Sadly, I didn't think it was all that great. The acting is fine and the design work is wonderful, but the writing didn't do much for me. There were some exciting moments, but they were all too fleeting. It plods along most of the time at a slow pace, and the two "twists" in the plot didn't impress me. The first twist I could see coming from a mile away and the second felt like a recycled plot line from DAYS OF OUR LIVES. I also thought the "resolution" was anticlimactic. I at least hoped there would be a worthwhile climax that left me on a high as I left the theater, but alas, there wasn't. It just kinda...ended. Also, the aforementioned tone of the piece seemed all over the place. Broad humor and jokes, with a very modern sensibility and language, for a play that takes place nearly 100 years ago in Vienna.
It's solidly directed, however, and the acting is good, with Nina Arianda at the helm. Sadly though, this part is nowhere near as juicy as Vanda or Billie Dawn, and we only get glimpses of how astonishing she could have been if the part offered more for her to sink her teeth into. But to watch her onstage is to truly grasp the epitome of a "magnetic" performer. She commands the stage and you truly can't take your eyes off of her. If you're expecting a performance akin to Vanda or Billie, though, you'll be disappointed. This is nowhere near the realm of her work in those shows. The sets, costumes, and lighting designs were all great. This is by far the best and most elaborate set work I've seen at City Center's Stage I in a long while.
I didn't outright DESPISE it, but I had high hopes and unfortunately, it certainly left me
quite underwhelmed.
Updated On: 3/2/14 at 12:56 AM