The final ORPHANS' HOME

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 11:11pm

One realizes the true power of theater while watching this wonderful company and stage crew do their work. THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE is truly an example of that German concept of "total theater." I will miss Horace and family.

And one must give kudos to Horton Foote, wherever he is, for he wrote the Great American Play.

[SirNotAppearing55]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 12:00pm

Yankeefan,

I assume you've seen Part III at Signature. How does it compare to the others?

I've always felt the individual play 1918 was the strongest of the nine plays, and I can't wait to see Part III.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 1:15pm

It's not as downbeat as Part I and not as wistful as Part II. The woman sitting next to me struck up a conversation during one of the intermissions and, as we were leaving, she said "Now I want to see what happens next." Knowing that logically, the next step would be the Depression, I'm glad we end here.

(Here be spoilers)

There certainly are a lot of verbal fireworks in Part III; Corella has a great speech in COUSINS and, when Horace finally loses it with her in DEATH OF PAPA, I was ready to start cheering. The moment of the evening I'll remember is when both Horace and Elizabeth break down after losing their daughter in 1918.

Bill Heck is certainly marvelous; ditto Hallie Foote. The real "find" is Dylan Riley Snyder as young Horace in Part I, Buddy Ratliff in Part II (look out for his name to be brought up in Part III) and Horace Jr. in Part III. Maggie Lacey, who was so charming as Elizabeth in Part II, didn't really do it for me as "older" Elizabeth, but her chemistry with Heck is just wonderful.

I refuse to pick and choose which play I think is strongest, though I will say that I find THE WIDOW CLARE to be the weakest of all 9.