LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD Previews- Page 3

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 1:50pm

gibsons2 said: "It's a pretty straightforward, not very original play. The analysis of Ethan's character some people are trying to do here is a bit too much, given how many times we've seen this petulant, insufferablearchetype in all types of media. The issue is in fact with the actor's delivery, the way he speaks and moves. None of these choices are helping. In fact, Micah's entire weird performance makes the play not believable and lacking any credibility."

You’re welcome to your opinion, but this is rather reductive. Actors build their craft on character analysis, so why is it an issue when we discuss it as patrons?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 2:16pm

gibsons2 said: "It's a pretty straightforward, not very original play. The analysis of Ethan's character some people are trying to do here is a bit too much, given how many times we've seen this petulant, insufferablearchetype in all types of media. The issue is in fact with the actor's delivery, the way he speaks and moves. None of these choices are helping. In fact, Micah's entire weird performance makes the play not believable and lacking any credibility."

It seems pretty clear based on what you have already written (multiple times) that it would be a fool's errand to try to convince you otherwise. So I won't. What I do want to point out, for the benefit of anyone who might be persuaded by what you say, is that I found Stock's work on Ethan to be extremely trenchant if not necessarily someone I would want to have dinner with. His "delivery, the way he acts and moves" is, to me and the others who you inappropriately label as "a bit too much" keenly observed and insightful (aided by Hunter's writing). I think all 3 performances are Tony worthy. You obviously didn't like it, which is of course your prerogative, but a bit more open-mindedness on your part would be a lot more effective.

[Sauja]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 4:21pm

That this season gives us this stunner and the exceptional Liberation at the same time is a gift. Two of the best plays in recent memory.

 

Count me among those who think Stock is doing remarkable work (as are Metcalf and Drea). I believed these people on a fundamental level. Which made the pivot from its more comedic opening to its deeply emotional final scenes hit me like a ton of bricks. Don't think I've cried that hard at a show since I first saw Fun Home.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/25/25 at 6:34am

Saw it from the second row last night. One of the best Rush seats I've had in a long time. Have to echo a lot of folks - Stock is awful. And drags the entire thing down.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 10/25/25 at 10:48am

Saw this last night. I agree that Stock seems a bit over-the-top at times, however, I feel that's natural for the role. Clearly Ethan is modeled after Hunter himself, and anytime a playwright is writing a version of themselves into a play, the character is naturally a bit more exaggerated. Because they're often a reflection of how the playwright sees themself, rather than a true, more realistic, "original" character. So I think Stock amplifies well what was written on the page and it really didn't bother me. Sarah is also to an extent somewhat an exaggerated version of reality. It works in the context of the world they created.

With all that said, I actually found John Drea to be the strongest of the three.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/25/25 at 11:18am

I thought Stock was marvelous. I felt he did a nuanced job playing a developmentally arrested man looking for a corrective emotional experience to heal his child wounds.  He would regress into childhood with both someone who wanted to save him (James) and someone who could not (Sarah). 
 

James probably has his own trauma from his “perfect” family as he clearly tries to fix people. He may be codependent. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/25/25 at 5:27pm

Broadway61004 said: "Clearly Ethan is modeled after Hunter himself"

Is that correct? It seems pretty inconsistent with someone who was a celebrated playwright (and MacArthur grantee) during the period at which Ethan is portrayed in the play. Maybe I'm missing something?

@Betty I think you are spot on about the developmental issues. I also think it can be hard to watch, but that does not equate with an objective criticism of anyone's work here. Which is not to say that everyone has to choose it as something they are glad they sat through.