bear88 said: "JudyDenmark, I know you were a big fan of Network. It's a play I am considering for an upcoming trip, but the consensus has dampened my enthusiasm: Basically, it's that Cranston is fantastic, but the overall play (based on a film I've seen multiple times) is mediocre and/or gimmicky.
You seem to really like the production itself. Why is it something I shouldn't miss (Cranston aside)?"
I wish I could give you an intelligent answer rooted in dramaturgy, haha... but simply enough I just enjoyed the show. Cranston's exceptional performance definitely had a lot to do with it, but what I really loved was the innovation of the set design, the use of on-stage steadicams throughout the show, the breaking of the 4th wall in an unusual way, a bit of stage magic at the end that totally made my head spin... the appeal to me is that it was like nothing I'd seen before, from the minute I walked into the theatre. Disclaimer that I've only seen a couple of Ivo Van Hove productions, so maybe this is par for course with him, but the whole production really impressed me. I also had never seen the film and (other than that infamous line) knew absolutely nothing about it... so if you've seen the film a lot, you'd very possibly have a different reaction.
I will say that there were parts with the supporting characters in particular where I kind of lost what was happening, but I honestly didn't care - the success of the show wasn't about the plot for me, it was more about the overall immersive theatrical experience.
