Long Day's Journey into Night vs Blackbird?

[masmore]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 1:06am

I will be in NYC for just one day in April.

I already got a ticket for The Crucible and am torn between Long Day's Journey into Night and Blackbird for the matinee.

I understand that neither of them has started yet but any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Updated On: 2/7/16 at 01:06 AM

[bunnie3]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 2:39am

Long day s journey, OF COURSE!

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 9:20am

Do you have a time limit? LDJ is four hours and Blackbird is 90 minutes.

[masmore]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 9:30am

Thank you so much, bunnie3 and neonlightsxo!
Thankfully, the other one doesn't start until 8pm in the nearyby area. The only concern is that I'm arriving via red eye....Hopefully I do get to sleep a bit and don't break my back...

I just purchased the ticket for the Long Day's Journey into the Night!

So looking forward to it!

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 9:41am

LONG DAYS. The combination of Jessica Lange, Gabriel Byrne, Michael Shannon & John Gallagher Jr. is going to be incredible. As long as Ryan Murphy isn't actually involved with the production.

[masmore]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 10:54am

Thanks! Yes, the casting is very impressive! Only wish I had enough time to see more shows mutiple times :)

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 3:49pm

Two words. MICHAEL. SHANNON. One of the most talented actors working today. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins the Featured actor Tony. 

[The Glenbuck Laird]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 3:54pm

Blackbird. Bye bye

[Tom5]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 5:19pm

Blackbird is a two character play that got mixed reviews its first time around, but the two actors in it almost guarantee that you couldn't go wrong seeing it. But this production of Long Day's Journey Into Night (Not "The" Night) has the possibility of being historic.  Anyone familiar with Michael Shannon and Jessica Lange can tell you why.

[masmore]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 7:15pm

TerrenceIsTheMann, The Glenbuck Laird, Tom5, THANK YOU! Now I will go find a way to rest on a red eye for the full experience! :)

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 7:33pm

Red eye, Long Day's, Crucible...wish I had the stamina these days.  

[masmore]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 8:03pm

@RangerTom, so do I...I am thinking about taking melatonin for the flight and putting peppermint oil under eye during the play :)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 2:48pm

I've read Blackbird. Good play, but I wouldn't have a burning desire to see it live.

[@z5]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 6:46pm

How do you know that Long Day's Journey is a 4 hour run time?

 

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 12:52am

neonlightsxo said: "Do you have a time limit? LDJ is four hours and Blackbird is 90 minutes."

The latest London revival of Long Day's (with Laurie Metcalf) was only 2 hours and 50 minutes.  It COULD be as long as 4 hours if they don't make cuts, but I doubt Roundabout will be doing a long version of the show given its older subscription audience.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 3:56am

I have no idea why, but for some reason calling Long Day's Journey into *the* Night strikes me as really funny.  I guess I need a life.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 7:46am

Blackbird is a two character play that got mixed reviews its first time around

 

BLACKBIRD did not receive mixed reviews. It received very strong reviews. Ben Brantley wrote it an all-out love letter and called it "a drama that promises to be the most powerful of the season." Time Out New York ranked it #5 on its top ten list for the year. The NY Post gave it 4 stars.

[masmore]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 1:38pm

EricMontreal22 said: "I have no idea why, but for some reason calling Long Day's Journey into *the* Night strikes me as really funny.  I guess I need a life."

 

Actually, now that you mention it, it bugs me greatly as well - Updated the original  message :) 

Updated On: 2/7/16 at 01:38 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/8/16 at 9:19am

bjh2114 said: "neonlightsxo said: "Do you have a time limit? LDJ is four hours and Blackbird is 90 minutes."

The latest London revival of Long Day's (with Laurie Metcalf) was only 2 hours and 50 minutes.  It COULD be as long as 4 hours if they don't make cuts, but I doubt Roundabout will be doing a long version of the show given its older subscription audience."

 

Wow, it was that short? They must have made a lot of cuts.

From what I know about the Roundabout production, it's going to be close to four hours, they aren't cutting a lot. But of course, they haven't begun rehearsals yet so hard to say for sure.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 2/8/16 at 9:30am

At least it wasn't "Long Day's Journey Into That Good Night."

[LarryD2]

Posted: 2/8/16 at 9:30am

I actually think the shorter running time of the recent London revival had more to do with pacing than cutting. The same is true of the Jonathan Miller production from the 1980s, with Jack Lemmon and Kevin Spacey. I know the play very well and saw the London production, and didn't notice an excessive amount of cut material. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/8/16 at 9:44am

Interesting...

[@z5]

Posted: 2/8/16 at 4:19pm

I can't see it being a 4 hour show, especially since a lot of the times are scheduled for 8PM... just doesn't sound right.

[Tom5]

Posted: 2/8/16 at 5:47pm

As I recall they were mixed to good. Check out the full NY Daily News review which is still retrievable for the earlier production.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 2/8/16 at 5:54pm

All evening performances start at 7pm. Roundabout is expecting it to be well over 3 hours.