Storefront Church

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 11:09pm

What was this?! I was surprised to read this was part three of John Patrick Shanley's thematic trilogy that began with Doubt.

The situations were so ludicrous the characters found themselves in that it often verged on camp. Bob Dishy and Tonya Pinkins' characters didn't make a believable couple, and (Slight Spoiler) the fact that they all ended up at the church in the second act was as silly as loading up a clown car with these people.

The play lacked focus and tried to cover too many themes. It should have been about the Donaldo; perhaps a bit trite, but the well-intentioned politician succumbing to the temptations of power and big business would have made for a tidier story. All the subplots were distracting, even though the characters were amusing.

Zach Grenier really is a terrific actor and again I was impressed by his performance. Bob Dishy was pretty hysterical even though I didn't by his character fitting in with the rest of the characters.

I think this would work better as a movie than a play. The two scenes on the park bench with no dialogue would work in a movie, but not so much here. (If they only existed to move the set there are better ways to accomplish that.)

It was messy, but I was engaged and I'm glad I saw it. There's something there, but it needs more work.

[gravity87]

Posted: 6/26/12 at 11:51pm

Thats too bad, I hadn't heard anything about it but had this high on my list simply due to those involved, but this sounds like a struggle.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 12:03am

It's only about 2 hours with intermission and act two generally flies by. It's not a slog to get through, just messy and often funny for "what is going on!" type moments. In fact throughout the last scene in act two Zach Grenier keeps saying to the other characters, "I don't understand what's going on!" and we echoed that sentiment in the audience.

[callitquits]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 12:49am

I agree wholeheartedly! I went into this show so excited by the cast (as an enormous Breaking Bad fan), but just left confused and underwhelmed.

Why cast Tonya Pinkins in a role meant for Rita Moreno? Why cast the unbelievably talented Ron Cephas Jones (who, in my eyes at least, completely stole The Public's Titus Andronicus out from under Jay O. Sanders) in a role that has no arc whatsoever? WHY THOSE GODAWFUL TRANSITION SCENES WITH THE MOST DISTRACTINGLY TERRIBLE KAROKE BACKING VOCALS SONGS POSSIBLE? WHY!!!!!!!

Oy. This cast deserves better.

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 6:52am

"Oy. This cast deserves better."

Yes. And so does the audience!

Just dreadful.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 9:36am

Ha! You're right about the Rita Moreno comment. What ethnicity was Pinkins' character? The politician said he was half Italian, half Puerto Rican, but I don't think they ever mentioned hers.

[followspot]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 1:49pm

Why does the "directed by the playwright" lesson never seem to sink in?

[mybestaudition]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 6:01pm

Yeah, that was two and half hours I'll never get back. I went for free and it still wasn't worth it.