EXPLORERS CLUB previews — Page 2

I believe that closed a year or two ago.

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I saw Explorers Club today, and while I really wanted to love it, I agree with Whizzer overall. It has some marvelous elements and fine performances, but the playwright seemed to be restraining herself, for some reason. I think for a farce like this one you have to make the commitment to go all-out silly, wild, ridiculous. It approached that at times, but not often enough. For instance: Whizzer, I agree with you 100% about the plant bit. Things like this that were mildly amusing could have been full-out riotous. I think Carson Elrod's character wasn't given enough to do (great makeup job though!), and Jennifer Westfeldt was completely competent but not much more. Maybe it will gel more as time goes by, but I think the writing needs to be punched up. Although what do I know? Probably not much.


(edited to correct gender of playwright!)

Updated On: 6/13/13 at 07:49 PM

mac- You know a lot more than you give yourself credit for. I've seen you be hesitant about your theatrical knowledge, but you see more stuff (especially off-Broadway fare) than most I know. I also look forward to your comments. :)

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I saw this last night. I was looking forward to this one, and unfortunately I found it a let-down. The script is fairly laugh-free. When Benjamin tries for farce, it feels incredibly forced, exactly the opposite of how it should feel. There is one bit of physical comedy that goes over extremely well--and which I won't spoil, for anyone who might wish to see it--but that was the only intrinsic pleasure I found in the play.

In an attempt to write a light comedy, Benjamin doesn't appear to want to delve very deep (or at all) into some of the potential issues her plot could raise; chiefly, the role of smart and ambitious women in a proto-feminist society and the questions of colonialism and assimilation that are evoked by "explorers" from an empire. These questions don't seem to have a place in the play Benjamin wanted to write, but to me they would have made a much more interesting play. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to have the talent to pull off a true screwball comedy, and the audience is left unsatisfied both intellectually and comedically.

The cast cannot be faulted--they're all very game. It's always wonderful to see John McMartin on stage. To me, he's the definition of an old pro. Jennifer Westfeldt is charming. Carson Elrod and Arnie Burton, both great comedians who seem to enliven any show they're in, do the best with what they have.

The set and costumes are probably the best I've ever seen at Stage I. The high point of the show.

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Thanks to everyone for the reviews. Too bad this doesn’t seem to be living up to expectations.

On another note, I don’t know if I ever remember seeing so many people so on the same page about a show on this board.

I rate this one a bit higher than some of the other posters here. This kind of silliness is so hard to pull off and I think the cast and writer get a nice comic spin going which builds to a satisfying climax at the end of both acts. The play could use more structural discipline and verbal wit, and the cast could dare to make more original and eccentric choices. I think their portrayals will become more intricately layered and specific as the run continues, which will only make them funnier. But overall I think it's a nicely sustained goofball farce and a pretty delicious piece of ensemble work.

One thing I wonder: as has been previously mentioned, there's a bit of physical comedy involving the serving of drinks that's repeated multiple times in the second act. At the performance I saw it was flawlessly executed each time with delightful precision (and capped by spontaneous applause from the audience). I'm wondering what the actors' protocol is in the event something goes awry. If any posters attend a performance where one of these bits doesn't come off perfectly, would you mind sharing any adjustments made by the cast?

Maybe they need a "name" as part of the ensemble.

****** SPOILER ALERT********

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During final curtain call the blue dude throws drinks to the actors from behind the bar. It is a cute gimmick once, maybe twice, but is got old for me fast by curtain call I was over it. Much like Chaplin on the high wire in "Chaplin" (They eventually dumped him coming in for curtain call on the high wire.)

Thanks for the info, gchris! I agree with you that it was a cool bit of stagecraft, but it didn't need to be repeated so many times.

This was a bore from start to finish, talking about ridiculous convoluted nonsense the whole time. The only thing that kept me awake was the bartender's trick with the drinking glasses in the 2nd act. And the set was beautiful, but that doesn't compensate for a terrible play. And the full price is $85 for this??

Saw this tonight, audience ate it up.

Carson is fantastic (and he told us after he spends 70 minutes a day getting painted)

the rest of the cast is great, Boyer is charming, Pisoni uses his clowning background in some great small moments.

Glad I saw it.

Saw it last night & throughly enjoyed it. Flat out funny. Funniest we have seen in a long time. Have to say the acoustics are bad. Even though it is a small space it was hard to hear at times. Great set especially for off broadway

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