EXPLORERS CLUB previews- Page 2

[Kad]

Posted: 6/5/13 at 2:12pm

I believe that closed a year or two ago.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 6/5/13 at 6:57pm

I agree WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel, I also think it is harder to write a good comedy, as well as pulling one off.

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/9/13 at 7:49pm

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

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/10/13 at 1:14am

Boring and predictable! I do like the drink thing, but it gets old fast.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/10/13 at 2:01am

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. :)

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/10/13 at 10:07am

Thanks, Whizzer! I'm learning! And having fun in the process.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 10:47am

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.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 1:04pm

I saw this yesterday and I agree with all that was said, it was lacking. I did not have high expectations, but did hope to get a laugh or two, the only thing I got was maybe a smile or two. The audience reception was mixed, some did laugh, but I am a tough customer when it comes to humor this just did not bring it for me. Oh well, great set and some great bar tendering though, LOL! .

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 1:06pm

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.

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 1:41pm

Also, I wanted to add that I didn't find Explorers Club very Monty Pythonish. I was kind of hoping it would be, being a fan. Their upper-class twits were very over the top!

Also, I don't know if anyone has seen Jeeves and Wooster, the British TV series, starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (some cast, right?). I haven't watched it in a couple of years, but it mined the same territory much more effectively, alas.

[customsay]

Posted: 6/17/13 at 12:35am

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?

[notabb]

Posted: 6/17/13 at 1:16am

I walked in knowing nothing about it and thought it was a delight . Wonderfully silly and done beautifully by the cast. I had a great time and would recommend it. The very last bit of business during the bows was a perfect ending. Carson Elrond has been great in everything I've seen him in and John McMartin was a true pro , no funny line wasn't made a little funnier by his delivery. A lovely summer trifle .

[John Adams]

Posted: 6/17/13 at 9:59am

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

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/17/13 at 10:56am

I don't remember anything happening during the final bows, but maybe it slipped my mind. Could you please post, with spoiler tags?

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 8:46am

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

SCROLL DOWN










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.)

[notabb]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 9:04am

I thought the drinks bit was a lot of fun each time it was done since it was never quite done the same way each time it was done. The final time they added one last trick that really surprised me. I really enjoyed the show , other posters here did and at intermission the woman next to turned and said this is wonderful fun. Though I heard some great comments going out I think we all know posters always seem to hear the people who agree with them so I'm sure there must of been others who didn't care for it too. I think there is going to be a range of opinions on this show.

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/18/13 at 10:34am

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.

[eperkins]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 4:32pm

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***
Just saw the show yesterday matinee, and it was a laugh riot. I don't know if it needed a couple of weeks to get in sync, but everything worked marvelously. After the performance, there was a Talk Back with some of the actors, and I would say at least half the audience stayed. And all their comments were glowing.

One of the actors did mention that they do change things depending on the audience reactions. The actors learn what the audiences find funny and what they don't and that's a continuing process.

There had been a slight mishap in the second act on Saturday when Beebe jumped up on the sofa - and missed. So he ad libbed and the cast had a difficult time keeping a straight face. There was not a single problem with the drinks, and they grew more difficult each time they did them, culminating in the curtain call - the most difficult of all - and flawless.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 11:39pm

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??

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 7/5/13 at 10:15pm

I actually enjoyed this play. It's not some game-changing piece of theatre but it was nice to watch for 100 minutes.

The cast was all very top-notch. The standout being John McMartin who was cracking me up with every line he uttered. Jennifer Westfeldt can sometimes rub me the wrong way but I quite liked her in this. I think she needs to be in things she doesn't write/direct more. I can't say that I've ever seen David Furr in anything but he was quite dreamy and wearing the hell out of that turtleneck in the beginning. Carson Elrod seemed wasted because Luigi had really nothing to do aside from the drink trick.

Speaking of the drink trick, I could have done with that happening maybe twice. The last time (prior to the curtain) was probably the best to me because of the double-fisted catch by Lucius. The set was beautiful but I feel like it was never really utilized. That might be my own nitpicking but it just seemed to be there and pretty but nothing more.

The play itself is funny. I wasn't rolling on the floor the whole time or anything but I was never really bored. My one problem was with Beebe. That portion seemed to really go nowhere other than serving as a device to get the story over more simply. The second act was a little draggy. Would probably recommend this one though.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 11:23pm

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.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 11:33am

I enjoyed it (cheap ticket), was amused, and wouldn't be surprised if it was never done again. Although I laughed, I kept thinking, "this should be much funnier."

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 1:12pm

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