THE BACCHAE Reviews

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 6:39pm

Variety is Negative:

"Curiously, the contemporary image in which the young god has been cast seems inconsistent with the rest of Akalaitis' production. John Conklin's austere set -- dominated by graduated metal bleachers that beckon the eye to climb the tragic heights -- is certainly striking for the severity of its clean sculptural lines. But it seems an unlikely choice of pulpit for this modernized deity. And while Glass' abstract music advances Euripides' poetic tropes, its otherworldliness feels at odds with the high anxiety levels Nicholas Rudall's new translation brings out in the chorus -- led with practiced grace by Karen Kandel, but clad, for some reason known to costumer Kaye Voyce, in harem outfits in an electrifying shade of orange...."

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940883.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 6:43pm

I'm VERY curious about how these are going to be.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 6:47pm

The Bergen Record is Negative:

"The 2,500-year-old tragedy can support various interpretations. It can be seen as asserting the importance of deference to a higher authority, or simply charting man's puniness; of praising the value of letting go and embracing our passions, or warning of the danger of doing that. And then there's its suggestion of the struggle between masculine order and feminine emotion in each of us.

The problem with the park's abbreviated, choppy 90-minute revival, directed by JoAnne Akalaitis, is that it simply touches on the conflicting possibilities without giving dramatic drive to any of them. Sometimes, it seems that the pokey evening is principally about theater as ritual."

http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/theater/BACCHAEREVIEW0824.html

Updated On: 8/24/09 at 06:47 PM

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 7:10pm

The Associated Press is Very Positive:

"...MacIntosh has a heavy job, appearing in a lengthy denouement, still bewitched and bragging about her superhuman hunting prowess. A horrified Cadmus must show Agave the ghastly nature of her hunting trophy, as MacIntosh heartbreakingly transforms back to her real self, now devastated. As a final blow, Dionysus mercilessly throws them into exile, coldly exclaiming, "Zeus decreed these things long ago."

Even at just 90 minutes in length, the production leaves the audience emotionally drained, pondering the ancient message that man is essentially powerless against forces he cannot control."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxsnLnAYrG_FMDy4HHQY303WtRCgD9A9GG580

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:33pm

Matthew Murray (Talkin' Broadway) is mixed-to-negative.


http://www.talkinbroadway.com/ob/08_24_09.html

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 9:47pm

Backstage is Mixed:

"John Conlin's curved set of bleachers rising from a single point on the stage is attractively reminiscent of the shape of a Greek amphitheatre and provides useful playing levels. Kay Voyce's contemporary costumes reflect character and position, though her orange chorus outfits seem left over from Christo's Central Park installation.

"The Bacchae" is worth the trip for serious theatergoers, but Akalaitis hasn't solved the problem of making it relevant."

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-off-broadway/ny-review-the-bacchae-1004006021.story

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 10:12pm

Ben Brantley is a gentle Pan:

"What is [the point of BACCHAE], according to Ms. Akalaitis? She doesn'€™t seem to know. The only consistent interpretive thread in this production has to do with the societal repression of women, indicated by the emphasis on choral passages about the heady freedom experienced by the Bacchantes and by having Mr. Mackie speak of the female characters with an exaggerated sneer.

There is, in other words, very little to grab the audience emotionally. As Pentheus€™ tragically deluded mother, Joan MacIntosh speaks of blood-letting revels with the prosaic satisfaction of someone fresh from a cutthroat sale at Bergdorf€™s, and even a veteran scene stealer like Andre de Shields, playing the blind prophet Teiresias, doesn'€™t leave much of an impression. As Pentheus'€™ grandfather, George Bartenieff has a haunting moment as he kneels over a corpse and sees his past and future instantly erased.

Only Rocco Sisto, as a messenger with a woeful and lurid tale, made the audience ///// up its ears and want to cover them. This is how 'The Bacchae'€ should make you feel. For just a few seconds I was immersed in the immortal darkness of Euripides' vision of human beasts. Otherwise, my thoughts kept returning to those fascinatingly self-possessed raccoons [mentioned in the full review]."

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/theater/reviews/25bacchae.html

Updated On: 8/24/09 at 10:12 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:19pm

I'd be shocked if they weren't all negative.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:43pm

John Simon is Negative:

"Jonathan Groff?s Dionysus is too often cutely precious, unfearsomely laughing a lot, more prettily boyish than sexily virile and as likely to be a teetotaler as the god of wine. Equally unconvincing is David Neumann?s choreography for the Chorus. Rather than orgiastic bacchantes, the 12 women mostly suggest synchronized gymnasts in Olympic routines. And, alas, they sing to music by Philip Glass.

This scoring isn?t quite as bad as much of Glass?s usual work, but it is highly erratic. Often, with barbaric percussiveness or mere loudness, it drowns out the Chorus?s song; at other times it becomes too musical comedyish. It does have its moments, but there is altogether too much of it. The Chorus of Euripides was often accompanied by a mere unswamping flute."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601098&sid=aj89TNuVxz1o

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:52pm

I couldn't disagree more with Mr. Brantley. Serious theatre goers should indeed see it (it IS free) and decide for themselves.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 8/24/09 at 11:54pm

Entertainment Weekly gives the show a C-:

"As Dionysus' enemy, the rational, principled King Pentheus, Mackie rants and raves with great authority, but shows precious little vulnerability. Though he rails against Dionysus, his highness needs to be slightly intrigued by the handsome, curly-haired troublemaker. (Why else would Pentheus suddenly allow himself to be talked into wearing a blond wig and flouncy purple evening gown to join the Bacchants?) And though Groff works his denim-clad behind off, he's a good five to 10 years too young to play the god of wine, women, and song.

There is one brief glimmer of vitality in this Bacchae ? a monologue at the play's end of only about 100 lines or so, in which a messenger (the underrated character actor Rocco Sisto) relays the details of his master's death and dismemberment at the hands of the Bacchants. He speaks with no flourish or fanfare. There's no musical accompaniment. In fact, he hardly moves while recounting the grisly tale. But Sisto, with sad eyes and heavy heart, possesses more passion than all the women of Thebes combined. And this character, whom Euripedes neglected to give a name, succinctly and somberly conveys the fable's meaning: 'It is best to fear god and live a simple life.'"

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20300085,00.html

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:00am

I think Brantley hit the nail on the head in saying the director doesn't understand the point of the play.

[claudioislove]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:00am

Personally, I thought the score and the chorus were the worst parts. I had no problems with any other part, and thought Groff was quite sexy. Though maybe that's because I'm 17 and he's not too much older than me.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:51am

JoAnne Akalaitis

B.A., University of Chicago; graduate study in philosophy, Stanford University. Independent theatrical director and writer. Cofounder of Mabou Mines. Staged productions at American Repertory Theatre, Lincoln Center Theater, New York City Opera, Goodman Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Court Theatre, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Guthrie Theater. Andrew Mellon Cochair of Directing Program, Juilliard School. Former artistic director, New York Shakespeare Festival; artist in residence, Court Theatre. Staged works by Euripides, Shakespeare, Strindberg, Schiller, Beckett, Genet, Williams, Philip Glass, Janá?cek, and own work. Recipient: Obie Award for Sustained Achievement, Guggenheim Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts grants, Edwin Booth Award, Rosamund Gilder Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, and Pew Charitable Trusts National Theatre Artist Residency Program grant.



OR--it's just a matter of not agreeing with her choices. Let's not be so brash as to insult the woman's intelligence, artistry, or credibility with such a thoughtless comment as to her not getting the point of the play.

Good. God.

Updated On: 8/25/09 at 12:51 AM

[A Director]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:53am

The Chorus of Euripides was often accompanied by a mere unswamping flute.

John Simon speaks with authority here. He saw the original production.

[jansal]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 3:11am

Perhaps Joanne was good in her prime, but this production is God-awful. Most her directorial 'choices' don't seem to be thought out at all...they're just meant to LOOK like a lot of thought was put into it, and hopefully it'll go over the audience's head. Like Groff wandering around the stage at the beginning, and the cast walking around aimlessly from scene to scene. I doubt she could justify any of these. It really looks as if she doesn't quite understand the point of the play. Frankly, if I were in this show, I would be embarassed.

Rocco Sisto definitley deserved the highlight, though. His monologue is very gripping.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 8:36am

Yes, Rocco Sisto was truly fabulous. Spellbinding actually.

I agree with most of the other comments, although not necessarily to the same degree.


Just because she SHOULD get the point of the play, doesn't mean she did -- and certainly doesn't mean that she was able to make it clear in her production, which she didnt'. And if WE don't see her point, it's no better than her NOT getting the point.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 8:37am

Daily News (one-star) thought the raccoons were the highlight, as wel.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 8:38am

In spite of the generally dismal critical reaction, I'd probably still consider going if I was sure the three racoons would put in an appearance again.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 8:44am

Damn, I feel ripped off. I had no racoons.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 12:58pm

Man, after reading Jonathan Groff's enthusiastic interview with Playbill.com about the production yesterday, I feel really bad not only for him, but for the director, who evidently spent years developing this production.

That said, Brantley's joke comparing the Bacchantes to Sir Joseph's relatives in "HMS Pinafore" was very funny.

[jansal]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 5:29pm

The raccoons are there nearly every night.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 5:31pm

John Simon speaks with authority here. He saw the original production.

He must be VERY old

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 6:48pm

I hate to be that guy, but any idea when people have been lining up for this one? I'm intrigued even though I know not to expect much.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/25/09 at 6:57pm

JoAnne Akalaitis is a well known loon in the theatrical world.