Deuce to Close in Previews? — Page 4

I saw it last night...Maybe it was because my expectations had been lowered so much from the word of mouth, but I really didn't think it was that bad. It's not a terrible play so much as it is a rambling one. It's easy to see why the ladies need cues, I can't imagine ANYONE memorizing this piece, as the ladies wander from topic to topic without any logic. Don't get angry at anyone for giving away plot points, there's not really any plot here. But, I've seen 100 worst things on Broadway, and it was wonderful to see Lansbury in what could be her last performance on Broadway (although she looks she could last another 80 years).

If all you want to do is see Angela, her performance won't dissapoint. Great theatre it ain't, but why turn a chance to see a great star turn by a legend? But use the bathroom before the show, it's almost 2 hours without intermission.

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Updated On: 4/15/07 at 10:23 AM

What we are foregetting here is that this play is still IN PREVIEWS. That means it's a work-in-progress. Therefore, it shouldn't be judged by the same standards used for shows that have officially opened.

In this case, the preview schedule was bumped UP and that probably took away from necessary rehearsal time.

I asseverate: DEUCE is not the train wreck that people on this board led me to believe.

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Updated On: 4/15/07 at 11:26 AM

Sorry, Roxy. You can't come to the wedding. We won't allow and riff-raff at the nuptials.

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By the way, the ladies receiving line cues wasn't as bad as I was left to believe, at least at the performance I saw. Marian Seldes had to be cued about 5 or 6 times, Angela once, which was for a play almost two hours long, so it wasn't like someone offstage shouted their lines every minute.

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One thing that bothered me about the show, was that it seemed too many plot lines were brought up, but never really developed. Some things seemed to just be mentioned to take up some time. Has anyone else who has seen it felt the same way?

(WARNING : TOTAL SPOILER - Pls do not read if you have not seen the play) I totally agree with you-OOTI2004- That was a good analysis! I was thinking exactly what you just said...I felt like there were parts I really fell for the characters (example: the dialogue where the ladies was talking about taking a economy class seats in the plane) then suddenly they switched to another topic/ issues.. basically it boils down to issues like 1. women before were not taken seriously before in sports 2. lesbian topic.... wonderin' who's lesbian or not ? 3. inter-racial relationships 4. regrets 5. profanity -actually I dont think they were too much profanity in the play , i think some people might have exaggerated it ..a bit,,, could it be ? People have pre-conceived idea of Angela Lansbury's character in "Murder She wrote" and everyone was scandalized to hear her says the F*ck word, N*pples, etc...

Overall- I must Agree with everyone here, but It was not as BAD as I think it would be (though I missed the last 10-15 mins or so )I really love Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes. I would really be disppointed if the show close at all . But I was wonderin' all night this question? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THEY COULD HAVE IMPROVE DURING PREVIEWS? I am sorry to say , but I feel (just my opinion) there is not much there to start with .
Its just nice to see Ms. Lansbury back onstage but the play itself is about nothing , or is there more than this that I just dont get ?

I also saw the 4/14 evening performance, also second row... I could hear a LOT of prompting going on, especially for Marian Seldes, but they definitely handled it well. It brought a question to my mind about how many recent changes have been made to the script. It's a very difficult script to work with, as a whole - they've got some great exchanges that they pull off very well, but I can see how the script has a whole would be incredibly difficult to pull off. Had it not been Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did.

I can see where people are coming from about the faults of the show. I readily admit that I'm a fan of shows where people just sit and talk. That may be strange, but hey. As long as they go somewhere - I felt with Deuce more than many other similar shows that I actually went somewhere with the characters. McNally gives himself a hard task, because he sets up so many things and has to reincorporate them for them to make sense. I agree that some things were left hanging (though some things were brought in quite nicely). I would've liked to see the bit about the Austrailian Open introduced earlier. It is, by no means, a perfect show. It's definitely entertaining, even on its own. Infinitely quotable.

However, even though it wasn't the best written show, I was so completely captured. It is rare that a show does that to me because I am incredibly critical. The performances, despite the prompting, were amazing. For me, seeing Deuce was one of those transcendant theatrical experiences, because when the Admirer talks about the past generation, the elegance, the passion, and you see Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes standing there holding hands, the theme of the play truly comes alive. My first reaction was that the critics were going to rip it apart, and that that would be a shame. It's not the best play, but something about this production makes me not care, and that's impressive.

On a funny note, for anyone who's seen it already (possible SPOILERS): Explaining the show to my friend's grandmother, we told her that it was about two women doubles tennis players. Her first question was, "Were they lesbians?"

"Does anyone know why the show is opening cold in New York instead of trying out out-of-town? Booking it for a month as part of a subscription series in a place like San Francisco or Philadelphia would have given them time to work on it without the prying eyes of people like us critiquing every line."

Because it has Angela Lansburry

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I need to see this before it closes. Does anyone know if they've been selling standing room tickets? Or have any details?

Ugh. What a rotten time not to be a TDF member.

I have watched this thread as it has meandered along and finally felt I ought to comment on some of this rather creative speculation.

So that I may absolutely (even proudly) reveal my biases, I will share that I know Ms. Lansbury, have visited in her home (where I fondled her...Tony's!), have had dinner with her. We chatted as recently as last week. I have also seen "Deuce", as well as each of the four shows for which she's won a Tony as Best Actress in a Musical (which means I fall into the category "of a certain age").

The challenge of a Broadway production, especially a new work, is challenging enough, but when one is as celebrated and revered as Ms. Lansbury, expectations are extraordinary. For those of you who have won four Tony's, have been away from the stage for two decades, and who are now learning a new play heavy in rhetoric (and anticipation), please write on.

However, for those for whom these experiences are unknown, please think of the impact your words have on those who read them. No matter how much interest we have these days in gossip and rumor, ill-founded speculation is hurtful, and that is contrary to everything for which good theatre stands.

Whatever the fate of "Deuce", however the show is received, I'll be in the audience on May 6 when it officially opens. I'm suspecting that Ms. Lansbury and Ms. Seldes will be there as well.

"No matter how much interest we have these days in gossip and rumor"

These days? Interest in gossip and rumor is not a new thing, nor is speculation about the fate of a new show, especially one that is so high profile. It may be hurtful, but it's not new, nor is it the sole province of the internet message boards and chat rooms. Read Alan Jay Lerner's ON THE STREET WHERE I LIVE, in which he chronicles the creation of MY FAIR LADY, GIGI and CAMELOT, and openly refers to the pre-opening tongue waggers as 'The Dear SH*Ts." The only difference today is that the gossip and the rumors fly around faster.

Having been involved in some of the biggest hits in theater history, and some of the biggest flops, I would assume that both stars of DEUCE have a pretty tough skin at this point. And as Auggie so rightly pointed out, their appearance in a play written by a high profile and prolific playwright is NEWS and is going to attract the spotlight, good or bad. Another thing I am sure the stars were aware of when signing on.

The caliber of the artists involved is not in question, nor is their talent. However, the show is open for public viewing, whether you call it a "preview" or not, and apparently whether it is ready or not. BWW is a public forum, and therefore DEUCE, Ms. Lansbury, Ms. Seldes, Mr. McNally et al are leaving themselves open for public scrutiny, whether they like the news or not. But again, they are all professionals and I can't believe that any of them are reading this thread and having a pity party for themselves each night at the theater. I am hoping and imagining that they are reporting each day and each night to the theater and concentrating on what they all do best - work to make the best theater possible. And if for some reason all the work is in vain, more power to them for having tried. And if they all manage to pull it off come opening night, they will have done their jobs. No more, no less.

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Darth,
Thanks for going to the trouble of signing up today just to tell us all this!!!!!

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