Thoughts on LES LIAISONS and THURGOOD?- Page 2

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:19am

ANY WORD on THURGOOD from *here* or ATC? I don't frequent TalkinBroadway at all, so yeah, any and all insight appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:20am

Add me to the list of people who were there tonight. I thought LIASONS was a good production of a play I really don't like.

I was disturbed by the casual treatment of a rape and feel that the two leads rival the Macbeths in their dislikability.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:22am

SPOILER! I was disappointed that the play didn't show the devestation that was to befall Linney's character as the movie does. In the movie, it is clear that Valmont, even in death, wins the war. That is merely implied in the show and even then, not guaranteed to happen as Valmont's aunt indicates that she isn't sure what to do with the info she has.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:51am

Speaking of accents, why is it that all European characters speak with an english accent, regardless of the country they are from? Liaisons, Les Miz, Phantom. It seems as if an english accent is the default for any character regardless of country of origin.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 2:10am

What was with the damn ticking clock? That drove me nuts.

I thought Linney was incredibly miscast... the guy sitting next to me thought she was just too wholesome, which I agreed with. Not menacing or conniving enough at all. Ben Daniels was excellent... really enjoyed his performance.

The second scene in the second act was so weird with Linney walking INCREDIBLY slowly at the rear of the stage.

The accents were either inconsistent or non existent.

Are the short songs in the script or is that just a device of this production?

Sorry that these thoughts are so random, I just got home and it's 2:10.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 5:17am

Any comments on Mamie Gummer? Not familiar with her role but was wondering how she did in this production.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 5:32am

I was there last night as well, and Mamie Gummer was adorable! Very funny. She appears a lot in Act I but only has one scene in Act II.

I felt Laura Linney was very much on target, but Ben Daniels was the one who really held command of the stage every time he appeared.

Kristine Nielsen was hysterical, as usual.

Act I felt more like a comedy to me, while Act II felt more like a drama.

The set was beautiful, very simple. The costumes were gorgeous. I thought the play was in magnificent shape for a first preview.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 7:20am

<< What was with the damn ticking clock? That drove me nuts.

>>

I thought that was someone's watch up in the Mezz !!! Yes, it was really annoying ! I didnt realize it was part of the play until later on, when it gets louder.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 9:39am

My thoughts on LLD...

The play itself is ENDLESS and not something I'd ever reccomend. The production itself is alright.

Ben Daniels & Laura Linney - he has the showier role, and at times I liked his work, at other times he was the gayest straight man on that stage. Linney is one of the greatest actresses of our time, and I do believe she'll get there - but she just wasnt 100% there tonight, which made it seem like she was slightly miscast. I just wonder WHY she picked this piece to come back to Broadway with - there are SO MANY OTHER BETTER PLAYS OUT THERE! She was great in Sight Unseen, and she has the potential to be pretty darn good here too, but its not happeneing yet.

Nielson & Phillips were their typical campy, funny, over the top self's.

The singing was stupid. The costume design lovely, but the set design 100% horrrrrid! Typical Roundabout skiming and saving on the set. They must have used up all their dough for the season on the Sunday in the Park projections and the lovely house in Old Aquaintance.

I hope it gets better, but I have my doubts. Especially with the source material and Rufus Norris direction. He did bring us FESTEN after all, and that was a snoozer as well. Oh and the music in that play too was beyong anoying. Remember that damn birthday song?

[DoranC]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:30am

"I was disappointed that the play didn't show the devestation that was to befall Linney's character as the movie does."


That isn't in Hampton's play. It's an invention for the film, isn't it? The play, I believe, ends with a card game in which the Aunt mentions, knowingly but mildly, that she heard an interesting tale.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:32am

I have to agree with the ticking clock sounds. We were seated in the mezzanine and I throught they were coming from the lighting booth. Why have the sound of ticking when there was no clock on stage?

RE: accents

The play is set in France and French people speak FRENCH, they don't speak with French accents. As this play was written in English, the characters should be using some form of upper class pronunciations. To some people, that may make them sound British. In this production, the accents came across as being a mess of middle class American accents and a smattering of British accents.

Where is a dialgue coach when you need one?

The set was nice but it became monotonous after a while.

As I said earlier in this thread, it was a good enough production. I just don't like the play and the two central characters repulse me.

BTW: I saw a production of the play in London about 29 years ago. I remember the entire theater was strewn with bedsheets. I missed that element at the Roundabout.

Updated On: 4/13/08 at 10:32 AM

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:51am

I understand that it was an invention for the film - just my point. The film I find to be better than the source material.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:54am

Where is a dialgue coach when you need one?

Do you mean dialect coach?

[singingbackup]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:58am

To coach actors on dialects, a dialogue coach makes sense.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 11:06am

My thoughts....

I liked, but didn't love it. I enjoyed Ben Daniels, in the much showier role, more than Laura Linney. I also enjoyed Linney, but found her to be strangely subdued. my only problem with the leads was that I didn't hate them like I felt I should.

I wish Sian Phillips had more to do.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the random singing between scenes yet. What purpose did that serve? It wasn't even particularly good singing.

They need to work on their pacing, because I felt much of act 2 dragged on and on. The resolution and final scene came out of nowhere, and I was reminded of The Odd Couple, with everyone sitting around playing cards.

I liked the set, though there are times it worked better than others. The seemingly random ticking clock annoyed me too.

I enjoyed it well enough, and I'm glad I saw it, but I feel no need to rush back and see it again.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 11:12am

The singing was just so freaking random. Was it supposed to distract us while the actors performed the scene changes?

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:05pm

If only they had used Joseph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett like i wanted. (sigh)

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:14pm

Hmm, I'm not seeing this until late June (unless I exchange my tickets, which I might). Glad to hear that it has potential.

Speaking of Thurgood, any word on rush yet? I poked my head in the box office last night and didn't see any signs or anything. I would have asked, but I don't like bugging the box office people in the hour before curtain.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:21pm

I thought Ben Daniels was great, he completely owned the stage during his scenes. Laura Linney was much more subdued. I have not seen "Dangerous Liaisons" or "Valmont" (I had seen "Cruel Intentions" so at least I was familiar with the story beforehand) and I felt like she should have been more evil & ruthless. I didn't hate her character like I did in the film.

I have no idea what the random bits of singing during the set changes were supposed to mean. The guy didn't even sound that good, he flubbed several notes.

I was not expecting the two male leads to each have scenes of full frontal nudity. Not that I'm complaining that just caught me off guard.

I didn't really notice anything odd with the accents. I thought Ben Daniels sounded a lot like Alan Rickman.

I enjoyed the show, especially for only $10, though it was clearly a first preview. Laura Linney flubbed a few lines but there was nothing major. I wonder if they will tighten up some of those set changes as the show progresses. I felt like way too much time was spent on characters walking very slowly in shadows around those glass mirrored back walls.

Updated On: 4/13/08 at 12:21 PM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:11pm

THURGOOD much???

I only ask because I can get seats for May, and I need something solid to base my purchase off of. LoL

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 2:27pm

I'm pretty sure half of BWW was in the mezz for Les Liaisons last night, so the odds of someone seeing Thurgood were greatly lowered.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 2:35pm

I'm actually surprised that people are being so kind towards LIAISONS. The more I think about it, the more I think it was a hot mess.

Jessica Collins gives one of the worst, most manic and unintentionally campy performances I have ever seen. When she grabbed the curtains, fell to the ground and started screeching, I wanted so badly to burst out laughing. And that's to say NOTHING of when she runs, hits the glass door, and slides to the ground.

Terrible actress.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 2:50pm

I'm rather iffy if I want to see this revival, partially because I hate the Roundabout and partially because I saw the Broadway/Royal Shakespeare version in the 1987, beautifully performed by Alan Rickman and Lindsey Duncan. I don't think I'm giving any spoilers when comparing the book and the play. In the book, the Marquise really gets her comeuppance -- she loses most of her money and a bout with smallpox makes her hideously ugly. At the novel's conclusion, French society has totally abandoned her and she has to flee the country.

[Ryan4]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 4:22pm

"Then why did Kristine Neilson and Laura Linney attempt English accents?

Dude.

Come on."

Really, they weren't. Their elocution was perhaps sharper to meet the demands of the generally heightened language of the play, but they really were not attempting any accent.

Why would they have been? Why a British accent for a play set in France? That simply doesn't make any sense.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 4:25pm

In the fall there was an equity performance of Liasons at the theatre my school shares w/ the city. It was absolutely incredible and the Marquise was phenomenal. I really love this play and love the movie Cruel Intentions (which is based on this show) as well.

So I'm definitely looking forward to seeing it when I come home.