My Brief Thoughts on A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 7:58pm

....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

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 9:11pm

PS: Definitively - the show runs 2 hours and 50 minutes, with intermission.

Act I is 1:05, Act II is 1:45.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 10:16pm

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

[littlelotte64]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 10:26pm

how was the student rush line for this? I was thinking of seeing it Tuesday and had no idea what a good time to arrive would be.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 10:31pm

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.

[littlelotte64]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 10:33pm

Wow thats a good amount of tickets. Thanks! Great review by the way.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 10:35pm

Thanks.

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 10:47pm

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.

Wanna explain that a little better?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 10:54pm

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

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 11:05pm

Yankee, I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of the set. Sure, artistic liscense is one thing, but this set COMPLETELY contradicts the setting of the play as described by the author. The dirt ground and type of water well used, along with the country western music in the background, do not convey a Conneticut farm, even for that time period. The set is completely wrong, making no sense for this play.

Also, while I agree Meany was good and might even land a nomination if he is lucky, there is no way he will beat out Billy Crudup, Boyd Gaines, or Byron Jennings this season. It's just not possible. He is not even close to being the frontrunner. The only person who will get nominated for sure is Eve Best.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 11:06pm

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?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 11:14pm

bjh2114 - I said it was pleasing to the eyes....never that it was accurate .

I agree that the music choices (I was waiting for Clint Eastwood to pop out!) were bizarre and that the set had a country-western feel.

Regarding Meaney - I haven't seen Journey's End and Billy Crudup didn't really do it for me. I'm old fashioned....I'll take drunk over tubercular any day!

Aside from that, what did you think of the play?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/1/07 at 11:20pm

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!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 12:07am

Very odd to attempt to control the audience's personal belongings in the front row. And how odd to have an American immigrant Irish Tyrone done in "English" style.

I'm skipping this one. I just saw the Cherry Jones version not long ago and found it a bit long even though I love O'Neill.

I agree that Boyd Gaines is a Tony frontrunner and will be hard to beat in the category.

Thanks for posting your thoughts on the show.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 12:51am

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.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 7:19am

...I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought he was too...flamboyant.

"Misbegotten" is one of O'Neill's toughest plays to get through. There's virtually no action in Acts II - IV (which are condensed into a sole Act II here). All of the action is in the very emotional dialogue which, if performed correctly is heartbreaking and extremely cry-worthy (i.e. the monologue about the train after Mary's death). It makes you realize that Jim Tyrone wants to die in his sleep (as Josie says in the last line).

As Spacey performs it, screaming like a drunken misfit, the emotional catharsis is gone and renders one of the most beautiful O'Neill monologues sour.

A completely wrong take on the role.
Updated On: 4/2/07 at 07:19 AM

[joshy]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:04am

"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?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:09am

To American audiences, English/British productions are considered, for the most-part, very cold and emotionless.

Just look at the recent revivals of Fiddler, Glass Menagerie, etc.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:10am

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.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:12am

I'm intrigued by this production and want to make an effort to see it. With the acomadating rush policy, I really can't turn this one down!

[kooky]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:17am

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!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:23am

Sueleen - agree with your feelings on all counts. When I asked Spacey about the show's timing following the performance, he gave me a blank look and said "we talk fast."

His performance was indeed very hard to sit through, especially having seen the Robards version recently (ah, the glory of DVD).

Jim shouldn't be a screaming misfit on Red Bull, he should be a dying drunkard.

***

kooky - I don't necessarily disagree with you....I enjoyed the show a great deal....aside from Spacey.
Updated On: 4/2/07 at 09:23 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:29am

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.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:47am

What a pity. I still think MOON is O'Neill's best and most heartbreaking play. I heard from a friend who saw it in London that Spacey was a dissapointment and Best was a revelation.

Its too soon for a revival of this, tho.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/2/07 at 9:58am

That pretty much sums up the entire show.