Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan in THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW at BAM- Page 2

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 2/14/23 at 6:21pm

tonight's show cancelled.

Feb 14

[Damiensta]

Posted: 2/17/23 at 9:05pm

Saw this few days ago. Runs at 3 Hours feels much longer. Second act feels very of the 60’s when it was written . Most of acting is fine.

2 out of 5 stars.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/17/23 at 10:12pm

It is of its time and that is not to its detriment. It is showing modern audiences the struggles of the past. This play was ahead of its time when it was produced and today I fear modern audiences won’t connect with it. That is not to say that it isn’t an important play, because it is. 
 

It forces the audience to think about people and situations they would sooner just sweep under the rug. 

[UWS10023]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 3:25am

Is there any talk of an extension?

[socjoc1107]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 4:50pm

TodayTix Rush

I was successful in securing yesterday evening's TodayTix rush tickets (02/18) and the tickets were ORCH N101 and N 102. The seats were the stools seats directly in front of the Mezz. Not as comfortable of seats as the regular theatre seats, but outstanding view, and well worth the $38.

Hope this helps!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 5:34pm

I would be shocked if David Binder isn't trying to move this to Broadway, schedules of its two stars permitting. It could make a tidy sum in 16 weeks. But it obviously needs these 2 (and the two of them together is what makes it an event).

[JoeW4]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 6:08pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I would be shocked if David Binder isn't trying to move this to Broadway, schedules of its two stars permitting. It could make a tidy sum in 16 weeks. But it obviously needs these 2 (and the two of them together is what makes it an event)."


I tend to assume that if a high-profile production like this chooses to play the Harvey, they probably decided to skip Broadway on purpose. I always figured that’s why the recent productions of Cyrano, Medea, Long Day’s Journey, etc. didn’t go to Broadway after playing BAM. 

With these 2 stars, I can’t imagine they would’ve had much trouble getting funded for Broadway right off the bat if they wanted to, and I bet the Broadway landlords would’ve given them priority over most of the plays opening this spring. 

[Ensemble1672994144]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 6:52pm

The second act felt endless. Overall, the acting was excellent, and Brosnahan in particular was terrific.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 7:59pm

The BAM production has a different set from the Goodman Theatre production. It's by the design studio "dots". They've spent a good deal of time and money on it. That might suggest there are future plans for the production. To my eye it looked like a good portion of the younger crowd was there for Mrs. Maisel. Updated On: 2/19/23 at 07:59 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 8:29pm

sinister teashop said: "To my eye it looked like a good portion of the younger crowd was there for Mrs. Maisel."

Don't underestimate STAR WARS fans, too. I think both have fans ranging from young to older, which is what makes it such a perfect ticket-selling combo.

The BAM ushers were VERY strict on phone use policies and explicit about "no photos until curtain call," which is a refreshing thing. Updated On: 2/19/23 at 08:29 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 8:34pm

Eh, I always go back to the Tom Hiddelston (or however you spell it) “Betrayal.” I’m not sure if it made its money back but it wasn’t a hot ticket. And I don’t think this would really ignite the box office the way y’all think it would. Sounds like the play is a drudge so word of mouth might hinder it. Just because they’re in a franchise doesn’t mean those same people want to pay $150 to see them so something outside said franchise. 

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 8:38pm

RippedMan said: "Eh, I always go back to the Tom Hiddelston (or however you spell it) “Betrayal.” I’m not sure if it made its money back but it wasn’t a hot ticket. And I don’t think this would really ignite the box office the way y’all think it would. Sounds like the play is a drudge so word of mouth might hinder it. Just because they’re in a franchise doesn’t mean those same people want to pay $150 to see them so something outside said franchise."

Who said anything about "igniting the box office"?

[yyys]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 8:57pm

They'll probably just gonna extend it like they did with Cyrano.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 9:07pm

It already extended once, through Friday March 24, so if there was even a possibility of extending further than that, they probably would have sold through that weekend, which suggests that the current end date is firm. 

Updated On: 2/19/23 at 09:07 PM

[jbird5]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 7:08pm

This is must see theater.  Lorraine Hansberry turns her withering eye on the white bourgeoisie and eviscerates it.  Yes it’s long and tickets are scarce and expensive but see it for your own good.  Oscar Isaac may go overboard here and there.  Rachel Brosnahan doesn’t really seem to be acting but seems to be playing herself (a struggling actress who has difficulty getting work).  Curiously none of the actors got entrance applause.  Miriam Silverman got exit applause in her last scene, as much for Hansberry’s words as her delivery of them.  Gus Birney is incandescent in a small but crucial role.  She’s grown a lot since she quit school to do Connected - a terrible idea unless your name is Birney.  An understudy was on for David, I didn’t quite buy him as a gay man.  The actor playing Alton was very good.  Andy G was practically unrecognizable without his facial hair.  This play looks to have had a revival in 1972 that lasted only 9 performances.  That was the year Nixon was re-elected and Archie Bunker was the most popular man in America.  Thank God we’ve evolved.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 8:12pm

I liked Gus Birney's performance as well. The actor playing Alton is Julian De Niro who is, I believe, Robert De Niro's son. And speaking of Alton, Hansberry also eviscerates...

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

...1960's Black Liberation through the choices his character makes. She really doesn't spare anyone in the play, white or black, left or right, idealist or cynic but ...she ends with a deadly bouquet thrown to the idealists of the world. 

 

Updated On: 2/20/23 at 08:12 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 8:27pm

jbird5 said: "Rachel Brosnahan doesn’t really seem to be acting but seems to be playing herself (a struggling actress who has difficulty getting work)."

Anyone who knew RB's work before MAISEL will heartily disagree here. This role, like Maisel, is not her natural persona. (See: House of Cards, Othello, and her other stage work.) Yes, her character Iris has a lot of shades of Maisel (she does "the voice," even some of the costuming is similar) but it's more interesting and nuanced than what she does on Amazon.

It did strike me, though, that she's never going to be able to escape Midge Maisel. Sort of a Jason Alexander situation. and she must turn down sooo many period pieces.

[RussT2]

Posted: 2/22/23 at 12:43pm

I saw the Saturday February 18th performance. Sitting stage left about 5 rows from the front. Theater itself is great, even that close to the side we had a great view of everything. I went it without knowing the storyline and even though it's dated, much of the story is about the human experience, so it holds up 50+ years later. The entire cast is great but Oscar Issac really is a powerhouse. Brosnahan as well is fantastic. The only performer that was good but paled in comparison to the rest of the cast was Julian Deniro who played "Alton"..I diodn't even realize he's Robert Deniro's son till after the show was over. He looks just like him too. Overall, a great night of theater at BAM.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/22/23 at 3:32pm

jbird5 said: "This is must see theater. Lorraine Hansberry turns her withering eye on the white bourgeoisie and eviscerates it. Yes it’s long and tickets are scarce and expensive but see it for your own good. Oscar Isaac may go overboard here and there. Rachel Brosnahan doesn’t really seem to be acting but seems to be playing herself (a struggling actress who has difficulty getting work). Curiously none of the actors got entrance applause. Miriam Silverman got exit applause in her last scene, as much for Hansberry’s words as her delivery of them. Gus Birney is incandescent in a small but crucial role. She’s grown a lot since she quit school to do Connected - a terrible idea unless your name is Birney. An understudy was on for David, I didn’t quite buy him as a gay man. The actor playing Alton was very good. Andy G was practically unrecognizable without his facial hair. This play looks to have had a revival in 1972 that lasted only 9 performances. That was the year Nixon was re-elected and Archie Bunker was the most popular man in America. Thank God we’ve evolved."

The 1972 revival starring Hal Linden and Zohra Lampert was actually a revisal. It included songs that were added to comment on the action on stage sung by a "greek chorus". 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/23/23 at 12:23am

I saw this tonight and I'm truly going to have to sit and think on this one for a while. It's not that I didn't like it, I really did. It's just a lot to take in and think about. Definitely a play that's going to sit with me for a while, especially the remarkable performance given by Brosnahan. I also now want to see Oscar Isaac do "Streetcar". But anyways, I'm going to spend a little time tomorrow and read some critical analysis' of the play - I think I need to do that.

And if you're going to see this be sure to get there early so you can spend some time in the Hansberry retrospective they have set up. It's fascinating and educational and well worth your time.

[FLarnhill]

Posted: 2/23/23 at 2:19am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "jbird5 said: "Rachel Brosnahan doesn’t really seem to be acting but seems to be playing herself (a struggling actress who has difficulty getting work)."

Anyone who knew RB's work before MAISEL will heartily disagree here. This role, like Maisel, is not her natural persona. (See: House of Cards, Othello, and her other stage work.) Yes, her character Iris has a lot of shades of Maisel (she does "the voice," even some of the costuming is similar) but it's more interesting and nuanced than what she does on Amazon.

It did strike me, though, that she's never going to be able to escape Midge Maisel. Sort of a Jason Alexander situation. and she must turn down sooo many period pieces."

I worry the same for Jodie Comer. I'm gonna be seeing Prima Facie soon but I fear all I'm gonna see on stage is Villanelle. There are some actors who just seem to be very limited yet work exceptionally in their limitations. Not to imply Brosnahan's even on Comer's level, though.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/23/23 at 8:15am

FLarnhill said:
"I worry the same for Jodie Comer. I'm gonna be seeing Prima Facie soon but I fear all I'm gonna see on stage is Villanelle. There are some actors who just seem to be very limited yet work exceptionally in their limitations."

Comer gives one of the finest performances I've ever seen in my life in this play. You shouldn't worry at all. :)

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 2/24/23 at 12:37am

Saw this tonight and absolutely loved it. To be fair, I’ve been a big fan of this play and was so thrilled to see it given such a major revival. While the play certainly is long, I didn’t really feel it until well into Act II. 

Anne Kaufman really understands her actors and the play which makes this a pleasure to watch. Many times, I forgot this was a period piece. It’s so eerily relevant and insightful. 

And then the performances are almost uniformly excellent. Rachel Brosnahan walks away with evening for me. I heard some complaints of the “Maisel Voice” which I did not feel here at all. That voice tends to be more exaggerated. This performance was so nuanced and captivating to me.  Such a great character that felt lived in—great chemistry with Oscar. Special shout out to Miriam Silverman as Mavis who almost steals every scene she’s in. 

This rarely revived gem in a stellar production is not to be missed. 

[JoeW4]

Posted: 2/24/23 at 1:08am

I saw the show earlier this week and also loved it.

I posted thoughts on it here.

And FWIW, I'd argue that Brosnahan is splitting the different between her real mannerisms and her Maisel mannerisms. From what I can tell in interviews, her mannerisms in real life are more low-key and contained, and I'm guessing that many of the qualities we associate with "the voice" just naturally come out when she goes into a broader performance mode. But the accent here isn't the same, and the mannerisms aren't quite the same either.

In either case, I thought she was excellent.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 2/24/23 at 6:59am

FYI, in case anyone is looking for reviews, in an article about the play in today's Washington Post, Peter Marks shared that "It officially opens Thursday night, with reviews embargoed until Monday because of covid cases in the cast."