LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT Previews- Page 2

[petewk87]

Posted: 4/3/16 at 8:31pm

For those who went, which section would you recommend, between front side orchestra and front center mezz? Hiptix Gold has some good seats on sale!

[cknick]

Posted: 4/3/16 at 9:17pm

I got a regular HIPTIX in row E of the mezz.  I've heard good things about those seats so I'm hoping I can still see Jessica Lange's face!  Haha

[rogerad]

Posted: 4/3/16 at 11:49pm

I would suggest seating Front Row Mezzanine.  I think gives you the full sweep of the staging - and it's still intimate.

[laughingplace]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 12:00am

How i JGJ

[rogerad]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 12:06am

JGJ is terrific - especially in his big scene in Act 2.  All of the actors are wonderful - and are clearly working as an ensemble.  Byrne and Shannon are splendid.  But the evening belongs to Ms. Lange.   Her performance is galvanizing. 

[HoldMeBatBOy]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 12:14am

Excited to hear more!

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 9:15am

It was an incredibly smooth first preview, only one noticeable tech glitch. Great performances from all, especially John Gallagher Jr. and Michael Shannon. Gabriel and Jessica are also great. I'm sure they will also grow into their performances and become more comfortable and tighter, as that was only the first performance. My one concern, which I think can be addressed, is that Jessica Lange plays it too crazy (for lack of a better phrase) from the start, rather than letting Mary slowly unravel over the course of the play. If you start out playing her crazy in the first act, there's not much further to go.

Highly recommend catching it. It ran about 3:43 yesterday.

I was in the side rear mezz and could see everything. Updated On: 4/4/16 at 09:15 AM

[LarryD2]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 9:35am

neonlightsxo said: My one concern, which I think can be addressed, is that Jessica Lange plays it too crazy (for lack of a better phrase) from the start, rather than letting Mary slowly unravel over the course of the play. If you start out playing her crazy in the first act, there's not much further to go.
 

Well, that about perfectly describes the performance of Mary Tyrone I saw her give on the West End nearly 20 years ago. Her Mary was fever pitched from the first entrance then, and it doesn't sound like that has changed. Lange is not an intuitive stage actress, as her other stage performances have shown; it seems like when she decides on how to play a character, she sticks to it. 

I want to see this production because I am interested in the performances of the men, but Lange was easily the weakest Mary I've ever seen, and I'm afraid that will be the case again here. I guess I'll just have to hold my nose and go.

 

 

 

Updated On: 4/4/16 at 09:35 AM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 9:41am

LarryD2, yikes, but thanks for that information. That's a little worrisome.

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 9:52am

It's great to hear that John Gallagher, Jr. is strong in the role. He's the reason I'm interested in the production. Unfortunately I'm not seeing it until June.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 9:58am

It's truly wonderful to have him back on stage in such a great role.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:10pm

I was just at the box office, using the substantial discount for a Wednesday matinee (the only discounts available it seems).  Got great front mezz seats. They said the running time is currently 3 hours 40 minutes, one intermission.  And like "Fun Home," you must be on time.  They cannot promise seating.

 

Surprised to hear any negative report on Lange, since her performance in London was well received, and award-nominated, though not without naysayers or those with reservations.  But Mary is a devlishly difficult role, and in a way has much less stage time than one remembers. I actually thought Dewhurst, a magnificant actor, was too much Colleen, not enough Mary, wonderful and memorable as she was.  When people here talk about Lange being "crazy," that's an odd characterization or distillation, since the character is drug-addled, and her behavior specifically linked to her (revived) addiction.  I understand the board shorthand, but "crazy" doesn't really cover Mary Tyrone.

Updated On: 4/4/16 at 02:10 PM

[skies]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:16pm

I think the question is that when the play opens, it "seems" as if Mary Tyrone is fine, but her descent again into her morphine addiction occurs and it's that turnfor which the Tyrone family is devastated.   So playing her "crazy" or not quite there from the onset muffles the tragic gradual realization later  that she's fallen again. 

Updated On: 4/4/16 at 02:16 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:21pm

I get it.  There's a danger in playing the end, while still showing the woman covering her symptoms.  Lange is fiercely committed to whatever her choices are, and they tend to be telling and clear.  This may be a director-actor interpretation, that Mary is actually less adept at camouflaging her condition, and the others -- raging codependents in abject denial, one of the great dynamics in the play about both drug addition and TB -- ignore what the audience sees (more) clearly from the top.  I've heard others make a case that this is a possible way to play the early scenes, about a family deep in denial, trying to act normal.  It's an interesting question, but more about a way to see the play than an actor's technique.  Maybe. An open question. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:23pm

"I understand the board shorthand, but "crazy" doesn't really cover Mary Tyrone."

I didn't mean to imply that one word sums up Mary Tyrone certainly, but I felt that was the way that Jessica played her. Clearly you're a fan as you're defending her performance without having seen it, but I think my assessment is fair. You can see from the top that something is off about her, but she reveals the depths of Mary's illness long before the end with the dress, giving that scene with the dress less of an impact.

"I think the question is that when the play opens, it "seems" as if Mary Tyrone is fine, but her descent again into her morphine addiction occurs and it's that turn for which the Tyrone family is devastated. So playing her "crazy" or not quite there from the onset muffles the tragic gradual realization later that she's fallen again."

Yes, exactly. Updated On: 4/4/16 at 02:23 PM

[LarryD2]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:29pm

Auggie27 said: I've heard others make a case that this is a possible way to play the early scenes, about a family deep in denial, trying to act normal.  

This was the choice of the Jack Lemmon/Jonathan Miller production, where it worked to devastating effect. For my money, that is still the most satisfying interpretation of the play I've ever seen, and I've seen this play a lot.

 

[rogerad]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:35pm

This was the very first preview, and Lange's role is a very difficult one.  I thought she was brilliant.  And has 20 days or so to work on it.  But as it stands - she's phenomenal in it.  Her last moment is heartbreaking.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:36pm

I don't understand why everyone is arguing with me, especially those who haven't seen it. I thought she was great. I also know it was the first preview. I said in my original post that I think they can solve the problems I see.

Updated On: 4/4/16 at 02:36 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 3:26pm

Neon, if you look at my second response to your comments, I amended my take: "I get it." I realized I wanted to pose a question about the interpretation, not defend Lange -- you are right, I won't see her til next week.  I'm more invested in how the play is being viewed and interpreted.  It's a masterpiece because it can be approached different ways via casting and direction (and even design). I'm not arguing with you.  I respect exactly what you said.  I am intrigued to read that the Lemmon/Leslie approach was intentionally what I posed: that the family's denial stands out even as the audience sees how broken Mary is. It's just a question, and I look forward to the discussion here.  

Updated On: 4/4/16 at 03:26 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 3:27pm

I didn't like Desire Under the Elms nor did I like The Iceman Cometh. Should I give this one a shot? Or am I just not an O'Neil fan? 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 3:31pm

Understood, Auggie. Looking forward to your take. I'll be seeing it again closer to opening and I'm curious to see how their family dynamic develops, whether or not Jessica Lange's interpretation changes. They're still finding it, but much of the chemistry is there already.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 8:14pm

One intermission for a nearly 4 hour show? Are they out of their freaking minds? This must usually have two intermissions, right? 

[CHG414]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 9:21pm

To neonlightsxo and others who have seen it -  After how many minutes into the performance is the intermission?

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 11:50pm

I saw the last revival with Vanessa Redgrave. It was loooooong, but for me, the time flew. I'd love to see Jessica Lange in this new production, but I think I'll have to settle for Katharine Hepburn on the Blu-Ray release of the early 60s film...

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 4/5/16 at 4:10am

How was the stage door?