STRAIGHT WHITE MEN Previews- Page 7

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/22/18 at 7:52am

Markypoo wrote: "At 63, I've had many, many occasions of being proved wrong, but that constant grinding sound inside my head could be the critics busily sharpening their knives for this one."

 

I'm afraid you may be proven wrong again. Yes, the play is a monument of ineptitude, and an affront to both theatregoers and to the theatre itself. But considering what passes for theatre criticism nowadays, I expect it will be showered with praise for both of those things, as being daringly "subversive."

Updated On: 7/22/18 at 07:52 AM

[Tom5]

Posted: 7/22/18 at 9:40am

If the play had been titled 'Straightening Out Straight White Men" I would have been interested because God knows they need it and the play would also suggest having a beginning, middle and end with resolution. Plus, perhaps, a modicum of wit along the way. But I'll still keep an open mind until the majors come out.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 7/22/18 at 10:19am

Since when is milking a separation based on color, sexuality and gender, subversive? It's the same old cliche separation behaviour that's been going around forever.

A time where plays like this are no longer appreciated is subversive.
 

Updated On: 7/22/18 at 10:19 AM

[BJR]

Posted: 7/22/18 at 11:24am

Easy. The same reason straight white men are likely to bristle when you call them those three words. Straight white men essentially named every other minority group and while doing so, were viewed as neutral. No more. And by focusing a play on them, it views them with the same conscious gaze they've put other groups in for decades. That is indeed subversive.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 6:16am

BJR said: "And by focusing a play on them, it views them with the same conscious gaze they've put other groups in for decades. That is indeed subversive."

No, it's the same old separation behaviour.

 

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 8:19am

scripps said: "YouDon'tClimbTrees said: "As much as I love Armie Hammer and am currently obsessed with "Call Me By Your Name," I disliked every moment of this play. I was hoping that seeing it would make me get over my crush on the man. Surprisingly, it almost did."

I hear you! My friendand I sawthis via $99 discount preview seats in the third row for Armie and Armie only, and well ... he knew his lines.That love doesn't burn as brightly as it once did for either of us now. Your loss, Armie!

"

Sigh, thank you for this great post! I thought I was the only one who felt this way. Yes, he knew his lines and that's all I can say about him in this debacle. I mean, it was great to see this magnificent-looking man up close (and I even got to see him walking down the street before the show, which made me melt...) but let me just say... he isn't Oliver.

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 8:22am

After Eight said: "Markypoo wrote: "At 63, I've had many, many occasions of being proved wrong, but that constant grinding sound inside my head could be the critics busily sharpening their knives for this one."



I'm afraid you may be proven wrong again. Yes, the play is a monument of ineptitude, and an affront to both theatregoersand tothe theatre itself. But considering what passes for theatre criticism nowadays, I expect it will be showered with praise for both of those things, as being daringly "subversive.""

Well said, and I completely agree. The reviews will be positive, despite the fact that the play, direction, acting, and entire production are truly awful.

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 8:41am

YouDon'tClimbTrees? wrote:

"Well said, and I completely agree. The reviews will be positive, despite the fact that the play, direction, acting, and entire production are truly awful."

 

Actually, in all likelihood, the reviews will be absolute raves.

This is what our theatre has become; what theatre criticism has become; what our world has become.

And the future only offers more of the same.

Get ready, for here it comes.

[JBC3]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 8:45am

AH yes, the overheated hyperbole of gloom and doom for theater. Always a nice way to start the week. Updated On: 7/23/18 at 08:45 AM

[jkstheatrescene]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 8:47am

What a relief, then, that it will only be around temporarily, no matter what the reviews are. If you think it sucks, it may even close early. If you think it is great, then you can lament that it's only a limited engagement. The best of both worlds.

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 8:47am

After Eight said: "YouDon'tClimbTrees? wrote:

"Well said, and I completely agree. The reviews will be positive, despite the fact that the play, direction, acting, and entire production are truly awful."



Actually, in all likelihood, the reviews will be absolute raves.

Thisis what our theatre has become; what theatre criticism has become; what our world has become.

And the future onlyoffers more of the same.

Get ready, for here it comes."

Yes, and the raves will make absolutely no sense. If I wrote this play in high school, my teachers would have steered me away from pursuing a career in writing. As much as I adore Armie Hammer, I cringed during his last few minutes of the play where he nonsensically yelled his lines. I know he's a terrific actor (I think "Call Me By Your Name" was a watershed moment for his career) so I'm blaming this on the director.

Updated On: 7/23/18 at 08:47 AM

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 8:51am

jkstheatrescene said: "What a relief, then, that it will only be around temporarily, no matter what the reviews are. If you think it sucks, it may even close early. If you think it is great, then you can lament that it's only a limited engagement. The best of both worlds."

Ha, good point. I bet it will stick around through the September 9th closing date (and it won't get extended) because it looks like a lot of the seats have already been sold.

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 8:52am

JBC3 said: "AH yes, the overheated hyperbole of gloom and doom for theater. Always a nice way to start the week."

I certainly support theater but not all theater is worthy of being supported, unfortunately.

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 9:05am

"Yes, and it the raves make absolutely no sense."

If you understand the (di)spirit of the times, it makes absolute sense . If  you want to make a career for yourself as a writer, then this is exactly the kind of crap you write. If you want to have a rep, (and continue to have a job), as a critic, this is exactly the kind of crap you praise to high heaven. And if you want to have bragging rights as a producer, this is exactly the kind of crap you produce.

It's a symbiotic --- and unbreakable --- relationship for everyone.

That is, for everyone but the public who pays to suffer through this crap.

But, then,  what do they matter, anyway?

Brace yourself for (a lot) more of the same in the future.

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 9:11am

JBC 3 wrote: "AH yes, the overheated hyperbole of gloom and doom for theater."

Just see this play and you'll know it's not hyperbole ---- it's understatement!

"Always a nice way to start the week."

Hay, blame the damn thing for opening on a Monday. 

Believe me, the raves it's going to get will ruin the week for all of us --- and for many weeks thereafter!

Updated On: 7/23/18 at 09:11 AM

[markypoo]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 9:42am

Well, my week has already been ruined on account of my current introspection.
I grew up at a time when Clive Barnes, Doug Watt and Martin Gottfried were in their prime reviewing New York theatre.
They could be nasty and they could be nice, but the majority of the time they told it like it was.
It was also a time when individual producers - not corporations - like David Merrick and Alex Cohen had the balls to say "My show stinks; I'm shutting it down." Maybe in the process giving whatever jack remained back to their investors.
It was a more sensible, practical time.
The reasoning for this present mess has certainly stated its case profoundly throughout this thread.
But sadly, I still don't get it entirely.
Welcome to early senility, Mark.

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 10:06am

^

Mark, it's simple, really. It's all about using a postmodern mindset as a means of acquiring power and control. Those who used it have now acquired both, and wish to perpetuate it forever.

The postmodernists' mindset is one of subversion. It rejects objective truth by redefining "truth" as being whatever helps further their agenda, realize their goals and solidify their control.

Therefore, what is dreadful is called magnificent --- as long as it serves their aims magnificently and reinforces their power with a vise-like grip.

 

 

[YouDon'tClimbTrees?]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 10:17am

My question is this -- is there any "major" critic out there who's going to get it right?

[Tom5]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 10:36am

A comprehensive description can be enough.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 11:21am

Saw the show last week and had a great time. Totally agree with what BJR said about the title and the focus/subversion in the play.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 11:25am

I saw it on Friday and had a great time, too.

The fact that this play is raising so many hackles on here is wild.

[BJR]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 11:52am

Kad said: "The fact that this play is raising so many hackles on here is wild."

EXACTLY what I thought scrolling this page. Basically a chorus of "How DARE they present this! I'm taking my toys and going home!"

I still think it's incredible and wonderful Second Stage is using their new Broadway space to present a Lee play - challenging but deserving of the exposure - as opposed to simply presently more traditionally commercial fare as a cash grab. It makes me thrilled they finally landed a Bway space and putting it to such great use.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 11:56am

Yeah, I didn't expect this reaction here (truly!).

Two friends have told me that based on the title, they weren't sure they wanted to see it — one Indian American man and one Chinese American woman, for what it's worth — but once I told them more about it and about the playwright, they were much more open about it.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 12:44pm

BJR said: "EXACTLY what I thought scrolling this page. Basically a chorus of "How DARE they present this! I'm taking my toys and going home!"

I still think it's incredible and wonderful Second Stage is using their new Broadway space to present a Lee play - challenging but deserving of the exposure - as opposed to simply presently more traditionally commercial fare as a cash grab. It makes me thrilled they finally landed a Bway space and putting it to such great use."

For reasons I've already outlined earlier in this thread, I didn't think Straight White Men was successful. That said, I do find it interesting that Skintight by Joshua Harmon began performances right around the same time, is also a somewhat provocative family drama, and in my opinion also didn't work. However I've seen no "will how horrible this is ever get exposed" discussion about Skintight. Maybe it's because "Straight White Men" as a title is a defensive trigger for some people, maybe more people liked Skintight, or maybe it's because Young Jean Lee is an Asian woman, Harmon is a white men and even if this isn't his best work, he better fits the mold of what people expect a playwright in New York Theatre to look like.

I really don't know the answer but I will say this. I think Phantom of the Opera is horrible, it's been playing on Broadway for 30 years, and that hasn't negatively affected my quality of life one bit. Having diversity in theatre, be it in the type of works being produced and the backgrounds of the creators can only be a good thing, and when there is actual diversity, if I play doesn't connect, you can go and just find one that does.  

 

 

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/23/18 at 1:17pm

BJR wrote: 

"EXACTLY what I thought scrolling this page. Basically a chorus of "How DARE they present this!"

Absolutely. How DARE they present this inept, offensive junk! 

And furthermore, I can't think of a play more deserving of "How DARE they present this!"

"I'm taking my toys and going home!"

Uh, sorry to clue you in on how the theatre works. Once you've spent your dough on tickets to junk, there's no refund --- so you no longer have any toys to go home with. Just a memory of a rotten evening on which you wasted your money big time --- to the glee and relish of the self-professed cool crowd.