SPEECH & DEBATE Opens Tonight!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 9:27am

As you can tell from my avatar, I absolutely adored this delightful little show, and I plan on seeing it at least once more during its run.

My two big favorites of the season so far are SPEECH & DEBATE at the Roundabout Underground and YANK! at The Gallery Players.

Tonight is SPEECH & DEBATE's big opening, and I highly encourage lovers of musical theatre (even though this is technically a play, but you'll see what I mean ) to see this top notch, delicious cast in a play filled with laughs at the Laura Pels' impressive new Black Box Theatre space.



Best of luck to the cast and crew on Opening Night, and here's wishing them all a healthy, enjoyable run!

[EugLoven]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 9:30am

I saw it last Wednesday night.
Absolutely loved it.
One of the most "current" and topical shows I've seen in a while.
And just so goddamn funny and acute and accurate.
Spot-on performances by all four.
Just excellent! And highly recommended.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 9:30am

I wish I can see this too, Yank ! & The Glorious One .. Damn ! If only I live in NYC

J*

Updated On: 10/29/07 at 09:30 AM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:14am

I smell a TIMES rave, kids.....

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:26am

Me too. I bet Isherwood will get it, which would thrill me. This show is right up his alley.

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:30am

I saw it the first preview and LOVED it. Saw it again, with the changes and loved it more. Will be seeing it again this month and have TIX for the last Performance. I cannot rave enough about this funny, clever, witty play filled with impresssive performances, esp by one little girl named SARAH STEELE!
BREAK A LEG!!
I am so glad GIDEON told me about back in August! How proud he is to be a part of this GEM!!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:47am

So far the season has introduced me to two extraordinary young actresses: Sarah Steele and Zoe Kazan!

I need to score another ticket TODAY because I supect tickets will be hard to come by tomorrow.. :)

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 11:15am

One of my favorite shows of the season so far. Break a leg!

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 11:31am

I dunno. After Isherwood's complete and total dismissal of "Scarcity," I am not too convinced of his humanity. I fear he is a bit more anal and academic than I'd first believed. I mean, forget that little troll, Brantley, I wrote him off years ago, but I had hoped . . .

Granted, "Speech and Debate" is not a perfectly constructed play either, but both pieces pull you in emotionally, and what is lacking in the text is totally fulfilled by an inspired, wildly appealing cast. As for me, I am totally re-energized by watching gifted actors fill in the blanks and make imperfect works soar. Or maybe the playwrights just had the leap of faith to leave room for them.

But that's just me, a New York actor with quite a few years under my belt, always so encouraged to see a cookin' young cast such as this just take a play and run with it.

Always the young strangers . . .

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 8:34pm

Talkin Broadway is a Rave:

"Where have theatre companies gotten the idea that if sex is good, talking about sex must be better? Whether it's American Puritanism taking its last, gasping breath or a dissection of what's perceived as the closed-minded Red State mindset is a question for the philosophers and accountants – who already have their hands full with last season's hit musical Spring Awakening. But in case they want a break, they could take a one-night vacation to see Stephen Karam's Speech & Debate, a highly amusing and highly accomplished play about essentially the same subject.

_______________________________________________________________

At the performance I attended, the overall audience age certainly seemed to be two or three decades younger than the typical theatregoing average, in itself a noteworthy success for Roundabout. Whether these are really the people who need convincing about the dangers of blurring the lines between age, sex, and politics is another question, but that Speech & Debate treats them to a great, thoughtful evening out is practically its own reward."


http://www.talkinbroadway.com/ob/10_29_07.html

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 8:38pm

The AP is Mostly Positive:

"The best explanation for how much "Speech & Debate" can get away with is probably that it earns enormous credibility with its audience by being flat-out funny.

Much of the credit goes to young playwright Stephen Karam, who has an outstanding ear for how young people talk and whose comedy was selected as the first production of Roundabout Underground, the Roundabout Theatre Company's initiative for new plays. It opened Monday at the company's 62-seat (and literally under ground) Black Box Theatre...........

Sex, secrets and hypocrisy are the themes that tie the play together. (Besides Craig, Mark Foley and Ted Haggard both get mentions.) And "Speech & Debate" can drag just a bit as the three kids sort out their knotted-together plot lines.

But most of the time, it's just funny."


http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/29/arts/NA-A-E-STG-US-Theater-Speech---Debate.php

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 8:41pm

am NY gives it Three-and-a-half Stars:

"Speech & Debate," while also long-winded, is absolutely fascinating to behold. Whereas "The Overwhelming" seems fake, "Speech & Debate" is totally sincere and relevant in its exploration of contemporary teenage angst. We watch as the teens post podcasts, sing along to alternate rock strains (a device also used by Karam in "Columbinus") and confront sexual dilemmas. Its structure is also remarkable, which divides the play into a dozen scenes, each inspired by a different speech and debate category.

So, if you're going to check out one of Roundabout's Off-Broadway plays, we recommend taking the elevator down three or four flights for "Speech & Debate."

http://www.amny.com/entertainment/am-speech1029,0,5364742.story

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 8:44pm

Newsday is Positive:

"But while this intimate show has multimedia production values most small theaters only dream of, and it's crisply directed by "Avenue Q" director Jason Moore, the best news about "Speech & Debate" is that it's a strong, rangy play that would make an impact even with half of its all-pro polish................

The cast's amused chemistry seems effortless, though the hilarious, touching mini-diva Steele nearly walks away with the show. Though it lingers a few scenes too long, "Speech & Debate" beautifully nails the indirection and crossed-wire communication of teenagers bubbling over with contradictory needs and insecurities. Is it any wonder these misfits have retreated to the basement?"


http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/stage/ny-etledew5436921oct30,0,5682293.story

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 8:47pm

Variety is Mostly Positive:

"Roundabout kicks off its Underground project to nurture new talent on a promising note with "Speech & Debate." Stephen Karam's savvy comedy about three teenage outsiders grappling with sexual secrets and drawn together via the Internet is imperfect, rambling and messily plotted, but it's bristling with vitality, wicked humor, terrific dialogue and a direct pipeline into the zeitgeist of contemporary youth. Staged with verve by Jason Moore and played by a pitch-perfect cast of four, this disarming production has enough arguments in its favor to make the flaws seem secondary."
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117935233.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 9:15pm

These are quite stellar notices.

Is there any chance of an extension past December?

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 9:56pm

Congrats to the cast and creative of this amazing show! So happy they're getting the reviews that they deserve.

[jake6970]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:32pm

I would love for them to make this theatre a broadway theatre, just so sarah steele could win best actress.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:40pm

Theatremania is Mixed-to-Positive:

"While the playwright's tale about a trio of misfits at a Salem, Ogegon, high school is, at times, implausible, it also captures the awkwardness associated with a budding maturity...............

Karam's writing is alternately humorous and earnest, hitting on topics such as internalized homophobia, abortion, and more. His dialogue flows smoothly, especially with the aid of director Jason Moore's crisp pacing, which brings out the whimsical aspects of the script without sacrificing its more serious content."

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/11880

[jake6970]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:41pm

Margo- have you seen it yet?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:46pm

Not yet. Very soon.

[jake6970]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 10:47pm

I hope you like it! Although I can see the complaints about the length and some of the writing, imo the show is so funny you can overlook the flaws.

[teka21]

Posted: 10/29/07 at 11:43pm

The NY Times review is a rave as well.
http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/theater/reviews/30spee.html

Congratulations to all involved with this exciting production. We loved it in preview, and thankfully already have our tickets to return later in November to see what has changed.

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 12:03am

I suppose we champions of this delicious piece should be grateful for the rave, and not get all pissy that Isherwood couldn't even be bothered.

But still, in order for it to have the longer life it deserves, a third string critic (or is it forth, I always considered Zinoman number two)isn't going to carry much weight. Especially since she's given good notices to some pretty dodgy stuff.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/30/07 at 10:45am

The Daily News is Mostly Positive:

"Speech & Debate" isn't a perfect play. It's larded with cliches and coincidences and hinges on a preposterous plot twist - the pervy theater coach uses his easily recognizable online screen name, not an alias.

But look past the flaws, and Karam, who co-wrote "columbinus," about the Colorado high school slayings, comes through as a writer whose voice is clear, laugh-out-loud funny and uncannily tuned to the way teens talk."


http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/col/dziemianowicz/index.html

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 10/31/07 at 8:04am

I saw it on Monday night{ Also caught it in it's first preview}and it was again a wonderful experience. The production is tighter, but could still benefit from some cutting or an intermission...but minor flaws aside, this is so entertaining. Witty, fun and clever, with an exceptional cast headed by Sarah steele. If this was on Broadway, I have a feeling, this little powerhouse would give all the Broadway Divas a run for a TONY! She is that good!! No plans on an extension, so get your tickets now!!