Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...- Page 5
Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#100
Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:46amI turned on SNL and caught the last two minutes and saw Elisabeth onstage...sorry I missed her!
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#101
Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:47amWait, Elisabeth was on SNL?
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#102
Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:52amYeah...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.)
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#103
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.
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#104
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!!!!
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#105
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?!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#106
Posted: 10/28/08 at 2:20pmLove the photo. And love seeing the body language - thoughtful, protective, possessive. Wonder if it was composed or spontaneous.
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#107
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."
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#108
Posted: 10/29/08 at 6:41pmLove it, but best performance to date? Um.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#109
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.)
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#110
Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:42pmA friend of mine was there, and she didn't mention anything going wrong.
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#111
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)?
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#112
Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:16pmThe show has been almost (if not completely) selling out lately, so rush is kind of a crapshoot.
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#113
Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:26pmUpon 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.
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#114
Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:39pmWell, 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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#115
Posted: 11/2/08 at 12:19amDrama League Holiday luncheon - Friday, December 5 at noon - guests Esparza, Moss and Pepe. (Piven has not RSVP'd yet, I guess.)
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#116
Posted: 11/2/08 at 1:33amThey 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.
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#117
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
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#118
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.
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#119
Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:39pmAgreed! 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.,
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#120
Posted: 12/20/08 at 8:51pmI just snagged a pair of tickets to Norbert's first show. Yay!
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#121
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 :)
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#122
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." 
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#123
Posted: 12/23/08 at 2:28pmI was hoping for a "Side Show" medley myself.
re: Speed-the-Plow excitement thread...#124
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!"
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