Mountaintop Opening Night...

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 10/13/11 at 11:50pm

I cant believe there is nothing on the boards about the reviews or opening night...at all... Anybody there tonight? or recently? Thoughts on Reviews? Anything??

[gooftroop]

Posted: 10/14/11 at 8:40am

I had the pleasure of seeing the show on Wednesday night. I bought tickets the day they went on sale(some time ago). I am not so sure that The Mountaintop is a show that Broadway world posters would flock to.... To that end I just wanted to say that I had a wonderful time and laughed oh so much. I am not so sure if my wonderful time was the show as a whole or the fact that I was so in awe of the talent on-stage. A mix of emotions but none that I truly feel needed to be commented upon on this thread. Does that make sense? I will however say that if you want to see wonderful acting technique, connection, ease of character, and a wonderful scene design..then you truly don't want to miss the show. What a wonderful vehicle for Samuel to make his debut in.

I have noting to gain or lose by the success of this show or thread but I am truly anxious to hear what others think.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 10/14/11 at 9:03am

As I have not seen the show, my contribution will be to note that Brantley's review, which I would called decidedly mixed (and can be read here
https://theater.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/theater/reviews/the-mountaintop-with-samuel-l-jackson-angela-bassett.html?ref=theater), echoes many of the sentiments discussed in the thread that went up after the show's first preview (which can be read here https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?page=2&thread=1037156&boardname=bway&boardid=1) -- e.g., the material isn't so hot -- though Brantley wasn't as wild about the performances as some of the BWW commentationers.

Secondly and lastly, I'll also add that I have nothing to gain or lose by the success of this thread, if that makes sense, which it does not.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/14/11 at 9:51am

Depaul, I am just able to get to the reviews and am also surprised that there was no review thread started. As of the time I left for work yesterday afternoon there wasn't even a logo for the show up in the left hand corner.

I saw the show last week and enjoyed it. May see it again with family.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 10/14/11 at 2:48pm

Thanks Guys, yea...I also find it incredibly odd that there was no Logo in the corner on the website either. I hear great things about Angela and Sam both, mixed things about the play...cant wait to come in Nov. and check it out for myself.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/14/11 at 3:12pm

The play is not earth shattering. It is a ficticious account of what "happened" the night before he was assassinated. Given that it is fictional, anything could have happened. Granted, I expected something a bit more serious and possibly dealing more with what we know of King, but after reading about the play a bit more and finding out that this wasn't "historical", I enjoyed what I saw. And the last 10 minutes are some of the most stunning 10 minutes I have seen onstage. It took me about 15 minutes after the show to pull myself together.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 12:00am

Oh wow, well that has me very excited. I'm always thrilled to see work that moves, no matter what the context. I guess I shouldn't be surprised but I still am, that this entire board has hardly any to little interest in this play...*KanyeShrug*

[SJC2]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 6:33am

I ran across this board while looking up reviews myself - as someone connected to the play, I can honestly say that the "stunning final minutes" of the show (a description which most agree with) were created in direct response to what was laid out in the very original script. Pretty surprised that the critics didn't recognize Katori Hall's genius, but I suppose most people are surprised when their shows don't receive across the board raves.
Updated On: 10/15/11 at 06:33 AM

[CAX]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 9:26am

Not sure what conclusion should be drawn but there have been other plys that had lackluster prospects which were all over BWW at the time of their opening and usually people cannot wait to see the reviews. This piece has been largely ignored in comparison. I wish them the best and hope to catch it soon.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 11:48am

That's my point CAX, when High opened it was all over the board, didnt have nearly the subject, or acclaim this play has going in to opening night...and still there was nothing. Some would be quick to scream racism, i dont think thats it though...I think its preference.

[sskeats2]

Posted: 10/15/11 at 11:50am

I was there opening night. And perhaps Angela was over directed. ANd sometime I felt I was in Disneyworld But on the whole it is a beautiful play unto itself. Why do people keep minimizing its Olivier? Certainly Jerusalem was the favorite. And Enron was loved in the UK as was Red, Certainly there were enough voters who believed in The Mountaintop so it just didin't accidently squeeze by Red and Enron as posts have implied.

I think The Mountaintop would have been better received here if it was done off Broadway with a younger cast and a simpler production. I think we'll see other productions in the years to come where the poetry and beauty of the play will be more obvious.