HUGHIE Previews- Page 3

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 2/15/16 at 1:24pm

Some actors do just have a hard time learning lines. He's not been a stage actor before by any means, so he also could just be having a hard time. It sounds as though this is cleaning up and will wind up being okay. What we really need to question is why producers think they can get away with producing the worst and weirdest material just because there is a star in the mix. There is an obvious answer to that question, but it's just sad to see.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 9:44am

If actors have a hard time learning lines, maybe they shouldn't be actors.

This was announced last summer, which is plenty of time for an accomplished actor to learn their lines.

[@z5]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 6:36pm

Has anyone tried to do stage door with him?

[jbird5]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 7:06pm

FWIW Marlon Brando may have been the all time worst at remembering his lines.

[Broadway kid 2]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 9:53pm

TerrenceIsTheMann said: "Some actors do just have a hard time learning lines. He's not been a stage actor before by any means, so he also could just be having a hard time. It sounds as though this is cleaning up and will wind up being okay. What we really need to question is why producers think they can get away with producing the worst and weirdest material just because there is a star in the mix. There is an obvious answer to that question, but it's just sad to see.

 

They do it to make money 

 

[grumpyoptimist]

Posted: 2/17/16 at 7:46am

I saw it Sat, and just happened to have a seat that made me one of the first to leave the theater.  So I stood outside as people came out for about 5min (it was like 12 degrees at the time) to see what the reaction was.  It was overwhelmingly WTF and frustration/anger that the show made no sense.  I didn't hear a single person who was arguing they liked either the show OR Whitaker.  I can't remember the last time that's happened at the theatre for me.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 10:51pm

I'm guessing there's a worthwhile piece of theatre there, but Forest just seemed so entirely focused on getting the words out, or what he's having for dinner later, I completely lost track of what he was even talking about within five minutes, and I've no clue what it was even about. Frank Wood was infinitely more captivating staring into the distance, whenever he spoke was a desperately needed jolt of energy. Forest has presence, absolutely, but this was just not the right role for him. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 11:04pm

Was offered comps and had to turn them down. I just couldn't imagine having to sit through this. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 11:10pm

Sat thru the Pacino version. That was enough for me.

 

Riedel was funny today.He said if there was a 2nd act with another 1 acter paired with Hughie, Whitaker would have needed another kelvinator water cooler.

Updated On: 2/29/16 at 11:10 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 11:26pm

Oh, you did? You say through the Pacino version? You haven't posted that in over an hour so we were all forgetting. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/18/16 at 11:32pm

Nice to see you reverted back to form with your sarcastic remarks. Next time you repeat yourself, I will not forget to remind you 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/19/16 at 8:29am

And now, Michael Riedel chimes in...

http://nypost.com/2016/02/18/forest-whitaker-is-the-latest-broadway-star-who-cant-remember-his-lines/

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 2/19/16 at 8:38am

Well that explains why I enjoyed Hughie more than others back when I saw it a few years back. I saw it with Dennehy, whom Reidel says did the best rendition he's seen. Think I'll leave that memory in my mind and skip this and other future iterations. 

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/19/16 at 12:27pm

Add me to the mix of people who thought this was the WORST. I was embarrassed FOR Whitaker.he looked like he was either in physical pain or was frustrated with himself for not knowing the lines. I saw it on Wednesday. By this point, it seemed like he had the first half sort of solid, so I was thinking that maybe people were overreacting. But then, 35-40 minutes in, he just..........got lost in himself. He was concentrating on the lines, so all character went out the window, along with accent. His gestures were non-specific and repetitive, and he looked trapped. Poor Frank Wood, was feeding him his lines at least twice, I believe "Didn't I hear you say something about.........." and then Whitaker would remember, and be off like a shot for 30 seconds until he forgot again. it was painful to see a beloved actor struggling up there. 

 

But it really is a shame we have been inundated with these Hollywood actors who think they can just stroll on a broadway stage without bothering to learn the script. Willis, Pacino, Whitaker....... sorry fellas...... It's not film where you memorize just two pages at a time, film it, forget it, and then onto to next. You have ONE job, actors: Act. That involves learning your lines. ONE JOB.

 

On a positive note, Frank Wood was fantastic, and the Set was stunningly realistic and gorgeously rendered. I also enjoyed the eerie music that accompanied. I would LOVE to see this done correctly with an actor who has the capacity to give a tour de force, like Dennehy. I'm sure he was mesmerizing for those who saw him. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/19/16 at 12:47pm

Pacino  was great on stage years ago. Now he should simply retire from the stage with his reputation intact I cannot comment on the other 2 you mentioned. These guys want a Tony so they swoop in for a few months, do their thing and than leave. Will they ever return ? Who knows .

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 2/19/16 at 12:51pm

Mr Roxy said: "Pacino  was great on stage years ago."

 

I feel like Roxy is just trolling us now, Jordan.

 

[Tom-497]

Posted: 2/20/16 at 7:15pm

I've really liked Hughie since seeing the '80s TV version with Jason Robards, who I seem to remember emphasizing the anger, abrasiveness, and despair of the main character, Erie Smith. 

 

Since then, I've seen the show live a number of times. Al Pacino was very funny and endearing (a lighter version of the low-level hood that he played in Donnie Brasco around the same time). Richard Schiff a few years back really captured the character's hangdog loss of confidence. And Brian Dennehy conveyed the sense of a once powerful character now on his last legs and at the very end of his rope.

 

As for today's performance -- I found it well worth the time, effort, and $37.25 I spent on my orchestra seat. I thought Whitaker captured at least as well as any of the above-named actors the huge sense of loss that Erie feels at Hughie's passing. Unfortunately, probably the most moving part of the play, where Erie expresses those feelings most directly, was badly marred by somebody's alarm beeping for what seemed like a good 10 or 15 seconds. 

 

As for Whitaker's performance overall, I found it mixed -- sometimes excellent and never bad, but it did seem that he still had to focus too much on just getting the words out accurately. In fact -- and this is just an impression I got, which may or may not be correct -- I think Whitaker did again use the water cooler to receive a line, and I also wondered if he may have had prompts written on his racing form, racing tickets, etc. In any event, those items seemed to come into play in this performance much more than I remember them in any of the other versions I've seen.

 

On a different note, at least from my orchestra seat I liked how the partially blocked, big green HOTEL sign suggested the word HEL(L). I don't know if that was on purpose, but it was very effective, I thought.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 10:32am

Does the water cooler get billing in the Playbill? Just joking people

[pointe_princess]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 10:36am

Updated On: 2/21/16 at 10:36 AM

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 11:17am

I saw the show on Friday evening, and maybe it was because I had read this thread first and was going in thinking it would be terrible, but I actually liked it. Yes, it is verrrrrry slow and quiet and the constant pauses between scenes were a bit much, but during the actual scenes of dialogue I really enjoyed it!

Whitaker was more than fine. Based on all the reports I had read of previous performances, I was expecting him to ask for lines and for it to be very obvious that he couldn't remember what to say. He did go to the watercooler twice, but I don't know if it was to get lines or was just in the blocking. I certainly wouldn't have even thought twice about it had I not read this thread saying it was something to look for.

I like O'Neill (Iceman is probably my favorite play) and I also like stories set in 1920s NY, so I'm sure that helped me enjoy the show more than others, but it was definitely not as bad as it sounds like it was in the first week.

[Juggalo12]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 1:54pm

WARNING: This is a 45 minute one act play, stretched out to 50 minutes and billed as a 60 minute play. BEWARE. And it is perhaps the worst play ever written by a famous playwright, next to Tennessee Williams' "The Two Character Play." DO NOT even think of paying anywhere close to full price for this, including the $75 TKTS price. You will be completely ripped off, as well as demoralized for having fallen for this money making scam against the unsuspecting tourist. In addition, you may find yourself dozing off through the entire 50 mins. It is painfully boring. Nothing at all happens. NOTHING. It is a one act play never intended to be on Broadway with a $150 price. It was by far the most frustrating surreal evening of theater I've ever experienced. When we all got up to leave, it seemed like it was only the first half. It was shocking to believe I would not be returning. They also warn you in the playbill with an absurd insert, telling us it's a "60 minute play." That is obviously stuffed in there to ease the shock of its short length. The average ticket buyer will never suspect the show is only 50 minutes. And it should only have taken 40 minutes with a normal pacing without huge pauses of incidental music playing. Finally, he doesn't know his lines. I saw it Wednesday night last week. I can just sense he doesn't know it yet. How utterly irresponsible of him. That only added to my frustration. Thank goodness I got a rush ticket. But the seat was horrific, as was the whole experience. How dare they advertise this as a "masterpiece." Proceed at your own peril. 

[Juggalo12]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 1:57pm

I'm not surprised. One if the worst nights of theater I've ever experienced, for all the obvious reasons, particularly that they charge full price for this lame miniature. A woman in front of me walked out. I should have done the same. I was angry. 

[GigiColette]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 9:40pm

PianoMann said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Holy God. If you're ever wondered how long one hour can be, go see this. One of the  most impressive set designs I've ever seen accompanied by a mind numbingly tedious play."

I'm sorry to hear this! I already bought two of the Time Out New York 25 for $25 tickets, which seem like great seats in Orchestra Row O, for April so hopefully the show will be tighter and Whitaker will hone his performance by then."

Jordan Catalano: Based on what you said, going into it I didn't think I'd like the play much...but I totally did.  I got so much out of it!  I only moved to NYC a couple years ago...this city is such a solitary place, but at our core we all need one another to exist & we find ways of surviving here.  The play was so hopeful in the end.  Sorry to hear you didn't get it.

Plus Forest Whitaker only went to the water cooler once.  I sat in the orchestra the first time around...and ended up going back another night, sitting in the back of the mezzanine, only because I was curious if this whole water cooler thing was true.  But, he only went once & at the exact same point in the play.  Guessing that trip was staged since he's essentially talking non-stop & must get thirsty.  Either way, it seems he has learned his lines after all.  Perhaps y'all shouldn't be so quick to judge 

PianoMann: I hope you like it as much as I did!

Updated On: 2/29/16 at 09:40 PM

[Fantod]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 10:25pm

[Scene: Interior. A New York City apartment. There is a knock at the door.]

Woman:  [speaking through closed door] Yes?
Voice:  (mumbling) Mrs. Arlsburgerhhh?
Woman:  Who?
Voice:  (mumbling) Mrs. Johannesburrrr?
Woman:  Who is it?
Voice:  [pause] Flowers.
Woman:  Flowers for whom?
Voice:  [long pause] Plumber, ma'am.
Woman:  I don't need a plumber. You're that clever shill, aren't you?
Voice:  [pause] Candygram.
Woman:  Candygram, my foot! You get out of here before I call the police! You're the shill, and you know it!
Voice:  Wait.  I-I'm only a theatergoer, ma'am.
Woman:  A theatergoer? Well... Okay. [opens door]

[Huge latex and foam-rubber shill lunges through open door, chomps down on woman's head, and drags her out of the apartment and to a production of Hughie, as Jaws attack music plays.]