Desperate Writers

When you get an email offering half price tickets (or less) for Deperate Writers at the Union Square Theatre -- or perhaps someone will come up to you and say "here's a free ticket and I'll give you $100 if you use it" -- here's my advice: DON'T.

This is the most painful night of theatre I've spent in years. It's billed as a comedy and I'm normally a big laugher. But I didn't laugh once, or chuckle, or giggle, or even curl the ends of my mouth up into a smile. It is in fact the most aptly named show I've seen in years. The only smart thing the playwright did was to not add an intermission -- or no one would have returned for the second act. But even that sort of failed as a dozen or more people chose to get up and walk out during the show as it was. What on earth were they thinking? Did the director read the script? Did the actors? Who backed this piece of crap? The only big laugh I heard all night was when one actor said, "don't. You'll spoil the flow" and someone down front shrieked in laughter -- clearly AT them, and not WITH them.

Too bad. I really like Jim Stanek and wanted to see this -- maybe next time StudentRush emails me with free tickets?

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So agreed. so disappointed

The play started with the central character waking up from a dream. So I spent most of the play determined that surely the whole thing was a dream. Being a dream is the only way one could possibly explain the inane things that happen without logic or thinking. But alas, no. At the end we are to believe it was "real". Are they kidding us?

I saw this the other night and have to agree with those who found it a rather tedious, unfunny night at the theatre. There were very few moments where I even saw the glimmer of actual humor, let alone something to laugh at. There were a few scattered laughs from other audience member, but those were very few; if I was stage managing the show my report for that night definitely would have been mentioning a nearly dead audience. The only time I think a large majority of the audience laughed was at the end of the curtain call when one character screamed "Let me out of here" and I think it was because most of us shared that sentiment. I envied the couple who had been sitting in front of me who wisely moved from the center of the row over to an empty pair of aisle seats before the show started, giving them the chance to walk out halfway through. I'm guessing they must have been forewarned about what was coming.

I have to say that I found the direction to be truly bizarre. The acting across the board felt almost like watching community theatre. Everyone was projecting, and I had no problem hearing them, but, and maybe it's due to the space, all I felt was them projecting, to the point where their acting was so broad that it became nonexistent and all we noticed was how nice and clear and loud everyone was speaking. I can only assume that this was some directorial choice, since I have seen and/or worked with several of the cast in the past and know that they are capable of so much more.

Just a painful 80 minutes that I kind of wish I had back.

I totally agree, Karen P! Desperate Writers is a wild and fabulously crazy ride and if you just give over to the event of it, you'll have a blast! I saw it in LA and can't wait to see it in NYC! It's fun and fast and having seen Maddie Corman's wonderful performance in Next Fall, I can't wait to see her rock this role!

Updated On: 6/2/11 at 02:15 AM

Anyone for a nice bit of shill?

Ellie5 and Karen P, I can't seem to find any other posts by either of you except this one, and you both list your gender as male (odd choice of screen names, no? I'm curious too how you are associated with this mess of a play.

Dancing Queen, you say: "Patash - since when has the world of the theater been an exact replication of daily life? Huh? Where did I say that or even vaguely suggest that? If that's how you interpreted my post, I can certainly understand why you'd love the script -- since clearly your comprehension has nothing to do with what is actually said. Even theatre of the absurd (while not an exact replication of daily life) is based on some sort of logic and continuity.

Just a few things: Why would a playwright introduce a character who is supposed to be a fantastic cook and a real foodie and have her describe her "mesclun salad of mixed baby greens"? Redundant much? I'd suggest not trying to write something without finding out what such a character would actually say.
Why would a character supposedly become sick and say, "I shouldn't have eaten the lasagna" when he clearly DIDN'T eat it --we were watching him, and the lasagna wasn't even his dish but the dish supposedly made for the woman. If a playwright wants us to believe that a character died because of eating something, wouldn't it be logical to have him at least take a bite of it so it would make a little bit of sense? If a guy dies and they hide him in the bathroom, but he disappears, wouldn't it be logical for the characters to at least try to figure out what happened to the body, rather than just ignore the fact that he has disappeared into thin air? How did he get from the powder room to the kitchen, by the way? Wouldn't MOST people scratch their head? I could give dozens of similar things. It's as if the cast and playwright never bothered to stop and say, "how can we make this seem logical or at least possible"?

Sure the IDEA of the play is fun, and if the play were well written it could work, but it isn't. I understand frustrated screenwriters loving the idea of producers being caged and forced to listen to their script, or the entire idea of two unsuccessful screenwriters being driven to such lengths being funny to those in the business. But jokes need to work in a comedy, and the story needs to be based at least a little bit on logic if nothing else. What one-liners? I must have missed all of them.

Glad those associated with the show like it though.