MCC's 'SH!T. MEET. FAN.' Cast Announced- Page 3

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/13/24 at 10:40pm

Answering DramaTeach's questions in spoilers:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

1) The implication is the daughter's friend was the one sleeping with Frank, since she mentioned she borrowed the necklace and had also told her parents she thought her friend was pregnant and that's why she was acting weird.  I assume it's the same person that had called Frank during the game and maybe just used a different name?  I think all the Nick stuff is real but I find it strange that she wouldn't have slept with Nick if her dad didn't pick up the phone (maybe it's because the friend then took another pregnancy test or something so she got suspicious?)

2) Yes they definitely were, since the earrings she was wearing that she claimed to have bought for herself were the ones that she had gotten from Frank.  Nothing changed about their relationship except that she realized Frank was also seeing someone else on the side since the earrings/necklace were a matching set.

3) I just assumed that it wasn't related to the revelations but just to show how much they went back to their separate lives on their phones and how disconnected they were as a family from each other.

4) I don't think they're necessarily saying mixed race friendships can't work, but that Logan as the only POC in a white friend group always felt that he was trying to fit in more because he already knew he was different (it goes back to the same thing about his job, about how they already didn't trust him because he was black, but being black AND gay was a step too far).  And that the rest of his friends didn't even realize the white privilege they had and how different their lived experience was from his because of how shallow and self absorbed they were.

 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/13/24 at 11:32pm

Dolly80 said: "PipingHotPiccolo said: "this is a rare treat: big names that are also genuinely talented and belong on stage. Messing and Krakowski are two of the greatest comedic TV actresses ever, so I'm thrilled to hear this will be a comedy that will show off their strengths. Really excited."

Well… Krakowski is."

Shes an Emmy award winning TV actress, who was nominated multiple times for every award imaginable when she was leading a then-must see critically acclaimed popular show. I adore Krakowski and i worship at the altar of 30 Rock, but if theres any TV sitcom queen here, its Messing.

That said this cast is stacked and i cant wait to see it when it transfers.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 1:22pm

chrishuyen said: "Answering DramaTeach's questions in spoilers:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

1) The implication is the daughter's friend was the one sleeping with Frank, since she mentioned she borrowed the necklace and had also told her parents she thought her friend was pregnant and that's why she was acting weird. I assume it's the same person that had called Frank during the game and maybe just used a different name? I think all the Nick stuff is real but I find it strange that she wouldn't have slept with Nick if her dad didn't pick up the phone (maybe it's because the friend then took another pregnancy test or something so she got suspicious?)

2) Yes they definitely were, since the earrings she was wearing that she claimed to have bought for herself were the ones that she had gotten from Frank. Nothing changed about their relationship except that she realized Frank was also seeing someone else on the side since the earrings/necklace were a matching set.

3) I just assumed that it wasn't related to the revelations but just to show how much they went back to their separate lives on their phones and how disconnected they were as a family from each other.

4) I don't think they're necessarily saying mixed race friendships can't work, but that Logan as the only POC in a white friend group always felt that he was trying to fit in more because he already knew he was different (it goes back to the same thing about his job, about how they already didn't trust him because he was black, but being black AND gay was a step too far). And that the rest of his friends didn't even realize the white privilege they had and how different their lived experience was from his because of how shallow and self absorbed they were.

"

I appreciate the feedback, and I like your interpretations. Also, I need you to teach me how to hide spoilers.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 1:28pm

For spoilers, in the formatting bar that includes the buttons for bold/italics etc (sometimes it takes a second to show up), the third from last button is a square with a plus in it--that's the button to add a spoiler section

[dave1606]

Posted: 10/14/24 at 2:18pm

I REALLY wanted to like this. In the end I thought it was just ok. There's too much talent on the stage for it to feel as slight as it does. Unfortunately I don't think the play is very good. It is too overstuffed with subplots that go nowhere that it either should be slimmed down and have a few characters taken out entirely or expanded on.  As it stands it felt like a long 1:50. The staging also does it no favors as there is too much downtime as they cast has to navitagte this huge Next to Normal set from one end to the other, the energy is often sucked out during these scene changes. 

The good: JANE is GREAT (let's get her more stage work ASAP please), Debra Messing is good as is Constance Wu. Tramell Tillan and Billy Magnuesen are also very good as well while Neil Patrick Harris doesn't really have much to do. Overall there needs to be better timing and chemistry but I think that will come after some more performances. 

I certainly agree it has its fun parts, but I wanted all of them to gel together better. I also agree what was said about the last five minutes. I think it was totally unnecessary and annoyed me. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 10/15/24 at 9:59pm

Saw it tonight. Here is exactly what this play is: 

It is a straight version of The Boys in the Band without any of Mart Crowley’s wit, complete with everyone getting drunk and playing a telephone game. The actors are great. The set is fantastic. The play itself is lame. 
 

Maybe worth it if you can get a cheap ticket but by no means should you pay anything over $100. 

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 10/16/24 at 8:53am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Dolly80 said: "PipingHotPiccolo said: "this is a rare treat: big names that are also genuinely talented and belong on stage. Messing and Krakowski are two of the greatest comedic TV actresses ever, so I'm thrilled to hear this will be a comedy that will show off their strengths. Really excited."

Well… Krakowski is."

Shes an Emmy award winning TV actress, who was nominated multiple times for every award imaginable when she was leading a then-must see critically acclaimed popular show. I adore Krakowski and i worship at the altar of 30 Rock, but if theres any TV sitcom queen here, its Messing.

That said this cast is stacked and i cant wait to see it when it transfers."

Do you think this show is built for a transfer? 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/16/24 at 12:54pm

witchoftheeast2 said: "Do you think this show is built for a transfer?"

I'd be really doubtful that it does (though more surprising things have transferred).  The cast is stacked, but I assumed part of it was because they could commit to a relatively short off Broadway run and it wouldn't really be possible to get all of them on Broadway at the same time.  And the play is a fun time but it IS a bit slight so if they can't get the same caliber of cast I don't know that it would be able to do that well.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/16/24 at 1:37pm

chrishuyen said: "witchoftheeast2 said: "Do you think this show is built for a transfer?"

I'd be really doubtful that it does (though more surprising things have transferred). The cast is stacked, but I assumed part of it was because they could commit to a relatively short off Broadway run and it wouldn't really be possible to get all of them on Broadway at the same time. And the play is a fun time but it IS a bit slight so if they can't get the same caliber of cast I don't know that it would be able to do that well."

The goal is Broadway, Eva Price is enhancing this production with other commercial producers.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/16/24 at 1:40pm

It seems to have a specific house in mind.

[ardiem]

Posted: 10/17/24 at 12:27am

I was disappointed with this. While it was fun to see the cast and the mayhem that followed from the core concept, it felt very slight and sitcom-like. I found some of Frank's plot too convoluted considering how shallow the work was in general. There was a scene with some dated language that came across as more of a cheap shock tactic and less of a substantive commentary. When the piece abruptly pivoted to an Afterschool Special Message, I couldn't help but be reminded of "White Girls in Danger" and "Teeth" (at least its premiere run), whose endings I found to be clumsily tacked on.

Oh, and half the time I was worried the cast would fall off that staircase, especially with its lack of handrails on one side!

[getatme]

Posted: 10/17/24 at 12:39am

Saw this Sunday afternoon and found the whole thing incredibly middle of the road with a pretty dynamite cast.

Krakowski, NPH, Billy Magnussen, and Tramell Tillman were the standouts to me. But the play is so shockingly straightforward it's kind of astonishing to me this is occupying an off-broadway theatre. It wants to be a God of Carnage, Boys in the Band, etc. But it's not really daring or shocking or exciting, just a rather standard dinner party goes off the rails play with a few good laughs, but no really shocking plot twists.

The set is attractive, but the direction is so simple I'm surprised it's Robert O'Hara at the helm. Not that I think there's a whole lot he could do with a play that doesn't really do anything.

The writing is fine. Again, middle of the road. There are reveals and some of them for a second are surprising, but none of the real fallout happens onstage. A reveal happens, the person's partner starts having a meltdown, and is then ushered offstage. I kept waiting for there to be some twist to the whole thing that would flip it on its head. But it never happened.

Tillman's character suddenly starts monologuing in flowery language about 20 minutes before the end and while the lines are well-delivered, they're so out of left field I felt nothing.

A pleasant way to spend an afternoon. I will not remember it in a month.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/17/24 at 12:46am

Friend of mine said Jane actually did fall on the stairs the other night. 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/17/24 at 1:18am

I second the concern about the staircase, especially for NPH who has a couple of “breakdown” moments on it. It needs to be secured with handrails on both sides.

[Tom5]

Posted: 10/17/24 at 2:49am

Just one of these actors - Debra certainly - would be enough to interest me in this play. Two or three of them working together in any dynamic story would make it a must-see. But so many...well, sometimes more can be less. 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 10/18/24 at 12:50am

dave1606 said: "I certainly agree it has its fun parts, but I wanted all of them to gel together better. I also agree what was said about the last five minutes. I think it was totally unnecessary and annoyed me."

For me, the ending was one of the least frustrating parts, because it retroactively gave the play a point and cohesive theme. Prior to that, there's almost nothing connecting what they're talking about in one scene compared to the last. Parenting, interracial friendships, interracial relationships, sexual orientation, mother-in-laws... they don't stick with one topic long enough to have anything interesting to say. 

The jokes are often C+ sitcom insults and rarely is there any nuance in relationships.  No one especially trusts or likes the person they're with. As a writer, I thought Robert O'Hara was strongest in the couple of instances of mistaken identity. 

Slave Play proved O'Hara can be a good director, but I think SH!T. MEET. FAN. suffers from him being both writer and director. It would benefit from an extra set of eyes creatively.

Personally, I'd also get rid of the Garret Dillahunt and Debra Messing characters and make the daughter an off stage role. Nothing against the performance of those actors, but this play would be better with just 5 actors and more character development. 

[HBBrock]

Posted: 10/18/24 at 10:52am

nm* Updated On: 10/18/24 at 10:52 AM

[whatever2]

Posted: 10/18/24 at 10:07pm

Updated On: 10/18/24 at 10:07 PM

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 10/19/24 at 8:22pm

A mess, in my opinion, but a vigorous one. The central conceit in the play is unbelievable and its revelations of racial and sexual betrayals are rushed through.

Singleticket's review - SH*T. MEET. FAN.

Updated On: 10/19/24 at 08:22 PM

[Anshel2]

Posted: 10/20/24 at 8:05am

What was the deal with the BD/SM scene on the balcony between two male characters that was just dropped with no resolution or explanation??

[JasonC3]

Posted: 10/20/24 at 11:28am

sinister teashop said: "A mess, in my opinion, but a vigorous one. The central conceit in the play is unbelievable and its revelations of racial and sexual betrayals are rushed through.

Singleticket's review - SH*T. MEET. FAN."

Henceforth, if I am working on something that is a mess, I'm going to turn to my colleagues and say ... "Let's at least make it a vigorous one."

Love it.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/20/24 at 6:35pm

Got an email that tonight was cancelled for “non-COVID illness”

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 10/20/24 at 6:39pm

same. Interesting. Hope all is well --

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 10/21/24 at 12:16am

Anshel2 said: "What was the deal with the BD/SM scene on the balcony between two male characters that was just dropped with no resolution or explanation??"

I think it was the worst scene in the play for the reasons you're highlighting, but I have a theory I'll stick in the spoiler box. 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I'm speculating the Neil Patrick Harris character and Billy Magnussen character had some BDSM interactions in college with each other, and never talked about it since. NPH/Rodger who is in therapy is a little more self aware about who he's attracted to, what his kinks are, and all of the things he's unable to get from his failing marriage with Eve. When Magnussen is pushing him around, it's turning him on and he wants to roll with it. 

On the other hand, Magnussen/Frank has very little self awareness, so he quickly laughs off the BDSM vibes, he initiated. He's terrified of the idea of being sexually attracted to guys, which is why he freaks out so much when he thinks Dillahunt/Brett is gay and never told him. 

In general the scene is meant as an escalation, to further show the extent friend groups/society in general would fall apart, if everyone started sharing their secrets. 

 

[Anshel2]

Posted: 10/21/24 at 9:40am

Without there being anything either before or after to tie to this scene, it should be cut.