My "Tin Roof" review.

[broadway86]

Posted: 2/28/04 at 2:05am

I have just gotten back from seeing the Friday 8:00 performance of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, and what a treat that was.

Now, I have not seen Ashley Judd's performance as Maggie, but I have heard nothing good about it either. Kelly McAndrew as Maggie... well, let's just say a star has been born. McAndrew gives the character a passionate and almost ferocious personality, and yet also an unexpectedly tender side as well.

Jason Patric was extremely impressive in the clearly difficult role of Brick. He was everything I could have asked for in the role: charming, brooding, quiet, darkly humorous, and so damn intense. And the way the he got more and more drunk as the play went on was an example of really great acting.

However, the evening belonged to Ned Beatty and Margo Martindale, who played Big Daddy and Big Mamma. They were just... stunning.

The audience size for this particilar performance was, in a word, disgusting. While the orchestra was full, almost 75% of the mezzanine audience members missing. I'm guessing that this is because of Ashley Judd's absence, which is a shame.

The set design was incredible, as were the fireworks and storm effects.

Anyway, if you are a fan of the play who avoided it because of Judd's poorly received portrayal, now is the time to see it. It was a very effective production, and you have only have three more weeks to see a starmaking performance.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 2/28/04 at 2:14am

I saw Cat about a month ago and found Ashley Judd to be quite good...honest, if a bit um well boring...she didn't hold the auidience as maggie should...but I never felt a false note the tears were clearly real...Jason Patric seemed to be walking through an already wooden performance...alack alas. Ned and Margo were as astonishing as everyone has stated more elegantly than I could...um...so that's that.