OHIO STATE MURDERS Previews — Page 2

Adrienne Kennedy doesn't do "light." Haha. And I do agree that this play is a successful, total artistic statement on its own. I don't think it needs to be paired with something to have more impact or more meaning. There are plenty of places this show, on its own, is a terrific idea.

I just can't imagine people wanting to pay Broadway prices and go through the irritation of getting to Broadway for something that isn't a full evening. Especially when all of Adrienne's plays are also short, with small casts. There are even three other plays in the Alexander cycle, all about the lead character of Ohio. Granted, they're weird... but... I don't know. Tough sell for me.

Running time doesn't equal quality. I'd pay for 60 amazing minutes considering I've paid the same for awfully long, terrible productions.

Any first preview thoughts?

Bill Snibson said: "Agreed. I feel like maybe this needed a creative producer to figure out a way of pairing this with some other Kennedy work to justify the ticket price. But $200 for 75 minutes sounds absurd!"

It's not selling well and the balcony is closed.

JBroadway said: "If you're so determined to value a product by how much of your time it takes up, why not just swipe into the Subway and ride a train until it turns around? You can get HOURS of ride-time for only $2.75"

^^^Exactly. And still have a ton to spend on MTA merch! It's a win-win!

And as I was leaving the theater, people were realizing the time and were making plans to stop off for a drink since they had time. And they had a full evening. I heard no complaints about the running time.

So many people are now liking, and preferring, 90 minute "In and Out" shows. This is just 15 minutes less.

Just got home from the 2pm matinee, at 110th street, at 4pm. I LOVE a shorter piece of work.

80 minutes of The Audra Show - you really can't go wrong there.

You can go wrong with an audience that spends the first very quiet 15 minutes of the show coughing nonstop. I know people cough at shows, and that we're all very aware of it in the COVID-era, but we couldn't go 60 seconds without someone coughing somewhere - often grossly and wetly. The woman a few seats down from me even fished a bottle of nasal spray out of her loud purse to administer it to herself. Honestlyyyyy

Anyway, this is a thread about the show and not audience behavior. Show was short, and I'm glad for it because as powerful as it is and as amazing as Audra is, I was ready for it to end as it did grow like 1% tiresome toward the end.

Also: got my ticket thru TDF - it was Orchestra, dead center, row F. Best TDF seat I've ever gotten, I think.

Is there room on that mantle in that house for 2 more Tonys? Hmmm?

blaxx said: "Running time doesn't equal quality. I'd pay for 60 amazing minutes considering I've paid the same for awfully long, terrible productions."

You're 100% right that runtime does not equal quality by any stretch, and as someone who lives and works in Manhattan, I'm happy to hop over for a quick show. But if I was coming for a night in the city, or flying in for a trip, I'd feel cheated, I get it.

I'm loath to offer public opinions on something in early previews (I saw the Saturday evening performance), but this has a ways to go, and I wonder if Kenny Leon as director is an insurmountable challenge for this material. I cannot think of a greater stylistic mismatch than Adrienne Kennedy (one of the most poetic, speculative writers alive) and Leon (perhaps the most prosaic director working today). He treats the play like it's actually a murder mystery. All wrong. I'd love to see what someone like Lileana Blain-Cruz or Robert O'Hara would do with this material. Audra's performance also needs time to settle. Her performance is often overwrought where Suzanne should seem tough and taciturn.

I found it to be a unique and often thrilling theatrical experience. And no, running time is not a factor if the quality is good. This was the perfect running time, just as you're ready for the time to be over it is. Thing I was missing was some big emotional moment. There's definitely emotion, but not enough of a reckoning. Hopefully that will come out more in previews.

If nothing else you get: the first play in the Jones (its amazing inside), Adrienne Kennedy's Broadway debut, phenomenal Audra acting and a gorgeous set design (forget who don't have it in front of me).

Definitely a great theater experience.

The comments about it dragging are the same I got from two friends that attended this past weekend. It's a little over an hour so that's.....telling.

That's interesting. Do you think it will do well due to Audra's casting?