#1
Posted: 3/24/09 at 7:48am
CHICAGO TRIBUNE:
"There are some really terrific individual moments here, including a moving meltdown by the inimitable John Judd, as a white Southerner losing market share by the hour; a carefully nuanced turn by John Hines, an establishment man willing to care for African-American employees until their deaths but unable to shake their hand; and an emotionally wrought piece of acting from Tory O. Davis, who plays the simplest and saddest of a group of people trying to figure out where seismic change will deposit them.
The first act could use more pace (these days, even Chekhovian conversation needs active pepper), and there are a few monologues overstuffed with precious, extraneous symbolism.
But with an edit and an earlier injection of zest? This would be one of the most successful efforts ever to Americanize Chekhov, a worthy homage and a primer on the agony and inevitability of change."
'Magnolia' at the Goodman: Story of 1960s Atlanta bears rich fruit
"There are some really terrific individual moments here, including a moving meltdown by the inimitable John Judd, as a white Southerner losing market share by the hour; a carefully nuanced turn by John Hines, an establishment man willing to care for African-American employees until their deaths but unable to shake their hand; and an emotionally wrought piece of acting from Tory O. Davis, who plays the simplest and saddest of a group of people trying to figure out where seismic change will deposit them.
The first act could use more pace (these days, even Chekhovian conversation needs active pepper), and there are a few monologues overstuffed with precious, extraneous symbolism.
But with an edit and an earlier injection of zest? This would be one of the most successful efforts ever to Americanize Chekhov, a worthy homage and a primer on the agony and inevitability of change."
'Magnolia' at the Goodman: Story of 1960s Atlanta bears rich fruit
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
