The Bacchae....Anyone?

Hi Millie--
Several people on the other board saw it, and weren't at all thrilled...hope if they're right, it improves! At least it doesn't sound like it'll be a hard ticket to get...

Thanks guys! I would love to hear some more reviews!

I thought the show was entirely misconceived, and I second another opinion that it was by far the worst show I have ever seen in the Park. It's sad - I was thrilled to see it, and then utterly disgusted at just how bad it was. A show about debauchery, wine, and murder should not have been as painfully boring as it was.

The interpretation of the chorus was particularly awful! The chanting music that was written for the chorus further served to just drag everything out, and make it utterly painful. It was a very poor music choice. The chorus parts could easily have been cut down, and the time filled with interpretation of what was actually going on in the hills above Thebes, and/or SOMETHING remotely interesting. Instead, the chorus stood in place and sang in tones similar to sirens, hardly moving at all. This was hardly the bacchanalian chorus of women I fully expected it to be.

Jonathan Groff & Anthony Mackie were entirely under-utilized. Their 'big' scene - if you can even call it that - was a huge let-down. The woman who played Agave (name escapes me at the moment, sorry) was on an entirely different planet from the rest of the cast. The melodrama was just not in place to support her anguished tones at the end, and I almost laughed as a result.

Jonathan Groff's costume was awful - he looked like The Fonz from Happy Days, which was another joke.

The set did nothing for me, and the levels also went underutilized.

A 90-minute play felt more like a 3-hour test of patience.

Overall, the production just felt like it was slapped onto the stage with very little thought, which I'm sure is not true as the director, Joanne Akalaitis, has apparently been hard at work on it for the past 2 years. It was just one huge embarrassment of a production that I would want to quickly forget about if I were involved in. I couldn't believe how many missed opportunities there were to bring the bacchan women to life, to bring the city of Thebes into disarray, and to display Dionysus as a true sex magnet.

But at the end of the day, at least it was free and at least it was a beautiful night! I just wish someone had stepped in to rescue the show from going down the route it went. So sad.

I thought that the show was disturbing and left the audience with feelings of hopelessness and pathos... which is exactly what a Greek Tragedy is supposed to do.
I can't say that I "enjoyed" the show in the traditional sense of the word, because I walked out feeling unsettled... but I can tell you that I am glad that I went and I'm very glad that I got to see the show.
It was an excellent interpretation of a play that is hardly ever performed and is mainly read... because the chorus gives so much of the exposition and development. I thought that this chorus moved the play along well and wove together everything.
Jonathan Groff as Dionysis... he played an excellent self absorbed god who is consumed with his pride and retribution.
I recommend seeing the play... just go in knowing that the plot is not Twelfth Night... as I told the gal in line who asked the plot yesterday, "Well, it's Greek tragedy. Everybody dies or is given a horrendous fate."

whats the "other board"?

I don't get why Groff gets work.

Can anyone report on how early they've been arriving to get tickets? I'm planning to go next Wednesday. Thanks!

I heard there was a random raccoon about the stage tonight... lol

There were several raccoon incidents tonight. One of them ran around the audience's feet, and then tried to get at someone's hair (oddly enough, it was Jim Rado). And in another section there was a raccoon in heat that was snarling, hissing and growling underneath the seats. The whole section was pretty freaked out.

Believe me, Curtain, if I had been alive in 1972, I would have seen DUDE at least three times during its brief Broadway run (and I'm sure I would have loved every minute of it).

I'm finally getting around to posting something about last night, as I did attend the performance with WAT. The show was pretty painful, and I was very antsy by the end for it be over.

One thing I will give the director is that she had a vision for what she wanted the production to be. Unfortunately, the vision was rather misguided.

The set consisted of the "Glory Days" bleachers arching from the ground, and a small pool of water across the front of the stage. The set of "Twelfth Night" blended so beautifully into the park. This one just stuck out like a sore thumb. It was ugly, ugly, ugly.

The chorus was kind of a mess and after about two minutes they became very monotonous. It was during these long stretches you could most visibly see the audience grow restless (and by the end taking action by abandoning sinking ship). A good 20 people continued to walk out during the last 10 minutes alone.

The casting/acting was also a major source of concern. I had seen Groff in four previous productions (Spring Awakening, Hair, Prayer For My Enemy and The Singing Forest). I'm a fan of his work and was excited to see him take on Dionysus. I questioned many of his acting choices, including a high pitched cackle he used at least three times. He even seemed uncomfortable while singing the little music assigned him.

Mackie seemed even more out of his element than Groff. Andre de Shields had one short scene in the beginning and then basically didn't reappear.

The audience that remained gave very polite applause. I hope for the sake of Groff and de Shields that this productions some sort of footing before the critics come to weigh in.

---

When have ya'll been getting there? I remember this time last year me and my friend went around 9am on a Saturday and got seats for HAIR in like row R?