My Brief Thoughts on A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN

....make that "No Breath for the Misbegotten."

I figured out why this production is so uncharacteristically short: they're going the same way as the 1980s revival of Long Day, with overlapping dialogue and no breaths or long pauses under penalty of death. That, along with the very ENGLISH (read: cold and bland) production and Kevin Spacey's flamboyant and icy performance as Jim Tyrone, pretty much sums up the production.

Eve Best and Colm Meaney are the only reasons to see this extremely safe production. Best, in the emotionally challenging role of Josie, is turning in a performance that is nothing short of a revelation. She isn't really Josie as O'Neill described her (a big ugly cow), but, in retrospect, neither were Cherry Jones or Colleen Dewhurst. The blustery Meaney is best as the drunkard and, as of now, seems to be the front runner in the Best Featured Actor category.

Kevin Spacey is the real disappointment. His Jim Tyrone fails to convey the drunkenness, the emotional fragility, or the teetering on the brink of death that the past Tyrone's have. His excessive scenery chewing and flamboyance throughout the piece is distracting and, quite frankly, unacceptable. His delivery of O'Neill's best monologues, the one about the long train ride home following Mary's death, is horrific. He speeds through and shouts the entire thing as if he's in a screaming match with Josie. A cold, emotionless performance that never really says "I want to die in my sleep."

The technicals are great - Crowley's set is pleasing to the eyes, as usual, and matches Mark Henderson's lighting very well.

Ultimately Howard Davies' production is very safe and bland. There's nothing new on the stage, nothing revelatory (besides Best's performance). Had I not paid the $25 student price for the front row, I would have been VERY upset.

FYI - if you're sitting in the front row, make sure of 2 things. 1 - wear a smock if you're on the far left. You will get wet from the water-well. 2 - make sure you hide your belongings under the proscenium extension....apparently Mr. Diva doesn't like seeing things in the aisle and in front of you.

For those wondering about the stage door, they all sign autographs, as long as you stop them.

Updated On: 4/1/07 at 07:58 PM

Forgot to mention previously that the show received 2 lengthy standing ovations, leaving the actors clearly shocked and in awe.

I got there at 11 AM today (box office opens at noon) and was 2nd in line. Apparently, there are 60 seats, so not to worry.

Thanks.

No problem.

Let me start out by saying that they took out a few rows of seats to accomodate the surprisingly large (yet still spare) set. The stage floor is extended where these seats would be and ends a few feet away from the front row. It overhangs where a pit would traditionally be, though it's just auditorium.

Before the show began, one of the ushers came down to the front row and told the person on the aisle "put your stuff under here. He (as she pointed to the stage) don't like to see nothin' in the aisles."

Then, a few minutes later, one of the ushers from the back screams across the theater "people in the front row, please hide your belongings under the stage. Only Playbills can be on your laps."

Of course, being a noisy theater, nobody heard unless you were paying attention to a person screaming from 20 rows away.

By the way - it was up on TKTS today, as well.

Updated On: 4/1/07 at 10:54 PM

I can understand having a problem if someone had a Big Mac and fries sitting on their lap, but nothing but a playbill? What if a woman just happens to prefer sitting with her purse on her lap instead of setting it on the floor?

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Oh yes, the set was visually pleasing. I just don't understand the direction and the decision to make those choices of set and costumes for that specific play. And the music was SOOO distracting. I almost started laughing at one point, but I had to control myself since I was in the front row and I didn't want Ms. Spacey to eat me alive. I also had to restrain myself from laughing at his character choices several times.

I will say that, never having read the play before, I really didn't love it. Maybe if I had read it first I would have appreciated it more, but I just really found it dull. Even Josie's character started to bore me, even though Best was great.

Regarding Journey's End...you really MUST see it before it closes. It is absolutely breath-taking. Like I said, Meany was good, but wait until you see Boyd Gaines!

nd the music was SOOO distracting. I almost started laughing at one point, but I had to control myself since I was in the front row and I didn't want Ms. Spacey to eat me alive. I also had to restrain myself from laughing at his character choices several times.

Oh I was cracking up to myself multiple times when he would wave his arms around in that weird manner.

I also didn't understand why the music & set looked like it was from the Old West when it's supposed to be Connecticut.

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"That, along with the very ENGLISH (read: cold and bland) production"

Okay, I didn't like this production very much but still...WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I think James is one of the trickiest roles ever written. There should be a touch of flamboyance in him, but if what I am reading here is close to the actual performance Spacey is giving it would make it very hard to sit through. And this show, as long as it is, just CAN NOT BE RUSHED.

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Thank you joshy, WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? Just saw this production
and it was riveting - - the acting is brilliant. It always amazes me that others not
in their OWN BROADWAY show have so much to say!

It always amazes me that others not
in their OWN BROADWAY show have so much to say!

Ah, the old "If you think you could do it better why aren't you?" defense. Classic.

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That pretty much sums up the entire show.