Just got back from the third preview and can't say I was overly impressed. The general impression I got from the production was ok, but the details were all wrong.
I agree with Mister Matt in that it was hard to tell when the play was supposed to be set. Carla's first costume looked liked something out of Sweet Charity. A short red dress and purple leather ankle boots? Who let those slip by? Pablo's hair cut is way too modern. He looks like an Abercrombie model. His hair does look more appropriate once it gets wet and curls a bit. I guess he found a hair straightener in his big floating house for those first scenes.
The first twenty minutes or so were a little rough. The opening goes on a little long and that music reminded me of something they would play at a Roundabout show. Did they combine the Hedda Gabler and Man For All Seasons music together in a remixed version? The pig scene made me think of "Out For Blood" and I was kind of hoping Charlotte would save the scene and come on to do her dance break.
Early on there is a Bob Dylan song that plays in its entirety. This really slowed down the play for me, and also snapped me out of whatever earlier time period the production was set in. I would just cut the whole song. Silence would have been better as Carla watches Pablo bathe.
As others have mentioned, the performances are VERY over the top. I mean they all went to the Bette Davis school of acting here. Carla was in All About Eve, Brian was in The Star and Pablo was approaching Baby Jane. I know it's melodrama but does every other line need to be shouted? It really took away from the moment that actually did call for shouting. The table was pounded, jumped upon and had sex upon. Dishes were thrown on the floor. If this only happened in the climax it would be ok, but they were yelling their lungs out from the start.
Despite this flaws I didn't hate it. I just thought it was middle of the road and was hoping for so much more. With all the hype surrounding the transfer it definitely didn't live up.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
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