Guthrie's Kushner Celebration

"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.

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!

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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.

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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.

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

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".

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!

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.

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