Impressionism 3/7/09 Eve...the best play you can second act this season.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 1:43pm

What an unusual experience to see this play. Act One is an absolute train wreck. From the horrible Jar Jar Binks impersonation from Andre de Shields to the interminable "meaningful" moment of revelation, so the over-projecting Michael T. Weiss to the incredibly boring and the nuance-free Jeremy Irons to the general under-direction of Jack O'Brien and Joan Allen working her ass off to keep this boat afloat, it's really something that everyone doesn't run out screaming at intermission. The only thing enjoyable about act one were the scene changes, a delightful series of projections and music.

It's really unfortunate that one has to wait until after the intermission to see this play come to some life.

Only in Act Two do we see some inkling of why we should actually care about these two characters. And it seems it's at this point the actors actually begin to care about the characters as well, and it makes the once dreadful drone of the dialogue turn on its ear and make the next 45 minutes spark. Jeremy springs to life and seems to have a real interest in interacting with Joan, who doesn't have to work so hard and can truly enjoy her dialogue. Aaron Lazar is more than just window dressing, Marsha Mason is actually adorable, and Andre de Shields turns in a wonderful soliloquoy about relationships that is more than just last-minute relief to the audience (a la "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" in that tedious revival), but truly an enjoyable moment of theatre all its own.

Is there any way to make this play a one-act and start it from Act Two? It really needs those extra couple of days of previews to make act one as entertaining as act two.You really want to leave having said you enjoyed the play, but Act One is so forgettable, you leave truly conflicted about whether you were seeing the same play the whole evening.

It's a shame their cutting out the intermission. It could be the best play to second act this season. As it is, pay half-price where you can, that way you'll at least get your money's worth of half a good show.


PS There's a truly horrid woman among the otherwise lovely Schoenfeld staff who was such a Nazi to the young ladies next to me while texting during intermission. Whatever you do, don't text during the end of intermission while Joan Allen is behind a scrim while the house lights were still up and people were still milling about. She had the nerve to come up to them and say "Can you please turn off your cell phone please?" motioning to Joan Allen, "Can't you see she's on stage?" Still intermission, mind you.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 2:10pm

What a Nazi.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 2:12pm

I don't believe in comparing anyone to Nazis, not even Bush.

Did the pushy ushers systematically murder 6 million Jews and millions more gypsies, homosexuals, Catholics, and anyone who was different?

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 2:28pm

Piragua - you obviously didn't enjoy "The Producers".
Updated On: 3/8/09 at 02:28 PM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 2:30pm

My earlier post was intended to drip with sarcasm.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 2:30pm

I loved "The Producers". I just feel that when people compare others to Nazis, it lessens the impact of their crimes.