Thoughts on IS HE DEAD?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:01pm

I first read Shelley Fisher Fishkin's publication of Mark Twain's IS HE DEAD? a number of months ago and was utterly unimpressed. I couldn't get into it - it struck me as, well, very Mark Twain-y. The plot was simple.

Painter Jean-Francois Millet, deeply in debt and despair, realizes that the only way his work would sell is if he dies. And so, he hatches a plan with a few buddies to fool the world into thinking he has died - and poses as Millet's fictional sister, the Widow Daisy Tillou.

Fishkin, who has apparently been lobbying for a production since she discovered the 1898 text in the early 2000s, has finally gotten it. The farce, "adapted" by David Ives, directed by master farceur Michael Blakemore, and starring a veritible "who's who" of musical theater, is currently playing the Lyceum Theatre.

The plot is virtually unchanged, in fact, not changed at all. Norbert Leo Butz stars as Millet, surrounded by the likes of Jenn Gambatese as Marie, his love, John McMartin as Papa Leroux, her father, Byron Jennings as Andre, the money lender, Michael McGrath, as Agamemnon "Chicago" Buckner, Millet's co-conspiritor, and David Pittu in a host of cameos.

I'm not a fan of farce, never have been, never will be. I get the idea after the first 15 minutes. IS HE DEAD? is no different. I found myself laughing, but few belly laughs. Ives' script has slimmed the show from three to two acts and added a multitude of corny, bad jokes ("The wurst is yet to come," anyone?). Michael Blakemore is the master of farce, and he hits his stride in the second act. Perhaps the biggest problem is that there's just a bit too much set-up, which really kills most of the first hour.

It is the cast, however which makes the show. Norbert Leo Butz gives a master class in acting farce and turns in one of the strongest comedic performances I've seen all year. He loses himself within Daisy and it is brilliant. Jenn Gambatese is a strong physical comedienne, but uses that atrocious British accent, thereby making her role merely "good." John McMartin is always reliable and Byron Jennings, in "Chitty-Childcatcher" get-up, proves why he and Boyd Gaines are the two most versatile actors in New York.

Michael McGrath and David Pittu steal the show. I won't ruin it for anyone. Marylouise Burke and Patricia Connolly are very funny as the two widows.

Martin Pakledinaz' costumes are gorgeous, Peter J. Davison's set receives well-deserved entrance applause, and Peter Kaczorowski's lighting is perfect. The most entertaining part of the show, to me, at least, was the painting of Norbert - as Daisy.

If you're a fan of farce, this is the show for you. It's pure, clean, unadulterated fluff and the perfect alternative when Mary Poppins or The Little Mermaid has sold out. I, however, feel it will fall the same way as Journey's End. A play nobody's ever heard of, featuring a cast nobody's ever heard of, written by Mark Twain (that's sure to scare people away). Prove me wrong.


Updated On: 12/5/07 at 06:01 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:25pm

Yankee- Thanks for your review. I am seeing this one next week... What do you think any chance of this show being nominated as BEST NEW PLAY (along with Rock N Roll, August : Osage County & The Seafarer) bec. its Mark Twain ? or any performances by actors that deserve a Tony Nod?

J*


BTW- For those interested in seeing Photos from the Play:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=23527


Updated On: 12/5/07 at 06:25 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:33pm

I'd say August: Osage County, The Seafarer, and Rock 'n' Roll are the only locks to date. The fourth slot is up for grabs - between "Dead," "Farnsworth," "November," "39 Steps," etc. I wouldn't give it to Is He Dead?, but everything I've heard has been pretty positive, so I'm in the slight minority.

Norbert deserves a leading actor nomination, and David Pittu, Michael McGrath deserve featured nods.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 6:54pm

I was also there today and had a slightly more positive reaction. I certainly did laugh -- more in the second act than the first -- but not nearly as much as the people surrounding me who howled at every warmed over pun and cheap bit of stage business. Blakemore again proves he's the master of comedic direction (especially farce -- imagine what he might have done with Roundabout's lethargic production of THE RITZ) and the ensemble is absolutely top notch from top to bottom. Honestly, this piece -- even with yeoman work from David Ives to spruce it up, wipe away the cobwebs and hide its flaws -- couldn't have gotten a better production with its first rate cast, director, sets and costumes. But, still I smelled the faint whiff of mold and mothballs surrounding much of it. It's an utterrly first class (and seemingly expensive) production of second rate material -- like if Disney had decided to sink $10 million into a revival of CHARLEY'S AUNT (Butz's performance at times even reminded me of Ray Bolger): top tier performances and production values, no matter how elaborate still wouldn't disguise the audible creaks and the smell of formaldehyde emanating from the material.

Ultimately, though I had a good time thanks to all the gifted parties involved doing their considerable best to sell this material and I'm glad I saw it. But, I am also glad that I only paid $26.50 (for a terrific 2nd row orchestra seat) to see it.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/5/07 at 7:12pm

Yeah, you may be right. I think my biggest problem was the material - 'cause the production was truly first rate.

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 12:54am

I saw it tonight and for the most part agree with you, though I definitely laughed a lot. Like Margo though, as I laughed at extremely well done physical comedy, I was amused by how many other audience members found EVERYTHING HILARIOUS. The two widows cracked me up the entire show from the moment they bustled on stage.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 3:35am

anyone do TDF for this show? How are the seats? seeing it this weekend and very excited...

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 4:46am

Was there a show curtain?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 6:51am

I got my ticket through TDF and was put in Row C of the mezz, on the aisle.

Plain red theater curtain.

[bschneid76]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 7:24am

I found it to be extremely amusing, but the only part that was a tad slow was the exposition at the beginning, and I figured out before hand what was going to be coming, but was pleasantly surprised with the final twist. Norbert is excellent as is the rest of the cast. It reminded me of those old Melodramas with the villain twirling his mustache whenever he was being cunning and mischievous. I had a wonderful time. I kept hearing some people behind me saying that the show should be panned. I understand if you don't like something, but when 90% of the audience is howling with laughter or gasping, or howling at the villain and some of the old fashioned jokes, it makes live theatre the best.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 8:21am

10 years ago, I would have loved to see Rowan Atkinson play Millet/Tillou.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 9:04am

Yup- its offered thru TDF. Actually I got my tix for next week thru TDF and here's the date :

Available Dates
Tuesdays: December 11th 8:00PM, December 18th 8:00PM
Wednesdays: December 12th 2:00PM, December 12th 8:00PM, December 19th 2:00PM, December 19th 8:00PM
Thursdays: December 6th 8:00PM, December 13th 8:00PM, December 20th 8:00PM
Fridays: December 7th 8:00PM, December 14th 8:00PM
Saturdays: December 8th 2:00PM, December 8th 8:00PM


************

Yankee- The material you mean? - the story or the book (dialogue)?

J*

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/6/07 at 9:30am

Both. I imagine in 1898 when this was written that it was a fairly original idea, but now, it's been done to death (no pun intended.)

And Ives has infused the script with ho-hum jokes.

A noble try, but the production won't be recognized for the text. Updated On: 12/6/07 at 09:30 AM

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 9:25am

Does Norbert use a French accent in this play?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:08am

Nope, he uses his regular American accent.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:14am

I'm going tonight and i can't wait! Will add some thought when I can.

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:15am

Margo, thanks for your response. That's odd that he does not have a French accent, when he plays a French person.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:22am

Most of the cast doesn't use French accents (though a few oddly use British ones).

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 12:25pm

Yes, it's quite bizarre. The one flaw - acting wise - of the production are the accents. Tom Robbins, who plays Dutchy, uses a thick Germanic-sounding accent, and Michael McGrath, as Chicago, uses an American accent.

Gambatese and the young woman playing her sister use British accents (that aren't very convincing), Jennings, Burke, and Connolly use a convincing half-British accent, and Pittu, Butz, and McMartin don't use anything.

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 12:32pm

That sounds very disjointed.

[bschneid76]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 12:57pm

It wasn't that bad with the accents. I am sure Paris at the time was filled with a variety of people, as with New York City. They didn't all have to have French Accents or one similar one. It didn't bother me.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 1:12pm

But Norbert played a character named Jean-Francois Millet.

No, it's not a huge part of the show - and it barely detracts anything - but it does distract, in a way.

[JumpJumpJumpSoHigh]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 1:13pm

I saw it the other night and LOVED it. Sure, the basic idea has been done before, but it was a fun story, well directed, and BRILLIANTLY acted. Sorry for the caps.

I'm curious: does anyone remember specifically which jokes were added by Ives? I haven't read the original play, so I've no idea.

~JJJ

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 1:16pm

The first thing I noticed when the play began was the variety of different accents. I think this is INTENTIONAL.

It is a part of the comedy. Every single character seems to have popped out from a different disjointed hole in the earth. They are all distinctly hilarious in their own ways.

A director wouldn't choose for no reason whatsoever to have a group of five characters on stage carrying on a single conversation, each in completely obviously different accents. It's part of what makes the absurdity all the more absurd. And I found it absolutely hysterical.

This play is not the least bit intended to be taken seriously, and anyone who attempts to do so will be entirely missing the point. It is an absurd farce.

The audience I saw it with was in tears with laughter from start to finish, and I was there with them. I found this to be an exceptionally executed farce with a PERFECT cast of both characters and actors.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 1:25pm

And while I see how one might compare the projected success of this play with JOURNEY'S END last season in that no one has heard of the title and that the actors are unknowns beyond theatre circles, I think a prediction that this play will fail as a result of such a comparison is completely off the mark.

JOURNEY'S END was a depressing, war drama that was presented on Broadway in a time of war.

IS HE DEAD? is an old fashioned, laugh-'til-you cry, lighthearted, bring-the-whole-family comedy. The marketing team, at least over at the TKTS booth, is presenting it as such.

If you had kids with you, JOURNEY'S END was off the list period. If you were two adults looking for some fun theatre in which to indulge, JOURNEY'S END was a big no.

Whether you're in town with the kids, or you're a couple and can't land tickets to the latest musical, or you don't want to wait in the dreaded long regular TKTS long, you can wait one minute in the "Plays Only" line and get a bunch of tickets to this crowd pleaser.

Updated On: 12/7/07 at 01:25 PM