Posted: 8/18/26 at 2:59pm
WiCkEDrOcKS said: "Very much looking forward to revisiting this - it was phenomenal off Broadway.
I thought MacKinnon’s direction was very strong, but intrigued as to why Mantello is now stepping in (besides the fact that he’s chummy with Rudin). Either way, interested to see his take. I trust him implicitly after DOAS."
MacKinnon had benefit of directing the same old (although usually good) Steppenwolf ensemble, once again. They were, of course, good as they work together often - but the direction allowed for one of the main suprises to be figured out from the beginning - something a stronger director wouldn't have allowed . The cast also gave some of this up due to the direction. The play was the the clear star of the Playwrights production.
Mantello, with a (mostly) fresh cast, could really make this something new by removing the Steppenwolf "club" repertory casting element and bringing a new air to the proceedings and focusing the play itself better with an equally strong, if not stronger, cast as a whole.
