Guthrie's Kushner Celebration

[Ariella]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 4:20pm

I live in Minneapolis, and I have to report that the Guthrie's Kushner Celebration is absolutely spectacular. It encompasses 3 productions: Caroline, Or Change; Kushner's new play (a world premiere), The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures; and an evening of 5 One Acts.

Seriously, anyone in the area (and who could manage/afford the trip) should see the shows. It's rare that a theater would devote all of its resources to the work of a single (living) playwright, and I've been incredibly impressed by all of it.

[Andergoat]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 4:37pm

"Caroline, or Change" is absolutely spectacular. I didn't see the B'way production, but this one is glorious. I'm seeing "The Intelligent Homosexual..." tonight.

[Ariella]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 4:52pm

Yeah, Caroline is phenomenal. Greta Oglesby is a top-notch Caroline, and it's a pleasure to have Nikki Renee Daniels here. The whole production was marvelous, in my opinion.

Please report back on The Intelligent Homosexual! Given, it is the very first preview.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 9:54pm

I SO wish this were closer to New York. It sounds like heaven. I would love for anyone who sees these show to report back on them!

[LouieLovesTheater]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 9:29am

Caroline is a stunner...can't wait to see it again in a week!

First preview reports on Intelligent Homosexual was that there was a tech mishap in Act 1 and that the play is clocking in around 4 hours.....eeek!

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 11:02am

I had planned to attend this but can't. I saw "Caroline" on Broadway and really wanted to see this production along with the others.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 11:06am

Jeeze, doesn't Kushner know how to write anything short?

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 12:36pm

Why would you expect Tony Kushner to write a play that was short? For God's sake, one of his projects is a (in his words) "very, very, very, very, very, very long", multi-part drama called HENRY BOX BROWN!

And yeah, Riedel has never really liked Kushner. Maybe because he doesn't agree with Kushner's liberal politics, maybe because he thinks he's overhyped, but there you are.

Updated On: 5/15/09 at 12:36 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 12:49pm

Jeeze, doesn't Kushner know how to write anything short?

The Tiny Kushner One-Acts!

[Andergoat]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 1:42pm

Yeah, it was a long night. I can't say I was bored, though. The play needs some work, especially the last act, which started to feel like 'night Mother. Very Kushner, though, in that it explores interesting, universal themes on a broad spectrum. The cast is brilliant--the standout for me was Stephen Spinella. I want to go back after it opens as I'm interested to see any changes and to see it when the cast gets its rhythm.

Technical mishap in the first 10 minutes. Michael Greif came out and was funny while they fixed the set piece. I was thrilled when someone commented to him about "Next to Normal".

[chad2]

Posted: 5/15/09 at 2:00pm

Caroline was amazing.

Seeing Intelligent tonight, a little turned off by the almost 4 hour running time. I know they are having a gala opening celebration after the show. Do you think any big names will be present? This was supposed to be opening night, but they shifted it to next Friday and did not change prices.

[Ariella]

Posted: 5/17/09 at 1:51pm

Intelligent Homosexual runs at 3 hours, 40 minutes, but Kushner is reportedly making cuts this weekend. The gala preview was Friday, and there were no tech mishaps this time. It's a complicated set - I think that contributed to the additional week more than the purported delays with the script. And Chad, the official opening is on the 22nd so any "big names" who plan to attend will be present then. Hopefully Kushner will take a curtain call, too.

I thought Intelligent Homosexual was phenomenal, though certainly an investment of concentration and energy. In terms of plot and character, it's a very intimate show that nonetheless encapsulates sweeping themes and commentaries. There's a fantastic scene at the end of Act II with several overlapping dialogues - it cements the characters and the trajectories and is a truly brilliant bit of writing. Act III lacks the direction of the previous two and is intentionally ambiguous. It would most greatly benefit from cuts and editing, I think, and some of the characters felt abruptly dismissed. I agree with Andergoat - Stephen Spinella is absolutely thrilling onstage, absolutely fearless and has a great range.

Tiny Kushner is in previews now too. And the plays are, in fact, short!

[Ariella]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 10:38am

Well, Intelligent Homosexual is headed for Broadway spring of 2010. Most of the cast and Michael Greif will transfer, Scott Rudin produces.


Bound for Broadway

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 10:57am

See, I was gonna say that it wouldn't shock me if INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL popped up at the Signature for their Tony Kushner season in 2010.

[me2]

Posted: 5/29/09 at 6:31pm

I saw CAROLINE and "enjoyed" it thoroughly (can you really enjoy a show like CAROLINE?), though it was not as moving or thrilling a show as I had hoped. I had not seen the Broadway production but had really wanted to, so I was ecstatic to get to see it.
Broadway Mouth: And the Award for Most Amazing Person in New York Goes to . . .

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/30/09 at 10:45am

Is Signature doing "Caroline" because that would make me SO HAPPY.