over Susanna Guzman's--but both do well by the part). It was a stunning show then, and it's a stunning show now.

If you are on the fence about seeing this due to the subject matter, just go see it. Yes, it will challenge you, it will make you think about uncomfortable things, but it's also funny, entertaining, and gripping. It's rare to see a play this good, it's rare to see a production this good, and it's rare to see a performance as good as any of the eight on display here. To find all those things matched together is a gift. Take a risk and see the "challenging" play before it closes. When they release the rights, many regional theaters will probably shy away from the title, fearing controversy, and the ones that are brave enough to produce it won't capture the lightning in a bottle of this particular production. Go see it while you can.

Unfortunately I'm not sure if we'll be able to know beforehand whether it's eligible for the Pulitzer. According to the Pulitzer website:

"Eligible works include full-length dramas that opened in the United States between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. ...

The Pulitzer Prizes honor contemporary creative work. Dramatic works previously submitted for the award and revivals are not eligible. The creator(s) of a dramatic work should determine when it is ready for award consideration, as it may be submitted only once."



As far as I'm aware, we have no way of knowing whether or not it was submitted after its world premiere production in 2018. So we don't know whether it's eligible this year.

Does the theatre company help to facilitate the Pulitzer submission, or does the playwright have to handle it independently? The Minutes was submitted prior to its NY production, so if Steppenwolf has a hand in the process, it's possible they did the same with Downstate

Updated On: 12/16/22 at 04:46 PM

I can't recommend this play enough! It is so well crafted. The subject matter is incredibly intense but I don't think that should steer people away unless, of course, it's a trigger. For me, the cast and the acting is quite possibly some of the best I've ever seen on stage. I don't know what's in the water at Steppenwolf but man this cast is incredible. I was reminded of August: Osage, County and just how brilliant that cast was too.

Dan6: Although the Playwrights Horizons homepage still lists a closing date of 12/30, if you click on the Buy Tickets link they’re now selling through 1/7 (which, based on a prior post, is likely the final extension). So glad I’m now getting a chance to see this one.

Thanks for sharing this info. Just picked up my tickets for January. So glad I’ll be able to catch it.

The new cast members are well integrated (though I personally preferred Cecilia Noble's performance over Susanna Guzman's--but both do well by the part). It was a stunning show then, and it's a stunning show now.

Just curious: In the Chicago production, did Ivy speak Spanish to Felix in their scene together, or is that a new addition now that Ivy is being played by a Hispanic actor?

Wow, I was also absolutely blown away by this show, not a weak link in the cast. And you just get drawn in so immediately, and each character is established so well. I don't know how he does it but I feel like five minutes with each character is all you need to get a sense of who they are and what they believe without making them seem one-note. I know it would never do well on Broadway, but I do hope this manages to transfer or maybe produce another off-Broadway run because I'd love to see it again.

My only minor quibble is in act 2 when I think it's supposed to be like 9pm, the lighting coming through the doorway makes it seem like it's the middle of the day. A fairly small thing I guess, but I was kind of disoriented by that in terms of continuity.

Though question about the last couple scenes because it all happened pretty fast:

Jordan Catalano said: "I didn’t realize that there were already replacements but I saw Brian Hutchison in what was only his fourth performance last week, and it was one of the best acting performances I’ve ever seen. Ever."



I wonder if it's that role also. I saw Tim Hopper do that part and he was brilliant. And Frances Guinan was devastating.

Thank you all for your encouragement, I just got tickets to see this in January.

Went again tonight to marvel at this play once more. I asked if there was any chance of extension anywhere else and was told this was the end for it. So do yourself the biggest favor you could possibly do and get there before it closes.

I only saw this for the first time a couple weeks ago with Brian Hutchison on his 3rd show and he deserves every award ever created for an actor to receive. I don’t know who else was new but there’s not a weak link in this cast.