Or we celebrate the continuing evolution of storytelling for a new audience that doesn't want to faced with the same characters and situations rehashed over and over again. So yes thank you Playwrights for nurturing and presenting amazing and brave new works that will surely enter into the cannon of great American theater. And if you don't like it just write your check and stay home home.
Does it really count as sticking it to the audience if their plays are just speaking directly and sincerely to an audience that might be generationally and intellectually different from yours?
Count me in as a current fan of Playwrights Horizons. Last season alone brought such great productions as The Flick, The Whale, The Call, and Far From Heaven. And if something doesn't measure up, it's never lazy and always beautifully presented. I'll happily see anything they do.
I do, and I make sure that right kind of work gets the money and attention it deserves. Unlike you apparently who just keeps it a secret, and silence = death after all or After Eight. However you wanna put it.
Wow, I'm almost afraid to comment on this thread, but I did see Mr. Burns this weekend...and had mixed feelings.
I found it to be original and inventive, but not quite as enjoyable a piece of theater as I'd have liked. As intrigued as I was by the idea of it, there were also times it dragged and I found myself losing interest a bit. I think the critics will give it big points for simply being different.
But in terms of the comments here on Matthew Maher, I think the guy's an incredible talent, and when I realized he was in this one I got the biggest grin on my face!
Plus, I owe YOU no tips on good plays. Go find them yourself, you arrogant little punk.
That's totally fine because clearly I wouldn't take any of your positive recommendations. Pretty much whatever you detest I assume that I'll love so keep doing what you're doing.
Maybe the reason you didn't like MR. BURNS is because it wasn't about the Simpsons character based off you?
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
I'm going to be a contrarian here: I would appreciate it if After Eight shared some of his obscure finds ... clearly s/he will never win Miss Congeniality (not that I am under the impression such a title is ever the aim), but I almost always agree with his/her "likes".
Now, why would he do that, whatever? The ones he liked were in smaller venues and no one here seemed to see them. Posters who don’t frequent this board almost exclusively to spew negativity might think those are two excellent reasons for posting about those shows especially, to get the word out, but as we all know, not everyone uses this board for the same reasons.
CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES
Truth to tell, I'm not looking to win any congeniality contests. I'm just calling 'em as I see 'em. And actually, I'm as congenial as can be --- towards those who are congenial to me, that is. But if someone is going to come charging at me fists flying, well, I can give as good as I get, and I will.
Now you ask me to tell you about worthy lesser-known works I've seen. To be frank, considering the guff I get even if I post a favorable opinion, I ask myself, why should I give tips to those who rip me to shreds? Would you? But on the other hand, if people are doing good work, they should be applauded for it. So I'm conflicted. But since you're nice about it, and since you seem to appreciate my opinions, I'll try to let you know when I see something worthwhile, and just have to accept that the bad guys may benefit from it as well. One of the best plays I saw this summer was Ghetto Babylon. If it appears in another production somewhere, I would recommend it.
Is all the talent in New York being magnetized to the block of 42nd St between 9th and 10th? Between The Old Friends at Signature and Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play at PH, which I had the extreme pleasure of seeing tonight, this is apparently the place to be!
Sauja, I really just want to copy and paste what you wrote because you sum up the experience so well.
I loved seeing how storytelling changed throughout the play. How facts and truths evolved over time. How what society wanted and needed from pop culture continued to develop as we journeyed further into the post-electric future. How it's not Cher and cockroaches that will survive a nuclear holocaust but "Toxic!"
I loved the first act and the retelling of "Cape Feare." You can tell from the very beginning that facts are misremembered. Matthew tells that Bart runs to the back of the boat and meets a crocodile, and then runs to the front and encounters piranhas. These are small mistakes and don't obscure the truth of the episode or ruin the punch line that this sets up, but he is wrong. In actuality Bart runs first to the front of the boat and sees the crocodile; the back of the boat comes second, and he sees electric eels, not piranhas. There are no piranhas in the episode. The myths have already started to form though and we see how the seeds are expertly planted by Washburn that will allow the truths to keep morphing.
The acting is top notch and the costumes become a lot of fun.
I'm so glad I saw this and recommend others to check it out.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!