#1
Posted: 10/6/09 at 12:42am
Sorry for the rambling, hodge-podge nature of this post, but I just had a few thoughts on the show.
I have always really, really liked this play. I find it very poignant, despite the fact that it's not Neil Simon's masterpiece (that, in my opinion, would be Lost in Yonkers, his best work). Like a lot of Simon's work, it has the potential to have you laughing one moment and tearing up the next. The play itself is quieter and more laid back than I remember it being. The laughs are there, though they're not side-splitting. This is much more a production that will leave you smiling than laughing in the aisles.
The only issue is, compared to say, the Westons, the problems of the Jerome family don't seem all that serious or important.
The cast is almost uniformly fabulous, with Laurie Metcalf leading the way at the top of her always stellar game. She finds a lot of humanity in Kate (especially when I'm sure the urge is just to play her as a total b*tch to get the easy laughs). She and Jessica Hecht have that great scene in act 2 that was nearly ruined this evening by odd, inappropriate laughter from some audience. But, they played it very well, and the scene, as it stands, is quite powerful
Hecht is fine as Blanche, though she doesn't really shine until act 2. Santino Fontana, once again playing the less-talented older brother, does much better work here than he did in Billy Elliot. He was a great Stanley, and he and Noah Robbins have excellent chemistry, particularly considering how early in the run it is.
Robbins is an excellent Eugene, and he makes a solid Broadway debut. Dennis Boutsikaris turns in a fabulous performance as Jack, nailing the hardships the man is going through. Other than Metcalf, he's giving the best performance on the stage at the moment.
The play can still use a little tightening, but that's what previews are for. It's in great shape, and I can't wait to go back and revisit the Jeromes again when Broadway Bound is up and running.
I have always really, really liked this play. I find it very poignant, despite the fact that it's not Neil Simon's masterpiece (that, in my opinion, would be Lost in Yonkers, his best work). Like a lot of Simon's work, it has the potential to have you laughing one moment and tearing up the next. The play itself is quieter and more laid back than I remember it being. The laughs are there, though they're not side-splitting. This is much more a production that will leave you smiling than laughing in the aisles.
The only issue is, compared to say, the Westons, the problems of the Jerome family don't seem all that serious or important.
The cast is almost uniformly fabulous, with Laurie Metcalf leading the way at the top of her always stellar game. She finds a lot of humanity in Kate (especially when I'm sure the urge is just to play her as a total b*tch to get the easy laughs). She and Jessica Hecht have that great scene in act 2 that was nearly ruined this evening by odd, inappropriate laughter from some audience. But, they played it very well, and the scene, as it stands, is quite powerful
Hecht is fine as Blanche, though she doesn't really shine until act 2. Santino Fontana, once again playing the less-talented older brother, does much better work here than he did in Billy Elliot. He was a great Stanley, and he and Noah Robbins have excellent chemistry, particularly considering how early in the run it is.
Robbins is an excellent Eugene, and he makes a solid Broadway debut. Dennis Boutsikaris turns in a fabulous performance as Jack, nailing the hardships the man is going through. Other than Metcalf, he's giving the best performance on the stage at the moment.
The play can still use a little tightening, but that's what previews are for. It's in great shape, and I can't wait to go back and revisit the Jeromes again when Broadway Bound is up and running.
