Thoughts on COUNTRY GIRL

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 5:31pm

I've heard the phrase "theatrical euthenasia" bandied about when referring to the current revival of The Country Wife. That's being kind.

The production is dreadful. Slow, creaky, emotionless, dated, pointless. Morgan Freeman, Franny McDormand, and Peter Gallagher deliver lines exactly the same throughout - flat, boring, emotionless.

Supporting cast is fine - Anna Camp and Chip Zien shine.

Mike Nichols, who was in the last row with wife Diane Sawyer, is far from the top of his game. The most interesting part was watching Patrick Stewart's reactions throughout. He was sitting a few rows ahead of me. Didn't realize The Scottish Play doesn't do matinees.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 5:36pm

I've seen previous productions of THE COUNTRY GIRL and never liked the actual play. I have no reason to see its current incarnation.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 7:19pm

Scottish play does do Wednesday matinees, but not this week or the week of May 5.

I am not going to make an attempt to convince anyone who doesn't like this production. The choice of this particular play actually baffles me, as I think it is terribly dated. But I thought the cast, especially McDormand, was excellent at Saturday's matinee. This is not a great play, and it is certainly not an upbeat play, but it has some heart-wrenching moments in the second act.

So what were Patrick Stewart's reactions?
Updated On: 4/23/08 at 07:19 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 12:07am

He looked incredibly bored, like many other people. I was shocked to see that nobody actually recognized him - he and his cueball head were sitting in the middle of a row and not a soul went up to him. He was stuck in the traffic jam trying to get out during the intermission - nobody even turned their head.

Mike and Diane, on the other hand...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 8:03am

Shameful bump.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 8:36am

Most people may have assumed he was a Stewart look-alike, thinking he had to be at his own matinee.

Your last name wouldn't start with an R and end with an l, by any chance?

At least let the play open - if it doesn't find an audience, it doesn't.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 9:04am

Keen - if only. I've got nothing against the show - I don't care if it stays open, closes, etc. It's just remarkably disappointing.
Updated On: 4/24/08 at 09:04 AM

[belami]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 4:10pm

"Mike and Diane, on the other hand..."

(a) seemed to be having a good time.
(b) were recognized by everyone.
(c) were mobbed by angry theater fans.
(d) were making out in the last row.

Seriously, was he taking notes or something? Did he seem bothered at all?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 4:15pm

Pauline Kael described the play as "a sadomasochistic morass".