The Babylon Line

[AC126748]

The Babylon Line#1

Posted: 11/11/16 at 9:43am

Did anyone see the first preview last night?

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

The Babylon Line#2

Posted: 11/11/16 at 11:30am

I am curious as well. I think the premise is really intriguing. It reminds me of the things I usually write about. Sigh...

https://newplayexchange.org/users/99643/amanda-delalla

[squeakers1957]

The Babylon Line#3

Posted: 11/14/16 at 11:35am

Just bumping up this thread.  Has anyone seen this play yet and would like to share their thoughts?  

[AC126748]

The Babylon Line#4

Posted: 11/14/16 at 11:37am

I have tickets for Saturday's matinee. I'll share some thoughts after I see it, but I'm curious to hear if anyone who's seen early previews can comment.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

[neonlightsxo]

The Babylon Line#5

Posted: 11/14/16 at 11:39am

Maybe it's because I unsubscribed from LCT's incessant emails but I had no idea this started already.

[AC126748]

The Babylon Line#6

Posted: 11/14/16 at 11:49am

Previews began Thursday. I'm kind of surprised there hasn't been any discussion yet, given the fairly notable cast and playwright.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

[DramaTeach]

The Babylon Line#7

Posted: 11/17/16 at 3:28pm

I guess it doesn't bode well for the show that nobody has seen it yet. It's been open for a few days now...

[AC126748]

The Babylon Line#8

Posted: 11/17/16 at 3:36pm

It's in previews. And just because no one around here is posting about it doesn't mean people aren't seeing it (although I'm surprised there hasn't been any chatter yet).

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

[neonlightsxo]

The Babylon Line#9

Posted: 11/17/16 at 4:42pm

It's definitely no reflection of the play that people haven't seen it yet. Especially since the past 10 days have been a little stressful in New York I don't know about the rest of y'all.

[somechrysanthemumtea]

The Babylon Line#10

Posted: 11/17/16 at 4:45pm

What's the best way to get cheaper tickets for this - if any?

[neonlightsxo]

The Babylon Line#11

Posted: 11/17/16 at 4:46pm

LincTix if you're eligible

http://www.lct.org/linctix/

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

The Babylon Line#12

Posted: 11/18/16 at 10:15am

Am I the only one who thinks the lady in the artwork looks A LOT like Alice Ripley?

https://newplayexchange.org/users/99643/amanda-delalla

[DramaTeach]

The Babylon Line#13

Posted: 11/19/16 at 6:31am

Saw it last night.  Thought the first act was very good, but the second act was too long and lost us.  It has promise, but it most definitely needs to be trimmed.  

 

Randy Graff steals this show.  Her 1960s Long Island suburban mom is perfect.  You love and hate her at the same time.  Perhaps it's because I took the Babylon Line in and have grown up with a Jewish family, but she stole my heart.  I know her type.  The others have nice moments, but I was never as engaged as when she was speaking.

 

The set is a basic classroom, and it never changes, but the lighting helps to break up moments and clarify. It's only been in previews for a week or so, so if they can get that second act tightened, this could be a really enjoyable night.

[AC126748]

The Babylon Line#14

Posted: 11/20/16 at 4:02pm

This is, unfortunately, not a very good play. There is no dramatic tension, very little character development, and unfortunately, not a lot to care about. I agree with DramaTeach that Randy Graff steals the show; it helps that she's been given just about the only three-dimensional character in the show. Radnor is fine, if a little dull. Reaser gives a weird performance in a weird part. 

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

[@z5]

The Babylon Line#15

Posted: 12/18/16 at 5:20pm

Anyone seen this more recently? Thinking about getting a seat, but not sure.

[Kad]

The Babylon Line#16

Posted: 12/19/16 at 10:53am

I saw it last week and echo the thoughts above.

Randy Graff is the only reason to see this. Her Long Island Jewish mother is the most interesting character in the play; unfortunately, Greenberg focuses on Radnor and Reaser's fairly uninvolving characters to the detriment of the intriguing supporting roles. The final third of the second act is a lengthy epilogue about what happened to everyone after the events of the play, and very little of it is much supported by what we've seen.

But Randy Graff is a marvel.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."