HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE Previews — Page 3

Has anyone gotten rush tickets for this? Curious as to where seats are located, as 30 Under 35 seems to be the front row which I worry might be too close. Thanks!

Jordan Catalano said: "I didn’t sleep well last night, I just kept thinking about this and one scene in particular towards the end where MLP is just staring at Morse while her younger self speaks. Her just looking at him is some of the best stage acting I’ve ever seen and will now live rent free in my mind forever."

This scene still lives rent free in my mind and I saw it 10 days ago! Agree that it is one of the best acting moments I've ever witnessed.

Lights came up at the start of the show this afternoon and MLP says one line and then looks into the audience, points and was all “and I’ll tell you more once that person back there shuts their phone off.” The audience applauded, she waited, did a cute little dance and started over.


God, I love her.

Brava. I'd give her the Tony just for that, even if I wouldn't anyway (which I would).

ETA: my post relates to the cell phone, not the bra...

Updated On: 5/4/22 at 04:33 PM

We dunk on Manhattan Theatre Club a lot, and sometimes they deserve it, but I've now seen two of the best acting performances of the past decade up close at the Friedman: Frank Langella in THE FATHER and Mary Louise Parker in this. And this year we got a marvel of a solo show in LACKAWANNA and one of the best new plays of the year in SKELETON CREW.

Parker is extraordinary, and the way she can play all those different ages is nothing short of wizardry. David Morse is excellent, too, in the much less showy role.

I kind of left wanting a different physical production/direction. I didn't feel Mark Brokaw's work matched Vogel and the two lead actors. But above all this is a performance vehicle (no pun intended), and the two lead performances are among the best we'll see all year. I hope to be able to catch it again at the Friedman.

Updated On: 5/4/22 at 05:44 PM

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "We dunk on Manhattan Theatre Club a lot, and sometimes they deserve it, but I've now seen two of the best acting performances of the past decade up close at the Friedman: Frank Langella in THE FATHER and Mary Louise Parker in this. And this year we got a marvel of a solo show in LACKAWANNA and one of the best new plays of the year in SKELETON CREW."



Sure, they're not above criticism, I'll give you that. But IMO those 2 performances are from their only saving graces.

I've actually been pretty pleased with MTC's Broadway track record over the past 7-ish years (which is about when I started seeing their shows). Sure we've had some duds in there for sure (The Nap, Lucy Barton, and a few more), but I consider them one of Broadway's greatest assets for plays (I think they have a much better track record than Roundabout, with both new plays and play revivals).

And as for some of the best acting performances of the past decade, I would unabashedly add Jeremy Pope in Choir Boy as well. And on top of them, we've had many other masters of their craft flex their formidable skills at the Friedman in recent years; Linney & Nixon, Arianda & Rockwell, Pryce & Atkins, Wilson & Gyllenhaal.

Anyway, I'm not trying to an MTC shill here, but to me they've shown far more good taste than bad in recent years. (that might also be because I've enjoyed some of their more divisive productions like The Children, Height of the Storm, and yes even Saint Joan)

mikem said: "It is striking to me that the four non-profits' spring plays were all originally scheduled to close on May 29, and only one of them, Take Me Out, is extending, and even Take Me Out is closing the day before the Tonys. The play audience isn't returning to the theater as quickly as one would have liked."

Actually, Take Me Out is currently scheduled to end its limited run on June 11th, the day before the Tony Awards.

Updated On: 5/5/22 at 06:19 AM

TheQuibbler said: "Does anyone know if you can purchase the 30 under 35 at the box office? With the Telecharge fee, it’s like buying a third ticket!"

Yes, you can.

BroadwayNYC2 said: "Any other insight into how the view is from the front row? Too close?"

Stage isn't too high, and David Morse literally went fishing directly in front of me --- I say go for it. Worth it just to see MLP's performance up close.

I agree on MTC's quality in recent years. Even something like LITTLE FOXES, which could have been a stuffy revival in the wrong hands, was sharp and wonderful.

Front row is perfect imo. I basked in their performances. The deck is raised about six inches in the middle (down to the lip of the stage), but it was still an excellent view, and I'm not particularly tall. I would sit on the stage and mind my business off to the side if I could, just to get closer to the performances.

Updated On: 5/6/22 at 10:54 AM

Is this running close to the advertised 1:40? Trying to figure out train logistics.