I Remember Mama revival

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-Meet-the-Cast-of-Transport-Groups-I-REMEMBER-MAMA-20140213

What a cast! This sounds FABULOUS!

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How many individual photos of each cast member do they need?!?! Once again, BWW photo overkill.

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This looks very interesting. When first saw the post I was afraid it was going to be a revival of the Richard Rodgers/Martin Charnin musical version. Thank God it is not.

Totally disagree with After Eight. While the actresses were wonderful, (but seemed shaky in their lines, don't know if they were but that was the sense I had) the entire concept was flawed. There were just too many different elements that required suspension of disbelief for this to work.

First of all, the "theater" is a GYM --there are no stage lights. It's difficult to create the setting of a cramped San Francisco tenement in the vast expanse of a gymnasium. Second, the senior actresses playing men and children, without the benefit of stage lighting of any kind, under harsh lights, doesn't work. Third, they were in modern street clothes, and costumes are another element that might have given the suggestion of turn-of-the-century. And that's all this inlay is, there is very little plot: it's a slice of life from the turn of the century. So what do you have left if the show doesn't create that??

I thought this was a colossal waste of time and talent.

An aside--how DARE this Transport Group charge you $35 on TDF and tell the audience that actors may call for lines, AND NOT EVEN GIVE YOU A PROGRAM?? What an insult to the talent involved, whose lengthy credits I really wanted to see--I recognized several of the (wonderful) actresses and wanted to know their names and where I'd seen them before. We the audience have a right to programs, and the talent has a right to proper credit.

Needless to say, I left at intermission, and will never go back to this COMPLETE GYP of a theater company, Transport Group, EVER again.

For some bizarre reason, this theater company hands out programs at the end of their shows. Without a program in front of me, I often find it very difficult to follow "who is who." This show runs 2 hours 37 minutes, for those who are interested (not the "two hours" that I was told.)

Many audience members knew the movie backwards & forwards (I overheard people comment how it was very true to the movie during intermission) and gave it a hearty standing ovation, while others found it interminable and there were a noticeable number of empty seats after intermission. The set is quite detailed with numerous tables and books throughout the space. They do use real coffee and Yoo-hoo chocolate drink throughout the show. The actresses themselves are extremely talented and have a wealth of theater experience. Many actresses play 3 or 4 roles - one second they are a man, the next second they are a 5 year old boy, etc. The lighting is sometimes quite harsh and extremely bright, such that it often hurt my eyes to keep them open. I believe this was a TV series as well and a lot of audience members found it very nice to reminisce about older times.

Updated On: 3/20/14 at 11:10 PM

The movie is well worth seeing. Irene Dunne gives a strong and touching performance as "Mama." A young Barbara Bel Geddes plays the daughter Katrin. Both were Oscar-nominated for their work, as was Ellen Corby (Grandma Walton) as one of the aunts and Oscar Homolka as Uncle Chris. I haven't seen the film in a few years now, but I have enjoyed it several times in the past.

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I left during intermission. This is a wrong headed concept that just didn't work for me...I liked some of the actresses. The blocking, set design and lighting were awful

Brantley's review in the NY Times yesterday was pretty close to a rave, I think, if not one.
Brantley's review of "I REMEMBER MAMA"