Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...- Page 5

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:46am

I turned on SNL and caught the last two minutes and saw Elisabeth onstage...sorry I missed her!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:47am

Wait, Elisabeth was on SNL?

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:52am

Yeah...John Hamm hosted, and at the very end, a few of the Mad Men actors were also onstage...including John Slattery and Elisabeth. (They're the only two I recognized right away...maybe there were others.)

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:55am

From TVGuide.com

Mad Men Sketch
Now, I haven't seen Mad Men but many of my colleagues insist it's the best thing since sliced bread, so I'm waiting to Netflix Season 1. But, I do know that Elisabeth Moss, who is sitting at the conference table as the sketch open, plays coif-challenged Peggy! Fun cameo alert! I also know that our staff editor Adam Bryant (who recaps Mad Men) just squealed because her appearance was totally a surprise! It's OK Adam, you can stop squealing now. Wow, John Slattery just came in (Adam, don't hyperventilate)! We all heart John Slattery. They're all preparing for a meeting with the annoying "Babe" couple played by Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig. The funniness wears off in the middle until Sudeikis calls out Bill Hader as the gay guy. Hader says, "Who me????" Ha! Well played.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 2:11pm

I already posted this on the STP reviews page, but I went to yesterday's matinee and (again) was stunned by Raul Esparza. The other two were fine, but Raul blew the roof off in the final scene. What a great season for acting this season has been so far!!!! If it were to stop at this second, we'd have some very powerful (and deserving) Tony contenders in the non-musical shows. And there's still American Buffalo and Dividing the Estate before the end of the year. Let the doom-sayers say what they will, we're seeing stage acting at is very best!!!!

Updated On: 10/26/08 at 02:11 PM

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 1:23pm

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/theatre/2008/11/03/081103crth_theatre_als

How adorable is that photo?!

[wonkit]

Posted: 10/28/08 at 2:20pm

Love the photo. And love seeing the body language - thoughtful, protective, possessive. Wonder if it was composed or spontaneous.

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 4:54pm

I liked this one...it's right-on about Raul.

I'm trying to banish all, "RAUL MIGHT FINALLY WIN HIS TONY THIS YEAR!" thoughts out of my head...trying to forget it might even happy...my hopes will be high enough come June...



http://thecheappop.com/2008/10/29/piven-esparza-and-moss-make-speed-the-plow-a-cant-miss/



"Raul Esparza has stolen so many scenes on Broadway in recent years, he should be arrested for grand theft robbery. That’s a ****ty lead-in, but it’s true. Whether it’s Company or Cabaret, the veteran stage actor and three-time Tony nominee has made a habit of chewing scenes and injecting life into various productions. His latest role is no different. As a matter of fact, his ferocious performance playing Tonto to Jeremy Piven’s Hollywood producer in a revival of David Mamet’s biting Hollywood play Speed-the-Plow, is his best performance to date. Esparza’s not alone. The entire play is money.We all remember when Speed-the-Plow opened in the ‘80s as a vehicle for Madonna: it was met with open arms for its writing (and then-stars Ron Silver and Joe Mantegna) but the Material Girl was singled out for her uninspired performance. Some 20 years later, the nasty and biting take on Tinseltown is firing on all cylinders."

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/29/08 at 6:41pm

Love it, but best performance to date? Um.

[wonkit]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:41pm

Was anyone at yesterday's matinee, when there was reportedly a major lighting glitch in the third scene? Apparently our favorite trio of troupers just kept going!

(I was - gasp - at MARY POPPINS. Love the new leads. Otherwise, I never want to go to another Disney musical as long as I live, especially a matinee. Don't ask.)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:42pm

A friend of mine was there, and she didn't mention anything going wrong.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:10pm

Sorry for thread-jacking with a rush question...
I really want to see this, and will be in the city on Saturday...
Does anyone know what the rush is like, specifically for a Sat. mat?

I know it's 2 hours before curtain. I'm not arriving insanely early, so would I be safe getting there at about 11:45 (if they start selling them at noon)?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:16pm

The show has been almost (if not completely) selling out lately, so rush is kind of a crapshoot.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:26pm

Upon reflection, I remember how Ron Silver stole the show from everyone in sight back in 1988 and feel that the way the play is written gives Charlie Fox the chance to dominate over the others. This is not to take away from Raul's performance, which I found equally as effective as Ron Silver's -- Raul definitely put his own stamp on it to brilliant effect. Any fault (??), IMO, lies not so much in the individual performances but in the writing of the play itself. The other two are at a distinct disadvantage from the get-go.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:39pm

Well, even reading the play, you can tell that Charlie is the showier part, and the one with more opportunity for an actor to give a flashy performance.

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/2/08 at 12:19am

Drama League Holiday luncheon - Friday, December 5 at noon - guests Esparza, Moss and Pepe. (Piven has not RSVP'd yet, I guess.)

[legally_popular]

Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:33am

They did have rush for the matinee today and I was lucky enough to get a front row center seat (although the stage is very high). I really enjoyed it. I didn't really have much interest in the play until recently, so I'm glad I went out and saw it. Knowing very little to nothing about this play and Mamet's other work, it was something new for me. I love the dialogue and pacing and everything. The performance by all three were perfect.

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 12/15/08 at 2:31pm

I wish I had been there!!! Whoever thought we'd get to hear Raul singing "Marry Me a Little" again on the Barrymore stage!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/theater/15arts-ALITTLESONDH_BRF.html?_r=1

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 1:36pm

Just wanted to commend Raul, Elisabeth and Jordan Lage for handling this week with so much class and professionalism as they gave each performance their best.

And welcome Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy!!!!! It's going to be great.

I've said from day one that people might be coming to see Jeremy Piven, but they would leave talking about Raul Esparza...the show will continue to get better.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:39pm

Agreed! I feel like with all the focus on Jeremy, that's not being said enough. It was really a pleasure to watch the three of them the other night, and they all seemed so happy and supportive of one another at the bows. I think even though Jeremy's sudden departure is disappointing, the results are going to be really good for the show.,

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 8:51pm

I just snagged a pair of tickets to Norbert's first show. Yay!

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 1:18pm

I'll be there tonight!

BREAK-A-LEG NORBERT!!!!!

And maybe the next time there's a set or lighting mishap, Raul and Norbert can do a duet :)

[Hest882]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 2:01pm

Have fun everyone. I'm so jealous I can't be there!

And maybe the next time there's a set or lighting mishap, Raul and Norbert can do a duet :)

Heh, maybe they can harmonize on "Defying Gravity."

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 2:28pm

I was hoping for a "Side Show" medley myself.

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 6:11pm

Nah, something from Gypsy, perhaps. They can take turns being Mama Rose. Or better still, "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better!"