Hillary and Clinton previews — Page 3

I saw the second preview at the matinee on 3/17. When Laurie came out from the right of the stage, the audience on that side of the theater could see her coming before those of us on the left, and they started clapping. She walked to the microphone stand and reached for the mic, which wasn't there, so she walked off the stage to get it, so funny, and then started talking about what the show would be about.

I thought that the acting was great, but I was expecting something else to happen in the second half. Still, loved seeing Laurie and John on stage together. Missed having a set, I'll admit that, but I didn't mind having strong performances to pay attention to. I think it bothered me a little that everything was lying on the floor and that there was just a swivel chair that they had to take turns sitting in .

There was one instance where some lines didn't get a laugh, so I was wondering if they will rework those so that they are funnier. I wish I would have waited until the show was frozen before seeing it, since I probably won't have a chance to revisit it.

I saw the 5th preview and she did the same mic shtick.

i enjoyed this production because each actor was perfect. its a very thinly written show that would fall completely flat without perfect performances. This crew rises to the task, especially Metfcalf. None of them are doing impressions (except maybe Obama...) but they all feel authentic. Worth seeing, esp for TDF prices.

Midnight Radio said: "Having seen the first preview, I am pretty shocked that they haven't had the actor playing Obama tone back the impression. His performance felt like he was in a completely different production, and it was distracting."

Agree totally!

chanel said: "Can anyone who'sseen the show comment as to whether daughter Chelsea Clinton is mentioned at any point?"

*****POSSIBLE SPOILER******

She is mentioned when Hilary is talking about the day Bill told the family about his affair and Chelsea was very upset. She is also mentioned in regards to being with her boyfriend on Christmas-

Those are the only times I recall

Nothing lifeless about what's happening at the Golden.

One can only guess what this play might be in lesser paws. But it doesn't matter.
As for the here and now it is nestled firmly, gently in the hands of masters. The result is marvelous, hilariously funny, extraordinarily moving and superbly evocative.

What does it evoke?

Just about every feeling - positive, negative, annoyed, idolatrous, sympathetic, weary, you name it - anyone and everyone has ever had about the Clintons. All the fantasies and all the nightmares; the hopes, the suspicions, the projections,

If like me you found A Doll's House 2 to be an enjoyable lark (at the very least), then, like me, you may just fall in love with Hillary and Clinton.

Hnath's inspired premise provides just the right distance from our own prejudices - positive or negative - about the Hillary and Bill we think we know, only to afford us an objectivity that could only come from exiling them/us from their/our/"this mortal coil."

That's the ingenious premise The ride Hnath takes us on from there is splendid. A fever dream blistering, magical and cathartic.

Metcalf is giving the performance of her life. To those who've seen in her recent triumphs (I proudly admit she has never and could never do any wrong for me, but...) too much signature LM schtick, this performance will almost certainly redeem your esteem.

Lithgow, looming, gigantic, equal parts hurt and menace, matches her every inspiration.

Orth, an audience-whisperer, makes a game nice guy. When he's done playing nice with these two, watch out World - this or any other!

Mantello's status as one of the great stage directors of our time, long contended, is no longer subject to cavil.

Hnath has a knack for combining earthly comedy and quantum physics. At times this play seems like Copenhagen rewritten by Yasmina Reza. But at the end of the glorious evening, it ain't that... it's a unique work by a great new voice in our theatre.

He has also given Metcalf two remarkable monologues sure to beguile any audience and inspire any actor.

Bravo! Brava! Bravi!

Updated On: 3/30/19 at 11:17 AM

Show ran only 1:20 last night.

I saw it tonight and loved it.

Laurie Metcalf is extraordinary and I would be happy to see her win a third consecutive Tony for this. As someone who adores Hillary, I think she masterfully acted Hnath’s script and was able to convey the essence of Hillary Clinton without being a Amy Poehler or Kate McKinnon impersonation. It certainly added to the sense of humanity for me - so often when we get portrayals of real people who are SUCH a part of the zeitgeist, they feel cheapened. Not Metcalf. A brilliant actress.

The other actors are all wonderful as well, and Lithgow in particular conveys Bill with a certain gravitas someone who doesn’t have memories of the Clinton Administration has never associated with 42. The other roles are slight, but impeccablly portrayed. I smell noms for both leads, and as I said I’m hoping for a Metcalf win.

I understand the feeling that the play is missing just a little something. I agree slightly in Act II that it feels like the play doesn’t know what to do after Barrack exits. However, the actual ending is a powerful combination of imagery and language that will remain with me for a long time.

I think the play as a whole is a meaningful expression of the double standard women are faced with. I think what’s most incredible about the piece, centering on a woman’s place in the family and the country, is that is focuses on perhaps the most hated woman in the country. And the woman that most people feel ENTITLED to hate. The play doesn’t pretend that Hillary Clinton is a perfect woman or candidate, but it does explore the sexism she has to face every step of the way while many far inferior men waltz into the Oval Office. In a way, the only chance we have to humanize Hillary Clinton is to approach her not as a candidate, or as a wife in the public eye, but as a character in a play. And that allows those of us who dislike her to perhaps reconsider what she has had to go up against in a new light. At least, I hope it does.

Hillary and Clinton was a momentously worthwhile evening for me. I went in expecting a “Veep” style political satire but it was much more. I love “Veep”, and I love Selina Meyer, but we all know she’s a monster. We want her to say and do the most horrible things because that’s the world Frank Rich has built. In the nuanced and horrifying world we live in, it’s nice to have a play that explores Hillary’s humanity - and embraces her virtues and flaws - in their entirety. And perhaps we understand her flaws to be virtues and her virtues to be flaws in the end. Some of them, at least.

Updated On: 4/6/19 at 10:13 PM

Right on, Sally Durant Plummer.

And you rightly think at least some of us with more ambiguous feelings feeling about Hillary, and what’s more also about Bill, might find in this play a probing yet tender challenge to our entrenched assumptions, particularly about Hillary and who she is.

I did. I found the play provocative, cathartic and even eye opening. It got me reconsidering a great many things. It by no means sanitizes Hillary Clinton. It illuminates her.

That illumination becomes her. And beguiles me.

Updated On: 4/6/19 at 08:01 AM

dphibbs94 said: "haterobics said: "If I want to see this on the cheap, are they selling boxes or anything? Or does anything happen worth being more centered for?!"

Either rush tickets or TDF are going to be your best bet."

My only available slot is a Saturday night, which hasn't been on TDF, and I'm not getting into the area until noon... that's why i was wondering if the boxes might be an option, and whether they would be an issue as far as visibility.

Jordan Catalano said: "I feel she deserves better."

That's sort of on brand for her then, no?

Had Hillary And Clinton been written by Gore Vidal I might have at least considered buying tickets. He might at least have had something penetrating and trenchant to say about the two.