Icke's THE DOCTOR Starring Juliet Stephenson at the Park Avenue Armory

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 11:09am

Runs June 3 through August 19, tickets on sale now.

https://www.armoryonpark.org/programs_events/detail/the_doctor

Having amazed Armory audiences with his adaptations of Aeschylus’s ORESTEIA (2022), Shakespeare’s HAMLET (2022), and Ibsen’s ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (2021), visionary director and playwright Robert Icke returns with the North American premiere of this gripping moral thriller following lauded runs at London’s Almeida Theatre and in the West End. This scorching examination of our age, a striking reimagining of the 1912 play Professor Bernhardi by Arthur Schnitzler, utilizes the lens of medical ethics to examine urgent questions of faith, identity, race, gender, privilege, and scientific rationality.

Olivier Award-winner Juliet Stevenson stars as the doctor at the center of the drama where nothing is quite what—or who—it seems. A galvanizing piece of theater, the production serves as a stark health warning for an increasingly divided nation, where clashing views about the way we see ourselves and the world we live in today only magnify the complexities of life.

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 11:37am

I just saw it in London and it’s definitely worth getting a ticket.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 12:25pm

Seeing this in a few days and I’m so excited. She’s one of my favorite actors.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 12:29pm

She gives a marathon performance- at times literally.


When I saw it someone started moaning uncontrollably and then a voice called out for a doctor. It was one of the most confusing and meta theatre experiences ever. The actors were visibly shaken.

This play really messes with your head.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 1:08pm

Oh wow. That must have been…confusing. 

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 1:50pm

I'm interested in the play as I have never read or seen a production of "Professor Bernardi" but it sounds like it's a one-person adaptation of Schnitzler's multi-person play which I don't think the production is.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 2:57pm

sinister teashop said: "I'm interested in the play as I have never read or seen a production of "Professor Bernardi" but it sounds like it's a one-person adaptation of Schnitzler's multi-person play which I don't think the production is."

It's an ensemble piece, not solo, but Stevenson is mesmerizing and never leaves the stage. Literally. She's there thru the interval too. 

It's brilliant and devastating and Juliet is astonishing. I'm definitely a little biased as Juliet's a friend of mine and was in my play when it streamed during the height of the pandemic. But I also think I'm right. It's a brilliant play and production. 

[52889j]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 4:18pm

TotallyEffed said: "She gives a marathon performance- at times literally.


When I saw it someone started moaning uncontrollably and then a voice called out for a doctor. It was one of the most confusing and meta theatre experiences ever. The actors were visibly shaken.

This play really messes with your head."

Oh wow, we were there the same night. The woman was 4 seats away from me. 4 men had to carry her out and put her on a stretcher. Really shook me and made act 2 even more gritty.

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 4:50pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "sinister teashop said: "I'm interested in the play as I have never read or seen a production of "Professor Bernardi" but it sounds like it's a one-person adaptation of Schnitzler's multi-person play which I don't think the production is."

It's an ensemble piece, not solo, but Stevenson is mesmerizing and never leaves the stage. Literally. She's there thru the interval too.

It's brilliant and devastating and Juliet is astonishing. I'm definitely a little biased as Juliet's a friend of mine and was in my play when it streamed during the height of the pandemic. But I also think I'm right. It's a brilliant play and production."

Does she not need to tee tee at all during this? Must have a strong bladder. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 6:33pm

52889j said: "TotallyEffed said: "She gives a marathon performance- at times literally.


When I saw it someone started moaning uncontrollably and then a voice called out for a doctor. It was one of the most confusing and meta theatre experiences ever. The actors were visibly shaken.

This play really messes with your head."

Oh wow, we were there the same night. The woman was 4 seats away from me. 4 men had to carry her out and put her on a stretcher. Really shook me and made act 2 even more gritty."

Oh wow! We were down on the floor. What was happening to her? The sounds seemed to go on forever. The way the stage manager handled it could have been a bit more professional, if I’m being honest.

[mememe]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 6:41pm

She’s incredible, it’s a great performance but the concept is muddled and the production is a mess. It will absolutely appeal to the liberal bleeding hearts with big wallets, and spark plenty of dinner party conversation, but it’s still a mess. 
 

Full of potentially fascinating concepts… that never really add up. Some of the supporting cast are appalling, which doesn’t help 

 

again, she is sublime 

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/20/22 at 7:21pm

mememe said: "She’s incredible, it’s a great performance but the concept is muddled and the production is a mess. It will absolutely appeal to the liberal bleeding hearts with big wallets, and spark plenty of dinner party conversation, but it’s still a mess.


Full of potentially fascinating concepts… that never really add up. Some of the supporting cast are appalling, which doesn’t help



again, she is sublime"

Wow, I completely disagree. What part of it do you think is a mess? Is it perhaps that you found the narrative and twists challenging for you? Are you implying that all the sold out houses are "liberals with big wallets"?

It is one of the strongest pieces of theater out there, it runs for almost three hours with an intermission and it's riveting from beginning to end.

I understand if the text pushed the wrong button, but nothing about it is a "mess".

Updated On: 11/20/22 at 07:21 PM

[Owen22]

Posted: 11/21/22 at 1:42am

Act One seems to set up a completely different play than what Act Two delivers. And I much preferred the Act One play.

But Juliet is EXTRAORDINARY throughout. I so wish the Park Armory was Tony eligible for her. As this would probably not transfer due to it's convoluted Britishness.

Updated On: 11/21/22 at 01:42 AM

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 11/21/22 at 12:21pm

Here's a pdf of a translation of the 1912 original (if your wallet or bleeding heart isn't big enough to buy a ticket). 

Sounds like Icke has turned the many doctors and hospital staff in the play into a Greek chorus, all the better to set off Ms. Stevenson. I've liked Icke's productions more than I've disliked them so I'll try to make it to this but I think I owe it to Schnitzler to read his original before I do. Schnitzler's "Reigen" was the source material for the musical "Hello Again". 

Professor Bernhardi: a comedy

Updated On: 11/21/22 at 12:21 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/4/22 at 12:36pm

Just saw the show in London and WOW.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW.

Trust me, get a ticket for this in New York. Adding Stevenson’s performance to my list of greatest things I’ve ever seen on stage. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 12:15pm

Just a heads-up: the seating plan for this show has changed completely. I caught it yesterday randomly looking at the website, and, instead of waiting for them to assign me a new seat on their own without my input, I called and did it over the phone. A lovely box office agent helped me.

Updated On: 4/11/23 at 12:15 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 12:35pm

Hoping there'll be some good discounts out there like for the other recent Armory plays. Looking forward to checking it out.

[Harriet Craig]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 3:31pm

Thank you, Taffy! I just did the same thing (called the box office and had them reassign my seat over the phone). Much better than letting them decide where I would want to be relocated.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 3:37pm

Love going to the Armory. Their last play, Love, was fantastic. Looking forward to this. 

[Ricey2]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 4:23pm

Robert Icke did an AMAZING job with Oresteia. I’m so excited to see this. 

[forfivemoreminutes]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 10:44pm

Are there any discounts available for this? Is it likely to be on TDF or at TKTS over the next few weeks? I see it's currently listed for only one date (June 17) on TDF.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 10:49pm

I got an email about $50 seats on TodayTix. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 10:51pm

Updated On: 6/9/23 at 10:51 PM

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 11:03pm

The first act was shockingly bad.  A complete waste of space putting this on such a big stage.

I can't imagine why anyone would stay for Act2.

[MaxD3]

Posted: 6/9/23 at 11:45pm

A really fascinating play... Juliet Stevenson's performance is amazing. I would highly recommend going. A great evening of theater.