Has anyone seen THE CALL at Playwrights Horizons?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/27/13 at 5:30pm

http://www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/plays/call/

Thoughts?

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 3/27/13 at 11:37pm

I'm going tomorrow night, can post thoughts if no one else has by then.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/27/13 at 11:49pm

Please do! I'd love to hear!

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 12:01am

I caught the second preview last week and thought it was in great shape. The play touches on some really topical issues, the design effectively served the play, and the entire ensemble was up to par with the material. It was nice seeing Kerry Butler shine in her role as a young wife grappling with adoption (It's also good to know that even in a small space, she is still able to pass for a "29-year old"). I would really recommend seeing THE CALL - I am curious to know if anything changes in between now and its opening.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 10:23pm

It's a solid, if flawed, play in a really strong production. Judging by some confusions in plot tonight (who got married to whom when) the script sounds like it's still under revision, so I'm sure it will get stronger with time.

The cast is strong across the board. Kerry Butler has a pretty daunting role, and she's still settling in. But when she sinks in, she's really moving. The rest of the cast is in top form. Personally, I loved Kelly AuCoin as Butler's husband.

Smooth technical production, well designed and executed. The play raises tricky issues to deal with, and I think it's still finding a distinct voice. I hope that overtime, the story tightens and focuses. Right now, everyone has just one too many secrets that have to be revealed. They just slow everything down.

When it clicks, though, the play is touching. I hope it sharpens up overtime, but as it stands now, a satisfying night.

[followspot]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 9:51am

Sharp, engaging play, winningly directed and performed. Honestly, I had very little interest in this show going in based on the topic (adoption), but Tanya Barfield explores much more than that, swiftly and deftly — and often with great humor. A definite must for Kerry Butler fans, but the entire cast is excellent.

For the record, this is a Primary Stages/Playwrights Horizons co-production. A winner for each.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 11:11am

I wish it had a better title. The Call sounds too much like an old Backstreet Boys song and that new movie. It needs a better title to make it memorable.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 11:18pm

Saw this this evening and thought it was fine. Nothing terrible, but nothing groundbreaking. For dealing with such a hot topic, it's surprisingly sterile and doesn't leave much of a lasting impression. I thought the resolution was a bit too rushed, with a few too many discoveries being uncovered in such a short period of time, but I appreciated the performances and the (very sleek) production. Kerry Butler, who I am usually not a fan of, is actually very good here. Maybe this is her niche: smaller, more intimate shows in smaller theaters. She really did an ace job tonight. Russell G. Jones stood out of the rest of the cast, for me, in a quirky, tricky, and crucial role.

It's running at a tight hour and forty-five minutes (it really doesn't need that intermission, but I understand why it's there) and it's a very tidy, neatly constructed show. Almost to a fault. When everything finally unravels at the end, nothing really feels resolved. It doesn't make the impact I imagine it wants to, but it's perfectly harmless and fine.

Honestly, I'll probably forget I saw it in a few days. Updated On: 4/4/13 at 11:18 PM