LaCageFans: THECOAST OF UTOPIA: VOYAGE Review

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 11/27/06 at 11:35pm

THE COAST OF UTOPIA: VOYAGE Review

https://nycriticscorner.broadwayworld.com/thecoastofutopiavoyage.htm

Move over "Les Mis," there is a new, masterful epic in town! "Voyage," part one of that three part epic known collectively as "The Coast of Utopia" opened last night at Lincoln Centers Broadway home The Vivian Beaumont Theatre and precisely and poignantly sets the stage for revolutionary times to follow.

"Voyage" at first glance may seem a crowded play, crowded with people and ideas; but upon settling in and watching the cleverly presented play unravel under the direction of Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, the audience begins to witness a briskly paced, often fun, thoughtful, and extremely moving piece of theatre.

Beginning in 1833, "Voyage" takes up the story of the future anarchist Michael Bakunin (Ethan Hawke) when his stage was still Premukhino, the Bakunin family estate, and Moscow under the repressive rule of Tsar Nicolas I, and when Michael and his four sisters, like many upper-class Russians of their generation, were in the thrall of German idealistic philosophy. 'I knew there were families,' remarks his friend, the brilliant young critic Vissarion Belinsky (Billy Crudup.) 'I come from a family. But I had no idea.' But family life, with its passionate ties and conflagrations, all in the cause of exalted love and idealism, is left behind for ever when Michael at the age of twenty-six sets sail for Germany, waved goodbye by his newest friend, the first self-proclaimed socialist in Russian history, Alexander Herzen (Brian F. O'Byrne): the move from pure thought to revolutionary action is on the horizon.

The most engaging character thus far is Crudup's ("The Pillowman") Vissarion Belinsky, and Crudup turns in the most brilliant performance a New York City audience has seen since Cherry Jones gave us Sister Aloysius in John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt" a few seasons back. Crudup's literary critic with a limited education has strong ideas and ideals. Crudup ensues a sense of chaos while at the same time emotes a painfully shy and often humble human character.

All the actors on stage turn in solid performances, including the aforementioned Hawke & O'Byrne (who is sure to spread his wings even further in part two.) While the physical production is stunning with a scenic design by Bob Crowley and Scott Pask, costume design by Catherine Zuber, and lighting by Brian MacDevitt; the Vivian Beaumont space is not quite ideal for this play. While the stage is large enough to house the enormous cast, the space is ultimately cold and unconnected. No fault to director O'Brien, for he does a superb job and makes the audience virtually unaware that the piece would fit better in a traditional Broadway proscenium.

That aside, this is an event that is not to be missed, but it is an event partly because it embodies a very powerful idea. "Voyage" is a politically charged piece that universally resounds; politics is made up of personal issues, moments, feelings. All of these things make up one of the most powerful evenings of theatre in over a decade, and it has only just begun!