Posted: 5/22/15 at 10:15am
I know the first preview was cancelled last night due to one of the cast being sick during tech. Hopefully that's true and not cover for larger issues with the show.
Is anyone going tonight for the new first preview?
Posted: 5/24/15 at 8:33am
Seeing it Wednesday - will report back!
Posted: 5/24/15 at 9:13am
Two friends and I caught the Saturday matinee, and all of us enjoyed it. We're older than the target demographic for this show, and for that reason I wasn't sure how we would react. So I was pleased that all of us liked it. I have not seen Bad Jews, so I'm not able to compare the two. I look forward to reading comments from anyone who has seen both.
Basically it's about four young people finding (or not finding) love, and making connections with one another. But some other themes that played a large part include mortality, friendship, obsession, emotional neediness, suicide, memories, and family ties.
The show is very well directed and acted. The performances were all top-notch, mainly Gideon Glick as the main character, Jordan, the young gay man looking for love and a true connection. He is very funny and has some laugh-out-loud moments. His three female friends were also well played, especially Lindsay Mendez as the one he's closest to. His grandmother is played by Barbara Barrie, and there was a frisson of excitement among the audience when she made her entrance. Their scenes together were beautifully acted by both, touching without being maudlin.
The set is ingenious and very effective, with several playing areas stacked on top of one another, connected by stairs, to suggest an office, at least two apartments, etc. The action flowed fluidly among these areas and a bench or two. The lighting enhanced all of this, except for one time when a harsh orange-yellow light was shining right in our eyes. I'm not sure what the purpose of that was, but it blessedly didn't last long.
On the debit side, the show is just too long. Yes, it has many important themes, and we need to feel the passage of time to encompass all the events that take place, but parts of it drag. I wonder if this could lose 15 minutes, or even be compressed into a 90-minute one act. The other possible debit is that the characters are very narcissistic, one in particular (but she gleefully cops to this trait, so it's funny). But tell the truth, the character of Jordan is a navel-gazer too and wrapped up in himself much of the time. I guess this is necessary for us to see the progression of the character, but it's hard to watch at times.
Overall it's very enjoyable show that will appeal to the younger set (as far as I can tell) but won't disappoint the older people too.
We were seated in the last row of the side mezzanine in the $10 seats. We were directly in front of a young staffer and a computer screen. When we saw vacant seats in the center before the start of the show, we decamped. I'm really glad we did, because we could hear various cues and instructions from (or to) the guy with the computer. It was intermittent, though, not throughout the whole show. Still, I'm glad we moved, and the view is great from the center mezzanine.
Updated On: 5/24/15 at 09:13 AM
Posted: 5/24/15 at 10:36am
I went last night with my partner and we both really liked it as well. Great story and performances. The male lead is excellent. It was quite long but the length didn't bother me, show moves a long nicely and I liked spending time with these characters. It's a fun night out. I would def reccomend!
Posted: 5/24/15 at 12:44pm
Glad to hear it. Have tickets for next month.
Posted: 5/24/15 at 12:50pm
I saw the show last night and am very mixed on it. First, I must say that this is a vast improvement over BAD JEWS which I found excruciating to sit through.
I think Joshua Harmon is a good writer but I don't know if he's a good playwright. I found the dialogue to be really good and truthful but I thought the story wasn't great. The female characters all meet their respective husbands so easily and get married to quickly that you feel kind of cheated when the gay guy can't seem to get his sh!t together. While I enjoyed the scenes with Barbara Barrie I don't think they sucked a lot of energy out of the proceedings but didn't add much and could probably cut enough to make it an enjoyable one act. Also there is a judicious use of full songs that I think could be truncated and still be equally effective.
All of the cast is doing a great job. This is the best I've seen Gideon Glick since SPEECH & DEBATE (I guess the Roundabout is where he shines). Lindsay Mendez was killing it as usual. I've never seen Carra Patterson before but after her performance I'm definitely a big fan. Also I liked Sas Goldberg but I couldn't help feeling she was given a role written for Tracee Chimo and acted thusly.
My main issue with the show is the ungodly atrocious set. Mainly all of the action takes place on the mainly bare thrust with an overly elaborate set behind it with pieces extending up into the ceiling. Very little happens in the actual set and I'm not sure why most of it is even there. The thing about it that made my eye twitch was this huge pendant light that hangs way too low over one area of the stage and is plugged in with a cord that is visible and basically goes up to the ceiling and then hangs down in plain sight. It's hard to explain here but once you see it you'll understand.
In the end I would definitely recommend seeing the show because it does have some truly great dialogue and actors giving top notch performances. As long as you can get past the so-so story and horrible ending.
Updated On: 5/24/15 at 12:50 PM
Posted: 5/24/15 at 12:52pm
I loved Bad Jews, so I'm really looking forward to this.
Posted: 6/4/15 at 11:50pm
I saw this tonight and recommend it. It's quite different from Bad Jews, slower and far more introspective. But also more humane, and less dependent on contrivance. That is not to say it's not funny- it very often is! Its politics about monogamy are sort of odd- I'll get to that.
The play centers around Gideon Glick as Jordan, a gay guy in his late-twenties who is finding himself become more and more adrift as his closest friends (all female) get married and settle down; the the closest thing to a rock in his life is his grandmother (a sweet, funny Barbara Barrie), whose own permanence in Jordan's life is made clear as she blithely discusses the prospect of killing herself. Jordan's clearly got issues of his own: he's obsessive, depressive, and low in self-esteem.
Frankly, I think the play is somewhat upsetting- in the sense that is cuts close to home for me, or people I know. Jordan pins his happiness on finding someone, to the point of obsession with potential suitors and turning every date into an event. The play only touches on something more alternative, when a coworker propositions him for casual sex, which is shot down by Jordan with a laughable argument about the heart.
But Harmon never addresses that the issue with Jordan seems to be his obsession with the heteronormative idea of finding "the one"- he is provided no gay friends, no real glimpses of people who do not go through their lives with one person, not even a view of other gay relationships. As a gay male in his twenties in New York- much like Jordan- I found this so odd and somewhat false the more I think about it.
Perhaps the point of the play is that heteronormative relationships and pageantry are excludatory for a gay man. But I'm not sure.
That point being said- and rather paradoxically- I think there is a lot of truth in the play that I relate to. I think Glick is giving a very good performance- his scathing rant to Lindsey Mendez in the second act is pitched excellently- but feel there is something about him that seems wrong for the role. There is a certain charisma I think he lacks that Jordan needs. I like that Glick doesn't shy away from the ugly parts of the character, of which there are many, but there needs to be something that explains his close relationship with these three girls.
Lindsey Mendez is wonderful as his closest friend; the cast as a whole is uniformly great. I actually liked the couple of lengthy dance segments; I thought they were charming and extemporaneous-seeming and managed to say a lot about the characters. I thought the set was interesting- very New York, but in a sterile IKEA way.
Posted: 6/5/15 at 12:25am
Saw this show last week. Didn't see Bad Jews so went in cold. Really enjoyed it. Great cast down the line and Gideon Glick in the lead is doing Mama Rose up there. I don't think he's off the stage once in 2 hrs 20 min. Special cheers to Barbara Barrie. She's 84 now and still doing theatre! Great!
Posted: 6/10/15 at 3:33pm
Seeing it tonight. It has been on my list to see. Now even more interested in seeing it after reading these comments.
Posted: 6/10/15 at 5:34pm
Perhaps because this show hit WAY too close to home for me, or maybe just because the show was just really good, I found this to be an incredibly moving (especially the ending....ooof) and often hilarious piece. As a gay late 20-something myself, I can identify with pretty much everything happening up on that stage, down to specific lines that characters would say which have come straight out of the mouths of my own friends. The acting is solid all around and the pace moves rather quickly. The set is a little busy, but it's effective. Definitely recommend it.
Posted: 6/11/15 at 11:46am
I really enjoyed the play with one exception. I really feel the charactef of Jordan should be toned down a bit. I think anyone, young or older, can identify what he and his friends ar going through and that is thanks to a wondefully funny and true to life book. Everything Jordan says and does could be done in a less manic way and still hit home.
The chemistry on that stage is wonderful and the jokes all hit a bullseye. I have to say thar Curious Incident ran through my mind a few times during Mr. Glick's performance. I feel safe in saying that Jordan does not have any disabilities but one wonders a bit from they way he is portrayed. And that is what throws the end off a bit for me, although the end is qiite powerful and brought tears to my eyes.
Right after the show I questioned why the grandmother was even in the play. After thinking about it amd letting the play sink in, I came to my own reason why.
Even though I didn't care for the way Jordan is portrayed at all times, he does calm down at the end, I have to say that Glick still nails it. The speech in act 2 was incredible and left you speecless amd breathless.
See it.
Updated On: 6/12/15 at 11:46 AM
Posted: 6/11/15 at 12:27pm
Your reviews have made my decision… going to try and catch this in early July after opening is all said and done.
Quick seating question: I noticed on the seating chart that the entire last row of the orchestra is labeled as partial view? I know this theater has a raked orchestra level, so I assume it is because the last two rows are on the same plane of ground causing a possible obstruction… but I could be wrong. Has anyone sat in the last row and can offer an opinion? I believe it is row Q, to be exact.
Posted: 6/11/15 at 12:43pm
The only thing I can think is it may have to do with the top level of the set. It is kind of high.
Posted: 6/11/15 at 10:31pm
I work at the theater- it's only for this show. It's because the mezzanine overhang causes a blockage for the last few rows of the orchestra due to the height of the set.
Posted: 6/11/15 at 10:38pm
Got my tickets for this today for my trip in August. Can't wait!
Posted: 6/11/15 at 10:42pm
Well, my decision was prompt: decided this morning, caught this tonight!
I must echo the existing praise given in this thread. The material is easily relative, the story is charming, funny and pulls at the heart strings, for sure; and I thought the cast did a fine job. The night flew by and I would definitely recommend.
I'd be curious to hear if there are any changes to the material through previews... although as much as I enjoyed this I'm not sure I would make a return visit.
Updated On: 6/11/15 at 10:42 PM
Posted: 6/12/15 at 3:01pm
Totally agree with Kad's perspective on this one. Can' improve on it so ... see Kad's take.
Posted: 6/13/15 at 2:50pm
I found it an absorbing comedic drama with on-the-money performances from everyone, especially Gideon Glick, Sas Goldberg and the wonderful Barbara Barrie. Still, I couldn't understand why Jordan didn't have any male friends with whom he would hang out as he did with his female friends; it somehow didn't seem realistic. As to his appeal or charisma, I think if Jordan were more charismatic, he wouldn't have all those self-doubts and would be a happier person. So Glick's portrayal worked very well for me.
Posted: 6/13/15 at 5:12pm
I am afraid I have to disagree on almost every level. I thought Bad Jews was much better, and perhaps it was Tracee Chimo that carried that show.
In short, this play is about a group of immature friends. And the worst of all of them is the gay friend who whines and carries on that he doesn't have a boyfriend for two hours. He's in his 20's. He's boring and annoying. Tracee Chimo had the power to carry Bad Jews.. Mr. Glick does not that the same power to carry this play.
The writing in both is not great. Both shows depend on the actors to elevate the material. It worked in Bad Jews, it doesn't work here. His tantrum at his friends wedding was embarrassing. It wasn't moving or touching... I thought the whole play was quite utterly forgettable.
Posted: 6/14/15 at 12:30am
"I am afraid I have to disagree on almost every level. I thought Bad Jews was much better, and perhaps it was Tracee Chimo that carried that show.
In short, this play is about a group of immature friends. And the worst of all of them is the gay friend who whines and carries on that he doesn't have a boyfriend for two hours. He's in his 20's. He's boring and annoying. Tracee Chimo had the power to carry Bad Jews.. Mr. Glick does not that the same power to carry this play.
The writing in both is not great. Both shows depend on the actors to elevate the material. It worked in Bad Jews, it doesn't work here. His tantrum at his friends wedding was embarrassing. It wasn't moving or touching... I thought the whole play was quite utterly forgettable."
I don't know what play you saw, but this production is one of my favorites I've seen this year.
Glick and company are delivering fantastic performances of a play that is funny, gripping, and timely.
Don't miss it.
Posted: 6/14/15 at 12:20pm
I saw the same play you saw. May I ask how old you are? I am 55. I can imagine a younger audience might be able to relate better. Watching a 28 year old whine about not having a boyfriend for two hours wasn't very interesting. It's not an interesting choice by the playwright. But, if you are in your 20's it may seem like such an important thing. It was like watching Company without the music. If he had sung Being Alive at the end, I would have enjoyed it more.
Posted: 6/14/15 at 1:20pm
I am way past my twenties and I was able to relate to everything going on. Didn't have to be happening to me right now to enjoy it. Whining about not having a boyfriend has been happening for years!
