Dramamama, I don't mean ill intent toward the (in my opinion) extraordinarily talented mr. Esparza, and in my original post I did not mean to "dump" on him.
The fact of the matter is, Ben Brantley, as mean as he is, is a great critic. Until now, mr Esparza has found roles that are, in a way, critically infallible for someone with his level of talent (Bobby in COMPANY, Charlie in SPEED-THE-PLOW, etc). As of late, it seems that the "word" is that Mr. Esparza is not a pleasant person, and Brantley, finally given the chance, has given the man a very unpleasant kick in the a$$. And Brantley means every word - it reads as if he relishes in delivering such a pan to (as so many others have referred to him) "the Raul".
Updated On: 4/27/12 at 12:36 AM