MARY STUART Reviews — Page 2

It got the key Brantley rave, though, so who knows. (And wow, what a category Play Revivals will be this year. If they keep it out of the Tony broadcast again I'm going to kick something.)

How wonderful for a season in which nearly every play revival was a critical success.

And then there was Hedda... :-/

Congratulations to Mary Stuart! But...

Am I the only one here who thought this play was a bit boring?

---

I agree there were parts of it that were slow, but when it def. picked up steam. The second act was wonderful.

Well, they're performing in a theater named after an airline, so I can't blame them.

I really think they should allow the plays to perform a scene or something. Imagine how much of a ticket sales boost Mary Stuart would get if they performed the scene in the rain.

Newsday is a Rave

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-etstu2012670671apr18,0,5248631.story

Just when you think you're catching up with this speedway of a Broadway spring season, along comes a real stunner to move the finish line again. How thrilling.

"Mary Stuart," which opened last night in a production from London's Donmar Warehouse, is a riveting showcase for Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter - two towering actresses in a monumentally entertaining regina smackdown.

But this is more than just a star vehicle about the deadly collision of the Protestant Elizabeth I and Mary, the Catholic Queen of Scotland. Phyllida Lloyd, the director known here only for "Mamma, Mia!," has staged Peter Oswald's taut three-hour compression of Friedrich Schiller's massive 1800 drama with all the visceral, unpredictable psychology of a popular page-turner.

---

Updated On: 4/20/09 at 12:29 PM

Hahahahhaha!! Hope Davis vomiting on the list of nominees!

Something tells me the Tony Awards aren't too far off from actually doing this. They've pulled every other stunt and failed. Maybe Davis' projectile vomiting would get some more viewers...

PS: Threadjack but when do they announce the Tony host?

I think I heard Hugh Jackman a few months back. I hope that it's true and I didn't hallucinate it!

I had a laugh over Hope Davis projectile vomiting. That would be fabulous.

EDIT:

I, too, was at the opening last night, and though I might not have agreed with Schiller's stance on the whole Elizabeth I/Mary Stuart affair, I loved the production as a whole and thought the performances were stellar. It was thrilling to see Janet McTeer on-stage, and I was amazed by the way she completely invested herself, both physically and emotionally, into the character of Mary. Nervous anger and determination just radiate off of her, and the final moments where she calmly and beatifically accepts her fate are just as affecting.

That said, I found myself even more drawn to Harriet Walter. She IS Elizabeth in her bearing, mannerisms, and expressive face, and she gave the iconic queen a very human edge. I spent almost the entire confrontation scene watching her react to Mary's tirade. I really hope she gets some recognition for her wonderful work.

The rain effect is also unbelievable. I was expecting something similar to 110 in the Shade, but it actually looked like rain, rather than just a sheet of water.

I'm so glad the reviews for this have been so positive. Hopefully they'll draw a crowd to the Broadhurst!

---

Updated On: 4/20/09 at 02:02 PM

I think they will have it on the air this time. As far as we know there are no plans at the moment to showcase non nominated musicals and etc. That is what put Book in a Musical and Revival of a Play off the air. In the past years it was only the design categories and orchestrations that were off the air.

---