Posted: 5/7/25 at 11:22am
I liked this quite a bit. It's the best Jackman has been onstage since THE BOY FROM OZ, maybe? I know everyone fawns over his song-and-dance routine, but he's truly wonderful in straight plays too. I thought Ella Beatty was very good - I wasn't crazy about her in APPROPRIATE (and even less so in GHOSTS), but she fared much better here.
Another terrible audience, though. The second the lights went down, someone's phone started ringing on what sounded like the highest volume possible. People were talking throughout at full volume ("HUGH GOT A GREAT HAIR DYE JOB!!!" ), fidgeting with their coats, bags, and zippers, etc.
Someone in the second or third row all the way house right decided to get up and leave in the middle of a scene, forcing the entire row to stand up. And then, instead of quietly leaving via the nearest exit, they opted to walk through the middle aisle of the venue, passing directly in front of the rest of the orchestra seating, as if they didn't cause enough of a disturbance to begin with.
Someone else had a coughing attack in the front row during a key turning point in the play (which I realize they couldn't really help, but it went on for forever). It eventually prompted Hugh to ask them if they needed water (it worked in the context of the play, as most of his monologues are delivered directly to the audience, as if giving a lecture - but come ON, people ).
It's just so continually disappointing how awful, selfish, and inconsiderate theater audiences are anymore. The show is 85 damn minutes long. Sit down, be still, be respectful, and shut up. It's not that hard.
Updated On: 5/9/25 at 11:22 AM
