Mixed notices for LA BETE

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/8/10 at 10:11am

Raves for Mark Rylance; mixed for Lumley, Hyde Pierce, and the production.

Will these impact the production's arrival in New York?

http://www.whatsonstage.com/roundup/theatre/london/E8831278591492/Review+Round-up:+Has+Bete+Got+Better+with+Age%3F.html
Updated On: 7/8/10 at 10:11 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/8/10 at 10:16am

Perhaps none at all. Remember Festen, Coram Boy and Enron?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/8/10 at 5:00pm

Interesting. I wonder if NY critics will be as forgiving of the play's flaws as they were of BOEING, BOEING. My guess is no.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 7/8/10 at 7:05pm

Isn't La Bete only scheduled for a limited run in NY as well? I thought Mark Rylance was going to reprise his roles as Rooster in Jerusalem on Broadway at some point next year?

I saw this last night and thought Rylance and Pierce were magnificent (even more on-song than the preview I attended). I agree with some of the critics that the play does lose some impetus in the latter stages, but DHP really took it by the scruff of the neck when he gave Elomire's passionate rebuttal of Valere, which I thought made for a very effective closing counterpoint to Rylance's meandering opening monologue.

I think this show could be something of a hot ticket regardless of the NY critics - the draw of the growing acclaim surrounding Rylance as the best stage actor of his generation, DHP's Tony pedigree and TV fame and ditto Joanna Lumley's fame from Ab Fab. If it is a limited run I could see it doing well (OK, nowhere near 'A Steady Rain', but maybe more of a must-see among regular theatre-goers).