Posted: 10/26/18 at 7:14am
Posted: 10/26/18 at 8:58am
GeorgeandDot said: "I'm not sure that it's entirely her job to make sure those elements like lighting and set come together. I will say that her acting direction is sublime and, to me, that's really what's most important. The design, however, is deeply flawed, and pretty ugly, but you only worry about that for like 10 seconds and then you focus in on the phenomenal performances."
It's not the job of a director to create a fully integrated production? Mmkay...That's precisely what her job is.
There's nothing wrong with acknowledging when a director's work is strong in certain areas and weak in others.
Updated On: 10/26/18 at 08:58 AM
Posted: 10/26/18 at 9:01am
GeorgeandDot said: "I'm not sure that it's entirely her job to make sure those elements like lighting and set come together."
I would argue that that is exactly her job. A director's role is to make sure that ALL elements in the production come together.
Posted: 10/26/18 at 9:19am
Posted: 10/26/18 at 10:15am
Posted: 11/24/18 at 7:13pm
I saw this play.today and was interested in comparing my notes with that of the critics as I deliberately avoided reading them until I saw the play.
without question, this play belongs to Elaine May. She is so good that my biggest disappointment was that she did not take an appropriae individual bow so I could cheer my head off.
Lonergan is a favorite writer of mine although he loves unnecessary dialogue at times. I felt the second act was a tad long and I saw some fidgeting patrons when some of the scenes went a bit long. I also thought Joan Allen was a strong supportive performance as the daughter.
My biggest reservation was Lucas Hedges. Much like a good portion of his role in Manchester, I found him a bit wooden and unemotional for a good portion of the play. Except for one scene where he demonstrates anger there was just reciting of lines and not much else. The narrated scenes where he provides explanation of his grandmother would have been a perfect opportunity to convey softness and emotion that was needed. Michael Cera didn’t add much to the production but also didn’t detract from it.
It’s a beautifully written play portrayed beautifully by May and certainly worth seeing. I got TDF tickets in Row R but I feel a better seat closer to the stage would have enhanced the experience.
Posted: 11/24/18 at 9:43pm
We saw this today and I was really underwhelmed at the (lack of) direction. The actors are all in top form. I have never seen Elaine May in person so that is a delight. The problems, imo, lie in the very uneven direction that somehow allowed the play to veer off into almost "vignettes" and not a fully developed and staged play.
I really wanted to like it a lot more, and I do think "The Waverly Gallery" got a few critical "passes" due to Ms. May. LN did not serve this production well. Hedges is very good, Cera is Cera in a somewhat comic relief part...Joan Allen and David Cromer ground their scenes extremely well. The actors do perform all the heavy lifting in this production, I just wish LN did as well.
Updated On: 11/24/18 at 09:43 PM
Posted: 11/25/18 at 7:40am
Exquisite piece of theater. So fortunate I had the chance to see this. Extraordinary and special and heartbreaking. What a cast.
I am not familiar at all with the director but thought the show had tight direction anchored by Kenny's writing and a dream cast.
Elaine May will be receiving a Tony Award for this performance but the cast should also be properly celebrated when it comes time. Lucas Hedges was perfect and the great Joan Allen was exceptional. Hats off to Michael Cera - that accent from Lynn Ma was spot on. A very nuanced and understated performance steeped in reality
Make sure to see this at any opportunity given. An American Classic.
Posted: 11/25/18 at 10:30am
I saw this yesterday as well! I haven't seen many plays at all, but I'm so glad I went out of my way to see it. It's funny, my friend and I (both 19) were by far the youngest people there, and on our way to get our tickets scanned and an older man (very politely) told us that the que for The Lion King was up at the top of the block if that's the theater we were looking for. I thought Elaine May was absolutely phenomenal, as was Joan Allen. The only thing I really did not like were the transitions. The first act flew by but the transitions basically make the entire play come to a stop. Also wasn't a huge fan of Hedges, but props to him for being so young and able to hold his own with such a talented cast.
Posted: 12/21/18 at 9:04am
I saw the show last night and I am still thinking about its impact this morning. Elaine May, Lucas Hedges and Joan Allen were all fantastic. My grandmother suffered from dementia so it hit close to home to see Gladys disappear into the disease. The play goes by very quickly with strong performances by most of the cast. I would definitely recommend checking it out before it closes!
Posted: 12/21/18 at 1:37pm
TheaterGeek said: "I saw the show last night and I am still thinking about its impact this morning. Elaine May, Lucas Hedges and Joan Allen were all fantastic. My grandmother suffered from dementia so it hit close to home to see Gladys disappear into the disease. The play goes by very quickly with strong performances by most of the cast. I would definitely recommend checking it out before it closes!"
Seconded, big time. I've seen half a dozen shows since this one, and yet it's the one that won't leave my mind. Sad and beautiful and exceptional on every level (...and I even liked the transitions!).
Posted: 12/21/18 at 4:25pm
Posted: 12/27/18 at 3:09pm
Fourth :) Saw it last night and it was heartbreaking. If you ever have/had grandparents you have/had to take care of in their old age this play will hit home. Brilliant cast - I hope this play gets remembered in the Spring and they get the nominations and awards.
Posted: 12/27/18 at 5:39pm
Mike Barrett said: "Thirded (?) this show has really stuck with me. A grandfather went thru a similiar time, though not as extreme as we see here. Joan Allen I think may get nominated for a tony here. Lucas hedges for a sleeper pick to get a nom. Elaine May and Lauren Donnely is a really close battle for best actress, but I give it slightly to May right now. Great production. "
Completely agree- Laura Donnelly and Elaine May were the best female performances I've seen this season so far.
Posted: 1/6/19 at 12:10pm
haterobics said: "NYT Critic's Pick:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/theater/review-waverly-gallery-elaine-may-kenneth-lonergan.html"
Saw this last night night and it was simply one of the greatest theatrical experiences of my life. My mom has dementia and I just moved her into a Medicaid-approved nursing facility the day before my trip so this just gutted me (Act 2), but I laughed a lot too. Just splendid in every way. Brantley does indeed nail it in his review although I’ll say I love the set and the set transitions. I thought the videos transposed over the facade was just so evoking it kept my mind reeling as I awaited the next scene. If you were sitting near seat E103, I apologize if my sobbing distracted you. I can’t stop thinking about it. It has been interesting for me this trip because almost everything I’m seeing (Kinky Boots, American Son, The Waverly Gallery, and then Torch Song and maybe even The Lifespan of a Fact today) involves parental relationships which speaks to where I’m at in my life right now.
Updated On: 1/11/19 at 12:10 PM
Posted: 1/6/19 at 1:23pm
Posted: 1/6/19 at 2:09pm
Posted: 1/6/19 at 11:28pm
thirtythirtyninety said: "Looks like Lucas Hedges is out for the matinee, presumably to attend the Golden Globes"
How was Brian Miskell?
Posted: 1/6/19 at 11:58pm
JustVisiting said: "thirtythirtyninety said: "Looks like Lucas Hedges is out for the matinee, presumably to attend the Golden Globes"
How was Brian Miskell?"
Saw today’s show. Miskell was terrific. I was so impressed, I started a thread about his performance
Posted: 1/10/19 at 10:55pm
Posted: 1/10/19 at 11:37pm
You are absolutely entitied to your reaction to this production. After all, I have been underwhelmed by productions others loved. I know what you mean about Hedges's performance, but I think it was a deliberate choice. His character is patterned after the playwright who wrote this about his own grandmother’s battle with dementia and I do believe the playwright has a similar demeanor.
And it was Hedges's monologues to the audience toward the end of Act 2 that had me muffling my heaving sobs so as not to disturb my seatmates. I am afraid i utterly failed. I can’t stop thinking about it. I think the fact that he seems partially unfazed by his grandmother’s decline gives his monologues to the audience more gravitas because it is clear that he is affected. After a difficult visit to see my mom today (I had to remind myself that a year from now, I'll consider this a good day), I so wanted to just fly back to NYC to see this before it closes. I looked in vain online for a window card, but did purchase the original version (anyone know if there have been revisions for this production?) of the script from Amazon. There are some lines in the script that just achingly, beautifully, tragically capture this experience. The script should arrive on Saturday. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime 2-day shipping.
Updated On: 1/11/19 at 11:37 PM
Posted: 1/11/19 at 8:42am
The window card for the current production is available at Triton Gallery, online at www.broadwayposters.com.
Posted: 1/11/19 at 10:19am
Smaxie said: "The window card for the current production is available at Triton Gallery, online atwww.broadwayposters.com."
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m ordering right now.
Posted: 1/11/19 at 1:19pm
Posted: 1/13/19 at 7:12pm
