Pre-Existing Condition by Marin Ireland

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 7/17/24 at 10:34am

Pre-Existing Condition, a new play written by Tony-nominated actress Marin Ireland, directed by Tony-nominated actress Maria Dizzia, has extended Off-Broadway at the Connelly Theatre, with Edie Falco joining the rotating cast in the lead role August 6th-17th. 
 
 https://playbill.com/article/edie-falco-will-join-off-broadways-pre-existing-condition

anyone see it yet ? 

[Shubert Alley Cat]

Posted: 7/17/24 at 3:17pm

I saw it with Julia Chan.  The cast is terrific and the play is powerful.  I highly recommend it - also - I saw it on a Friday matinee at 3:30 for those of you who like to schedule multi-show days.  It is a very very intimate space.  At my performance many of the Stereophonic cast members were in attendance since it was that non-traditional show time.

[raddersons]

Posted: 7/18/24 at 9:52am

Just got an ad that Dierdre O’Connell is in this and looked at the dates and sadly she’s done this weekend and I can’t make it. I didn’t realize this has already been running for weeks.

[alexidarling15]

Posted: 7/18/24 at 5:08pm

I bought a GA ticket for this week. Price was very reasonable and I assumed that if the theater only holds 60 seats, none could be all that bad (can anyone who has seen this weigh in?) I’m so excited to see Deirdre O’Connell.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 7/18/24 at 5:40pm

I loved this space and I liked this play. I saw Tatiana and she held her script. It's a very demanding role. I'm not totally sure why they are having such a rotation of actresses in the role...maybe to show how universal the role is supposed to be? Or maybe because Marin Ireland wanted to showcase all her talented friends. I can't help but wonder what the show would be like with someone off book in the role (Tatiana was very good). I also felt totally conflicted about which actress to "choose" and wonder what I'm missing out on. It's not the kind of show I'd want to see several times in a few weeks, even with different actors.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 7/18/24 at 5:58pm

I seem to recall someone saying they are directed to have the script ... it is intentional.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 7/18/24 at 9:10pm

I saw it with Tatiana as well and thought she was excellent.  I also loved Sarah Steele. I went with a friend and we chatted for a few hours after this one. There is a lot to dissect.  I love Edie and think that she will be very interesting but it is heavy and will not be going back again.

[Shubert Alley Cat]

Posted: 7/18/24 at 10:00pm

alexidarling15 said: "I bought a GA ticket for this week. Pricewas very reasonable andI assumed that if the theater only holds 60 seats, none could be all that bad (can anyone who has seen this weigh in?) I’m so excited to see Deirdre O’Connell."

All of the seats in this space should be fine.  If you did get a "reserved" seat they were either in the center section or in the first row of the side sections (that is where I was).  The reserved seat was marked with a piece of tape with one's last name written on it.  That's how I knew to expect the Stereophonic cast to arrive - one seat was marked "Pidgeon" and the seat next to it said "Canfield."

[alexidarling15]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 4:12pm

This is an really moving, richly told, intimate play, Deirdre O'Connell really embodied the character, and the supporting cast is just as talented (especially Greg Keller, whose roles are all over the place, and we even had one understudy, Raquel Chavez, who was shockingly effective). It may be highly triggering to anyone who has experience with domestic violence. I don't think there's any reason to buy premium seats FYI - the space is super small, every seat is excellent, and I ended up in the front row of one of the sides, giving me what I considered to be a slightly better view than some of the marked premium seats. I hope it extends and even more actresses join; I'd love to see other interpretations. 

 

 

[rogerad]

Posted: 7/22/24 at 8:30pm

It's one of the best theatrical experiences in the past few years.  The script is so strong and the direction is impeccable.  The intimacy of the space creates an urgency that I've rarely felt in the theatre.  All of the actors are terrific.  I encourage you all to see this production.  Not only is it an important subject matter, it's a phenomenal work of art.    I was scared that because of the topic, it would be a depressing evening.  The opposite.  It was at times very funny, alive, thought-provoking and inspiring.

[thatdarnzach]

Posted: 7/24/24 at 9:23am

I wish I'd had one ounce of the experience that you all had when I was this last night. Slow, boring, plodding with a black hole of energy at the center in T@vi Gev1nson. Lots of people nodding off or looking around, clearly uninterested, and polite, tepid applause at the close.

[alexidarling15]

Posted: 7/24/24 at 12:15pm

Wow that’s such a shame. But I can see how it might happen if the A performance is substandard. 

[Dan6]

Posted: 7/30/24 at 10:02pm

Extended for one week through 8/23, with Edie Falco.

[east side story]

Posted: 8/1/24 at 7:05pm

Just got tickets to see Falco in her final week. Very much looking forward to this!

[Dan6]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 8:17pm

Has anyone seen Falco in this yet?

[Yessica Haircut]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 9:44pm

Dan6 said: "Has anyone seen Falco in this yet?"

I saw her (and the play) on Monday and liked both. Not sure if you've seen the play, but I'll say this: The writing is honest and matter-of-fact, but with the right amount of humor and moments of levity needed when dealing with such a heavy topic. Edie Falco's role isn't exactly showy, at least compared to her cast mates, but she nailed every line and every feeling, creating an incredibly likable and sympathetic human. She does carry the script (as did the other actresses playing A); I had heard about this device beforehand and wondered how it would look; while she glanced at it every now and then, she was totally present and engaged. I also have to say, it was a real treat getting to see her perform in such an intimate space.

EDIT: Forgot to mention: While Edie does carry and occasionally glance at the script, there's a moment at the very end where she closes it and, while holding it close to her, recites the play's final monologue. The combination of Marin Ireland's writing and Edie Falco's delivery was so natural that, for a split second, I wasn't sure if she was reciting lines or if she was speaking truly. That, to me, was the most memorable part of the experience.

Updated On: 8/16/24 at 09:44 PM

[east side story]

Posted: 8/23/24 at 10:20pm

Saw the next to last performance this afternoon. Loved the play, and Falco was stunning. What an artist.