#1
Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:23pm
NY Times Review of Democracy
#2
Posted: 11/18/04 at 11:08pm
Wow. Considering how mixed some of the other reviews are, I'm impressed. Anyone see this in previews? How was it?
#3
Posted: 11/19/04 at 12:37am
I just went to Opening night...haven't collected my thoughts for a real review yet, but I really enjoyed it. The First act has a bit too much exposition that you have to make yourself pay attention to, but it's all for a good reason b/c once you're into the story you're hooked...the 2nd act is pure political intrigue and suspense. I'll have to post a review tomorrow when I've thought more, but the acting is wonderful, the story is fascinating (though I think it could afford a little tightening in the 1st act,) the staging is really engaging--constantly switching focus between action, narration, retrospective, present, future--a bit like with I am my own Wife, and the design is GREAT. I'm an actor, don't always notice design, but this set design really is lovely--evocative in terms of both form and function and historical period, surprising. The sound design is great too. I'm rambling a bit, but I really had a great time seeing an excellently-written drama. And this was my first show at the Brooks Atkinson and it's such a gorgeous theatre.
If you're into this kind of thing--liked Copenhagen, I am my Own..., etc, GO see it. This is the kind of thing my former students would have whined about being "boring," sadly--it's not check your brain theatre--but I think it's near-brilliant!
More thoughts later!
If you're into this kind of thing--liked Copenhagen, I am my Own..., etc, GO see it. This is the kind of thing my former students would have whined about being "boring," sadly--it's not check your brain theatre--but I think it's near-brilliant!
More thoughts later!
Updated On: 11/19/04 at 12:37 AM
#4
Posted: 11/19/04 at 3:05pm
I went to the opening show as well. Honestly, I had not one single idea of what was going on during act one. My friend had to fill me in during intermission, then act two was actually quite tolerable. It's not my kind of play....I could recognize that it was very very well done, but it's not my type of play - too political and I couldn't understand what they were saying half the time. The whole thing was kind of bland, but still interesting, if that makes any sense. It's not something I would pay to go see, let's just say that. Atleast the party afterwards was worth it - now I'm just hungover.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#5
Posted: 11/21/04 at 11:01pm
So, I'd kind of forgotten, but when I was at opening night on Thursday someone collapsed and was taken out of the theatre a few rows behind me. (House right, towards the back of the orchestra.)
Today my mother told me about how she'd heard on NPR that some very elderly famous playwright had collapsed on opening night there at the Brooks Atkinson and later DIED! She didn't recall the name.
I've searched and haven't found any information online. Anyone know about this?
Today my mother told me about how she'd heard on NPR that some very elderly famous playwright had collapsed on opening night there at the Brooks Atkinson and later DIED! She didn't recall the name.
I've searched and haven't found any information online. Anyone know about this?
Updated On: 11/21/04 at 11:01 PM
#6
Posted: 11/21/04 at 11:19pm
I think Cy Coleman died right after the after-party of Democracy. Your mom probably conflated your story with that one.
#7
Posted: 11/21/04 at 11:34pm
Hmm...it's weird though b/c I didn't mention the guy collapsing to my mom, she brought it up asking if I'd heard anything b/c of the NPR story she'd heard. Huh! Anyway, that's probably what happened.
(conflated--good word, I need to use that one!!)
(conflated--good word, I need to use that one!!)
Updated On: 11/21/04 at 11:34 PM
#8
Posted: 11/22/04 at 1:37am
I was at the opening party for this show...was Cy there?
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#10
Posted: 11/22/04 at 11:55am
saw it, loved it. had no idea who willy brandt was and it made no difference. saw it early enough that i didn't even have a playbill to keep score and it still didn't matter.
r.i.p. marco, my guardian angel.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
#11
Posted: 11/22/04 at 1:11pm
I am looking forward to the performance I see in December. I think Frayn is an absolute genius.
#12
Posted: 11/22/04 at 1:17pm
Poor Munkustrap. To paraphrase Barbie, "World history is hard!"
#13
Posted: 11/22/04 at 5:25pm
It already sounds a lot easier to understand than Copenhagen. And Copenhagen was pure genius.
#14
Posted: 11/22/04 at 9:27pm
Amy Archer:
Was that REALLY necessary? No, I really don't think it was. I didn't understand that was going on in Act One because I wasn't paying attention - it had been a long, long day and I was very, very sick, and still am. I kept having to leave my seat to cough because it was so loud, I kept missing things. So to assume that you know my mental capacity as far as comprehension is concerned is quite presumptuous on your part. And I said I couldn't understand what they were saying, meaning (since you seem to require clarification,) the sound was very muffled and many of the men spoke very quickly and many of them have low voices - and believe me, the people sitting next to me couldn't make out a few things either. So next time, instead of making a rude, condescending comment without basis or knowledge on the exact situation, perhaps you should think about it and if you're going to be rude and unnecessary, do it with a little more taste. After all, you don't know me. Keep your immature comments to yourself.
Was that REALLY necessary? No, I really don't think it was. I didn't understand that was going on in Act One because I wasn't paying attention - it had been a long, long day and I was very, very sick, and still am. I kept having to leave my seat to cough because it was so loud, I kept missing things. So to assume that you know my mental capacity as far as comprehension is concerned is quite presumptuous on your part. And I said I couldn't understand what they were saying, meaning (since you seem to require clarification,) the sound was very muffled and many of the men spoke very quickly and many of them have low voices - and believe me, the people sitting next to me couldn't make out a few things either. So next time, instead of making a rude, condescending comment without basis or knowledge on the exact situation, perhaps you should think about it and if you're going to be rude and unnecessary, do it with a little more taste. After all, you don't know me. Keep your immature comments to yourself.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#15
Posted: 11/22/04 at 9:55pm
FYI -- several people around me in the rear orchestra complained they had trouble understanding the actors at times.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 11/23/04 at 09:55 PM
#16
Posted: 11/23/04 at 1:56pm
So, Monkeystrapon, it is the PLAY's fault that you did not know what was going on because YOU had to leave your seat because your cough was SO LOUD? It sounds like you had no business being in the theatre at all, let alone going to the after party where you drank enough to get a hangover. Have some consideration for the audience and people you are inflicting with your germs and rude behavior in the theatre. It's people like you that make going to the theatre less and less enjoyable.
PEACE.
#17
Posted: 11/23/04 at 1:59pm
..."and if you're going to be rude and unnecessary, do it with a little more taste. After all, you don't know me. Keep your immature comments to yourself."
Brought to you by the very poster who has made some of the vilest, nastiest, and crudest comments ever to appear on BWW.com. (Hint: tampons) You'll get no sympathy from me...and frankly, if you can dish it out, you should be able to take it, too.
Brought to you by the very poster who has made some of the vilest, nastiest, and crudest comments ever to appear on BWW.com. (Hint: tampons) You'll get no sympathy from me...and frankly, if you can dish it out, you should be able to take it, too.
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
#18
Posted: 11/23/04 at 9:55pm
I can't wrap my brain around this statement: "...if you're going to be rude and unnecessary, do it with a little more taste." Is that one of them there Zen coan's like "what is the sound of one hand clapping?"
Seems like by reading your posts, 'strap, most people who understand Highlights for Children could "comment with basis and knowledge on the exact situation."
And really. DON'T get smashed when you're sick.
Seems like by reading your posts, 'strap, most people who understand Highlights for Children could "comment with basis and knowledge on the exact situation."
And really. DON'T get smashed when you're sick.
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#19
Posted: 11/23/04 at 10:12pm
Probably a good idea to stay off the message board after imbibing, too, based on what I've noticed.
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
#20
Posted: 11/23/04 at 10:43pm
Yeah, don't post when dehydrated. Your narratives tend not to add up and you look ridiculous.
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
#21
Posted: 11/23/04 at 11:15pm
It still amazes me how people think they know what they're talking about when it comes to my life and what I should and should not be doing. Most of the petty attacks don't even deserve comment, but I will comment on a few things:
Suleen:
Not once in my brief "review" of the show did I say the play was faulted, or, as you prefer to put it, the play's fault that I didn't know what was going on. And again, you clearly must have not read too closely - the reason I left my seat was to go outside or to the bathroom to cough because obviously it's rude to start hacking away in a theatre - so you have no point there. Not one thing about my behavior, that you obviously know little about, at that performance would have made the experience less enjoyable for anyone else. I'm assuming that's the rude behavior you were referring to, but again your statement has no relevance because you don't have the first idea what my behavior was like. I work in the theatre industry and I'm an actor - I would be the first one to look down upon rude behavior. And lastly, as far as inflicting people with my germs, you are again, mistaken. There you go again, making false comments because you don't have the first idea what you're talking about. You don't know what I'm diagnosed with - and for your own piece of mind, just know that it's something that cannot be passed on even through the closest contact because a, it's simply not contagious and b, I was on several antibiotics and after 24 hours the "germ" is essentially dead. Since I'm expecting another half a dozen posts by the same 3 people ripping apart what I just said, but for the future, don't comment on what you don't know about. No sorry, I'm probably mistaken - if you can read and comprehend Highlights for Children, you know what's going on in my life. Smart similie.
Suleen:
Not once in my brief "review" of the show did I say the play was faulted, or, as you prefer to put it, the play's fault that I didn't know what was going on. And again, you clearly must have not read too closely - the reason I left my seat was to go outside or to the bathroom to cough because obviously it's rude to start hacking away in a theatre - so you have no point there. Not one thing about my behavior, that you obviously know little about, at that performance would have made the experience less enjoyable for anyone else. I'm assuming that's the rude behavior you were referring to, but again your statement has no relevance because you don't have the first idea what my behavior was like. I work in the theatre industry and I'm an actor - I would be the first one to look down upon rude behavior. And lastly, as far as inflicting people with my germs, you are again, mistaken. There you go again, making false comments because you don't have the first idea what you're talking about. You don't know what I'm diagnosed with - and for your own piece of mind, just know that it's something that cannot be passed on even through the closest contact because a, it's simply not contagious and b, I was on several antibiotics and after 24 hours the "germ" is essentially dead. Since I'm expecting another half a dozen posts by the same 3 people ripping apart what I just said, but for the future, don't comment on what you don't know about. No sorry, I'm probably mistaken - if you can read and comprehend Highlights for Children, you know what's going on in my life. Smart similie.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#22
Posted: 11/23/04 at 11:30pm
"bland but interesting" doesn't really make sense to me, because it's a contradiction. What made it bland? How was that interesting?
#23
Posted: 11/23/04 at 11:32pm
I found much of the material and certain "scenes" to be very dry and bland, but in the long run and looking back after the show had ended, it was a very interesting story. It's not an easy show to digest.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#24
Posted: 11/23/04 at 11:35pm
You should DEFINITELY not be boozing it up if you are on "several antibiotics." You might end up doing SERIOUS liver damage and that could put a bit of a crimp on your acting career.
Twitter @NamoInExile
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#25
Posted: 11/23/04 at 11:38pm
Yes, thank you, I am aware that it wasn't the best choice.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
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