Quibbler, you're quite right. Mantello is consistently a very mediocre director who for some reason has been annointed as THE director of choice in New York right now, directing several high profile plays a year and getting very wealthy in the process (he gets a heathy chunk of the weekly gross -- 5% I believe). Odd that as a former actor, he seemed incapable of guiding Roberts into a more credible performance, but it's rather typical of him. I think his direction mostly consists of casting a show, blocking it badly and then sitting back and hoping for the best.
On a related matter, I hope people now understand why I kept stressing that Drama League Awards are meaningless and no one should fret that Mano Felciano, Beth Leavel, Tyn Daly, Kelli O'Hara didn't get recognized, while Julia Roberts did. They only give out those nominations in hopes that some of the famous people will come to their silly little luncheon. Roberts was going to get a nomination even if it turned out she couldn't walk across the stage without bumping into the furniture.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney