Thoughts on A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/27/08 at 8:06pm

Finally, a Roundabout production that's worthwhile. Doug Hughes' simple staging of A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS showcases Frank Langella at the top of his game, delivering a spectacular performance as Sir Thomas More.

Hughes' production cuts Robert Bolt's theatrical device of "The Common Man," the narrator who plays numerous roles and sets each scene and replaces him with three or four actors. That takes some of the humor out of the play, shaves 20 or so minutes off, and, combined with David Van Tieghem's original score, gives it a more sinister touch.

I'm not entirely sure that a sinister touch is what much of MAN deserves. Hughes' production tries to provide the best of both worlds - sinister and serious and comic - the latter two work, the former doesn't, until the end of the second act. The first act drags, the second act flies - isn't that how it always is?

The cast, led by Langella, is extraordinary. For the first time in a long time, a large group of actors are all acting in the SAME PLAY (credit Hughes). For the first time in a long time, a leading actor's quiet performance doesn't deliberately outshine everyone else's (credit Langella). For the first time in a long time, every actor making their Broadway debut is worthy of making said debut.

Michael Esper is terrific as William Roper; Hannah Cabell is perfect as Meg; Michel Gill is and Zach Grenier are outstanding as the Duke of Norfolk and Thomas Cromwell.

Expect Tony nominations for Langella (duh!), as well as Maryann Plunkett as Alice and Patrick Page as Henry VIII for their performances. Page is on stage for, oh, 10 minutes, but he damn sure makes the most of it.

The only thing I couldn't figure out is why Triney Sandoval's Chapuys sounded so much like Aldopho from DROWSY CHAPERONE.

Rare is it these days that something will go down in memory as "theater lore." Laurette Taylor in GLASS MENAGERIE. Nathan Lane in THE PRODUCERS. Ezio Pinza in SOUTH PACIFIC. Patti LuPone in GYPSY.

What will go down in my memory of A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS did not occur during the show, but after. Frank Langella, having received a well-deserved standing ovation, asked the audience to sit and proceeded to eulogize Paul Newman, his friend and colleague, and lead us in a minute of silence. Langella, clearly choked up, said as the company quietly exited the stage, "So long, Paul. We'll see you on the other side." (Something like that.)

This simple act stuck out, and I will not soon be forgetting it.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/27/08 at 9:00pm

Have they gotten rid of the horrible musical interludes between scenes yet?

The music felt so out of place for the piece, and I honestly felt like I was on safari in Tibet.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/27/08 at 9:06pm

No; and I agree, it's incredibly out of place.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 9/27/08 at 10:12pm

It sounded like an amalgam of the music from Mauritius (which shared the same sound designer with A Man For All Seasons) and The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 8:36am

I don't recall either of those scores, except the seagull screech at the beginning of MAURITIUS.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 10:59am

Wow, I disagreed on a lot of points on this one with you. Although you probably have better taste than I do. Granted, I've never seen it live (EDIT: before this performance).
(1) I thought the second half really dragged, and the whole play seemed about 20-30 minutes too long.
(2) I would have appreciated inclusion of the common man (thought the device was clever when I read it in middle school and read the summary before seeing it), but not at 20 more minutes.
(3) I thought the musical interludes were kind of cool, and didn't seem entirely out of place.

I really enjoyed the sparse set that worked very well in adapting to new locales just by changing a few walls.

So my disclaimer is that I was really tired (not a show to see at the end of the week when you haven't been getting any sleep).
Updated On: 9/28/08 at 10:59 AM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 12:10pm

TonyVincent, I'm confused. Did you see this production live? You said at the beginning of your post that you haven't, but then you go on to discuss specific aspects of this production, leading me to think you have.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 12:14pm

Sorry Adam for the ambiguity. I meant I hadn't seen it live before going this past week, so I was relatively unfamiliar with the production.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 12:38pm

Ahhhh, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification!! :)

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/28/08 at 1:43pm

Length is, I assume, why the "Common Man" was cut.