The Realistic Joneses — Page 5

I saw it tonight. I thought it was funny and well acted, but essentially it felt like watching an episode of Seinfeld, a show about nothing. The audience laughed at many lines and the absurdity of the younger couple, but I don't know what the overarching point of the piece is, if there was meant to be one or not. Another disappointment after Mothers and Sons last night for me.

I think Seinfeld is very overrated, but I know that is a minority view. I was laughing throughout, but as soon as I walked out, it was forgettable what I had just seen. I don't think I read the other posts that had talked about Seinfeld. For my money, these four actors are some of the best actors currently working. It is a shame they don't have better material. Also, it has probably the ugliest Broadway set I have ever seen. I have seen better sets at off broadway non profits.

Updated On: 3/21/14 at 08:23 AM

I attended the 3/22 evening performance yesterday. I arrived at the box office around 10:45 a.m. to inquire about rush tickets, but they were all sold. I settled for two balcony seats instead for the same price. I will never sit in the balcony at the Lyceum again... it felt like I was miles away and there is poor ventilation up there.

I agree with what everyone else has been saying. The show has some funny moments here and there, but ultimately did not add up to anything. When the cast came out to take their bows, I wondered what I had just spent 90 minutes watching. The plot was practically non-existent. The first two scenes and the older couple's scene towards the end were pretty good but that was about it. The middle dragged. It also reminded me of The Anarchist; wonderful actors working with bad material. I was most impressed with Letts and Colette.

They have organized the stagedoor. All four leads came out to sign and they were all incredibly gracious.

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I sat up there for "Scottsboro Boys" and I loved it. I could see/hear everything, and I didn't feel miles away. Granted I was in the first row of the balcony, so maybe it's different further back.

I sat fourth row of the balcony (which is significantly higher than the first.) I'm usually not picky about seats but I thought these were pretty awful. At 5'2", I'm fairly petite but I felt like I had no room. To top it all off, the men's restroom is in line with Row D of the balcony, so I had the privilege of watching gentlemen walk in and out of the restroom during the performance. As for view/sound, it seemed like everyone had a full view of the stage. From what I've heard, the first few lines of the show sound muffled no matter where you are sitting, but the sound does improve after that.

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I sorta loved it. That elliptical Albee-esque dialogue eventually fused for me into something rather moving. I think I "got" what I was supposed to about the plot, the polite inanities, sometime sexual dynamics and eventual community of "next door neighbors" The sadness of the death of the mind (does Eno have a parent with Alzheimer's does anyone know?) and the loneliness that equally affects those afflicted and those that are the designated caregivers. Michael C Hall has the showiest of roles and is excellent. Just excellent. Marissa unfortunately can't keep up. Letts is great and Toni Colette, with the most "straight" role, holds things steady and is as wonderful as she always it. Gold holds thing steady as well, but its not a director's show.

I did a Friday rush, got there at 7:45 and was first in line, the second person showed up minutes later. First row, center, the only partial view was when someone was sitting at a bench stage right. And that wasn't that often. Totally, totally worth 35.00.

I saw it Wednesday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Excellent cast, and I even thought (unlike some others here)) that Marisa Tomai was in top form.

And I DO get the comparisons to Seinfeld.

Nothing much happens. It's mainly people talking about things that have happened or could happen.
It's really just a bunch of self absorbed people we have no reason to care about.
It's a lot of witty dialogue that really has no purpose other than to be witty.

You can decide if those descriptions apply to Seinfeld, The Realistic Joneses, or both.

Ala Seinfeld - it is a show about nothing.

Cannot see the critics raving about it. The best it can hope for are respectable reviews. This is like a turkey 3 days after Thanksgiving. The frame is there but it has been picked clean.

Without this cast, it would be off broadway material.

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How has rush been recently? Would getting there tomorrow at 9am for the matinee be fine?

khakis--- what did you think of the show?

Tonight, about a third of the mezz left before it ended, and a man behind me audibly snored throughout. If I hadn't been in the middle of a row, I would have fled. Then again, Seinfeld makes me want to peel my skin off, so I'm probably not the ideal audience for this kind of thing. But it was an endurance test. The cast is great. Thank God it's over.

it seems to not for everyone so should this be on Broadway or is it more off Broadway play???