NEXT FALL Reviews

Today is Thursday, March 11, marking the official opening of Next Fall, a new play by Geoffrey Nauffts, at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre following previews that began February 16.

Per press notes: "Next Fall takes a witty and provocative look at faith, commitment and unconditional love. While the play�s central story focuses on the 5-year relationship between Adam and Luke, Next Fall goes beyond a typical love story. This timely and compelling new American play forces us all to examine what it means to "believe" and what it might cost us not to."

Sheryl Kaller directs the play, as she did when it first premiered Off-Broadway. The company includes Patrick Breen as Adam, Maddie Corman as Holly, Sean Dugan as Brandon, Patrick Heusinger as Luke, Connie Ray as Arlene and Cotter Smith as Butch.

Best to all involved.

Best,
- M

Updated On: 3/11/10 at 02:17 AM

The acting is really good in it, so I think they are going to do well.

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Very anxious to read these reviews. I hope the critics find even just an ounce of the brilliance I found in this show. I really hope it gets the great reviews it deserves.

Break a leg at opening night, NEXT FALL!

Elton John is plugging the show on The View right now. He said "It's the funniest play currently on Broadway."

Wow, they spent the entire first segment of "hot topics" discussing the play.

Updated On: 3/11/10 at 11:09 AM

Great cast, brilliant direction, wonderful believability in the acting. I hope the show has a long run despite not having a big Hollywood name: it would restore my faith in Broadway audiences. If you leave this show without being moved, you must be sleepwalking through life.

I saw the play on Saturday night and absolutely loved it. I hadn't been able to catch it during the off-Broadway run, so I'm very thankful it's on Broadway and I was able to see it.

Associated Press is in . . .

"NEW YORK — To believe or not to believe.

It's a quandary at the heart of "Next Fall," Geoffrey Nauffts' compassionate exploration of faith that has made a smooth transfer from off-Broadway to the big time of Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre.

The play, which had a successful run last summer at Playwrights Horizons' small theater, is something of a risk on Broadway today. No stars. A playwright who's not well-known, although he has extensive acting credits and is artistic director of the theater company, Naked Angels. Don't let the lack of celebrity deter you. "Next Fall" is expertly cast, enormously entertaining and even laugh-filled despite the underlying seriousness of its subject matter."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gGh6-WOt343E09F5s38S2U5MWbogD9ECOJR00

Elysa Gardner in the USA Today is Mixed to Negative. 2 1/2 stars.

Calling it Pedestrian and saying "Perhaps in his next play, Nauffts will try to craft characters who are as nuanced and authentic as the ideas he's taking on."

http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2010-03-12-nextfall12_ST_N.htm

Updated On: 3/11/10 at 09:46 PM

Linda Winer can suck it.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Frank Scheck at Reuters is Positive

Anyone interested in quality theater would do well to check out this deeply moving and surprisingly funny work at the Helen Hayes Theater.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62B06W20100312

If these kinds of reviews continue, I'd wager that the Helen Hayes will be available sooner than everyone thought. I saw it last Saturday, liked it well enough, felt it had some thought-provoking ideas. But unless the tone of these reviews changes quickly, I don't see how it can be salvaged.

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Wow...such strong polar reactions...

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