Fish in the Dark Previews

Previews start tonight

This should be a pretty, pretty, pretty interesting thread. Can't wait to hear about the show, well, moreso if it's any good than the actual details... I want to experience the details when I attend.

Actually, to be honest, no amount of train wreck warnings would keep me away from seeing Larry onstage... so, I guess I really don't even need to follow this.

Also, I love Larry more than I hate stagedooring, so if someone can peak and see if there's a poster, that would be great. I may pop down there before actually seeing the show, since he seems like he might get "over" signing stuff very quickly, if he gets into it at all, heh.

Let's face it, this is someone who is already wearing his costume for his first scene to the theater because he doesn't want to change upon arriving there. So, he will do this run on his terms...

Updated On: 2/2/15 at 12:05 PM

I absolutely can't wait to hear how the first performance is! Is anyone going to be there tonight?

Haterobics, should Larry tire of coin stage door (if he does it at all) we can always hope he'll sign posters for the spring collection for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. I'd imagine that poster would be expensive, but I'd happily make a big donation for it! And yes, Tom5, I have to agree that Larry is to television what Woody and Neil are in their respected mediums. Here's hoping Larry makes a terrific transition from small screen to stage!

I was at the first preview tonight and there's some good stuff going for Fish in the Dark, but there's also room for work to be done, especially in the overly long and unfocused second act.

Act one ran about an hour and played like a two-part Curb Your Enthusiasm season finale. Everyone slowly assembles in a hospital waiting room where Larry David's father (Jerry Adler) has been rushed, fearing that this might be the end. Rita Wilson plays Cheryl, I mean Brenda; Jayne Houdyshell plays his overbearing mother; Ben Shenkman is his Asshole brother; Rosie Perez rounds out the leading players as David's housekeeper with a secret.

Part of the hilarity of CYE was the pacing and slow piling on of crap that would overwhelm David by the end of the episode. The beginning might be slow, but you always knew there was going to be a payoff worth waiting for.

There are certainly big laughs to be found in Fish in the Dark, but that carefully plotted build and climax are sometimes missing. Act two picks up where act one ended, but all the momentum is gone. New threads are picked up and then don't go anywhere. The focus shifts too much and you could feel the audience growing restless as some of the scenes went on too long.

David seemed to be playing himself, or as much of himself as could be found in CYE. If you're a fan of his line delivery and humor then you won't be disappointed. If you're expecting him to break out of his comfort zone and do something new, you won't find it here. Personally I was pleased with his performance, and even when the script was meandering I knew I could count on him to make me chuckle with a gesture or vocal inflection.

The rest of the cast is mostly strong; everyone has a bit or two, but it's not like the characters are particularly fleshed out. The only one who didn't quite work for me was Rosie Perez. She needs some more time to find the rhythms of the dialogue and really go for those laughs.

There was a technical difficulty, and in general the scene changes were slow. Sometimes there were pre-recorded telephone calls to cover the changes and sometimes there was some gimmickry with images projected on the skrim. The calls were funny. The projections were not. David needs to whip up a few more calls during to previews and they'll be fine.

The set is fine, if unremarkable.

Overall I liked it well enough, but didn't love it as much as I thought I would.

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Slight, but amusing.

I don't think the sort of comedy that characterizes the tv show registers as well on the stage, particularly in the area of gestures, facial expressions, etc.

Some members of the cast are already on target; others are finding their way.

All told, it's a pleasant enough way to spend an evening.

My friend got a selfie with him (like a posed one) not sure yet if he is signing.

"When he did, he signed autographs in a friendly, but awkward, manner.

"You know, I do have to come back and do this tomorrow," he said."

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/fish-dark-larry-david-play-loved-fans-article-1.2101329

Is the show staged on a 2 level set? Like would it be obstructed from a mezzanine overhang or would I be good?

I know this will be a spoiler, but I'm not seeing the show, and I must know...

What does the title mean?...

Thanks. Yeah I sat in Row F mezzanine for Cripple of Inishmaan and noticed that the mezzanine overhang would've been a little obstructed but that was also a one level set so it was fine. I don't have tickets yet so I'm waiting for them to release some and incase it's like rear orchestra I wanted to check. Thank you!

Yes, I thought of The Lyons too, as well as Next Fall; the opening hospital waiting room set is almost identical.


SPOILER re: the title



About 3/4 of the way through Act One, Jerry Adler dies and Ben Shenkman informs Rita Wilson that his father never liked her anyway. Wilson is shocked and wants an explanation.

Houdyshell explains that at a family dinner Wilson refused to turn up the lights so people could see the food.

Wilson snaps back, "Well your house is lit like a Baskin-Robbins and I could see just fine."

"That's because you were near the kitchen when a little more light could creep in. But not Sidney (Adler)! He had to eat his fish in the dark and he swallowed a bone and almost died!!"

"That was TWELVE years ago!"

"And I've never forgotten or forgave a day since! I mean, who serves fish in the dark!!"

This of course is all being argued over Adler's dead corpse in the hospital bed. It's pretty funny stuff.



END SPOILER************************

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I attended last night, and kept on wondering where Jerry and Elaine were. It's an overblown Seinfeld throwback with zero heart that would be hilarious if it were 40 minutes in a madcap start to finish, but as is, it's a meandering mess.
But what does it matter, it's already presold more than any other play.

Thanks to both After Eight and Whizzer for the answer.

And to Whizzer...Geez, do you memorize the plays you see? That was amazing.