THE PERFORMERS Reviews

Today is Wednesday, November 14, marking the official opening night for David West Read's new comedy, THE PERFORMERS, following previews that began October 23 at the Longacre Theatre. The play marks the Broadway bow for Read.

Set at the Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas, the cast features Henry Winkler, Cheyenne Jackson, Daniel Breaker, Ari Graynor, Jenni Barber and Alicia Silverstone. Evan Cabnet directs the 90-minute intermissionless comedy.

THE PERFORMERS, according to press notes, "is a romantic comedy about two high school friends (Cheyenne Jackson and Daniel Breaker) — and the women in their lives (Ari Graynor and Alicia Silverstone, respectively) — who reconnect at the Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas. When the night takes an unexpected turn and relationships are threatened, Chuck Wood (Henry Winkler), the hardest-working man in the business, steps in to lend a hand. Sex, love and Barry Manilow intersect in this comedy about the ups and downs and ins and outs of love."

Happy Opening, all!

I hope the reviews are good also. We really had a good time at this show. It's hysterical.

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I really hated this show. I will be very surprised if the reviews are decent.

^ Just glad I'm not the only one...


I suppose "hate" may be too strong a word, but I found it all around a rather blah show: not good, not horrible; serviceable performances, but nothing profound; occasionally humorous, but never laugh-out-loud funny.

I don't see this doing too well with the critics.

Graynor should certainly be nominated for her performance. She blows that role through the roof; it's a treasure to behold.

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Washington Post/Associated Press -- Mostly Positive

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/review-broadways-the-performers-is-a-sweet-look-at-love-despite-its-porn-world-setting/2012/11/14/575ef4c2-2ec1-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html

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Updated On: 11/14/12 at 08:22 PM

Henrik, I don't want to defend the show too much,because it's not perfect, but that White Russians joke isn't really the joke. When the character asks the set up question, you laugh because you KNOW what the response is going to be. The joke is more in the humorous situation than in "this is a great wittily-written gag."

Yeah, a lot more. I say that if you are already thinking of seeing it, just go.

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I don't think your mom would want you to see this show.

Hollywood Repoter - mixed on the play, raves for the cast http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/review/theater-review-performers-390442

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I'd love to see Graynor get a nod for this. I have a feeling Brantley will flip over her.

This is from a Reader's Reviews at the NYT. "this will go down in the annals of broadway as another MOOSE MURDERS."

Ouch...