Trip to Bountiful: Thoughts

I figured I'd just drop my thoughts on this show.

This is my first time experiencing a Foote play, and I have to say I was more than a little underwhelmed.

First off, Tyson was awesome. She actually brought a lot of natural humor to the role. And the moment she finds out some devastating news in Act II and basically falls over the bench was pretty masterful.

Vaness Williams was a delight. I thought she was so effortless and you hated her character, but also sort of wanted her to like you, etc.

Cuba was AWFUL. Probably the worst performance I've seen on stage. Now, a friend of mine works on the show, and told me that Cuba - feeling like his character wasn't big enough and not getting any attention compared to the other two - felt the need to "camp" up his performance. He's basically doing the show as if he were in a Tyler Perry sitcom. And it comes off as so false and so wrong when compared to the beautifully natural performance of Williams and Tyson. Apparently Michael Wilson, the director of most major Foote productions, refuses to watch the opening scene because he's embarrassed as to what Cuba has turned the show into.

I'm sad I missed Condola, but her replace was okay. I don't really think she made much of an impression. She has a striking resemblance to Jennifer Hudson.

I thought the design was pretty, but I think in a smaller house it would have made a much stronger effect.

I liked the direction. Some of the choices were a little busy - with the constant flow of people in the train station, etc, but I thought it all worked fine.

The place itself didn't do much for me really. I get that she kept wanting to go to Bountiful and whatnot, but I don't know. It just didn't really do much for me. I thought there would be this big grand moment once she finally got there, but alas, I just didn't experience much. I was a little confused as to why Williams and Gooding took the roles in the first place. They don't do much.

Now, the audience. The audience was the WORST I've experienced at a Broadway show. I had no less than 5 cell phones go off around me in the span of 10mins. And it happened during Tyson's big speech in the train station before she goes to Bountiful. So maybe that's why the play didn't do much for me. Not to mention the fact that 3 of the largest women sat next to me, and then looked offended when I shifted over one seat. Also, it was Wine Wednesdays, so you get a free glass of wine with your ticket. Which was cool.

Thoughts? Anyone else seen it recently?

I liked the production quite a bit, but I do have to echo your comments on the audience behavior at this show. I believe I mentioned it when I shared my thoughts on BOUNTIFUL, but the audience nearly ruined the experience for me. Cell phones throughout, taking pictures during the play, talking and making comments about how they'd "rather be at MOTOWN again" and how "bored" they were, I could go on and on. It was really embarrassing.

"Apparently Michael Wilson, the director of most major Foote productions, refuses to watch the opening scene because he's embarrassed as to what Cuba has turned the show into."

WTF? He's the director. It's his job to make sure an out of control performance is reigned in so the production doesn't suffer. Tell your friend that someone on this board said Wilson should do his f'in job.

I will have to echo many of the sentiments of RippedMan. Saw this a couple months back and did not enjoy it.

I love me some Vanessa but she just seemed like she couldn't have been bothered. Her accent kept going in and out the few times she was on stage. Cicely was good but I think it's been very overhyped because of her age. The less said about Cuba, the better. If you want to get an idea of his performance just watch him present at the Tonys and you've got it. Condola is good but I'm glad she has R&J to really show off what a gifted actress she is.

The play itself is probably good and I definitely saw the movie when I was younger but it does need to play a smaller house. It seemed like all the sets were being dwarfed by the magnitude of the stage. Once she gets to Bountiful you see this house that's rather large and the perspective of that seems rather off compared to the rest of what we've seen. Also I noticed a lot of people around me crying which I didn't quite get. I'm definitely one to cry but I didn't feel any reason to at this.

I have no problem with this being a (predominantly) black cast except for one thing. They tried to insert segregation into the play when that's not what it's about. If you noticed in the bus station scene there is a sign in the back with an arrow pointing to the "ALL WHITE WAITING AREA." It was small but it does kind of change the play in a way that wasn't the original intent.

Re: the audience, there were many cell phones the night I went. Someone took a picture (with flash) from basically the third row. People were late seated in the MIDDLE of our row while the side of the orchestra was basically empty. And two women behind me had to-go bags from their dinner that they proceeded to crinkle the entire second act (they weren't sitting there during the first). It definitely affected my overall enjoyment of the show.

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I saw this play. I think it is an important play about the relinquishing of power and decision-making ability that eventually comes to everyone on this planet due to aging and lack of independent income and stability. The memories of our childhood and as a young adult become muddled between reality, and what we wished it could have been and realizing that the two were never the same. That is why this play is good.

To me, Cicely Tyson is a national treasure and should not be missed, as this will probably be her last Broadway venture. Vanessa Williams is underrated and should be used more. She is truly one of the most beautiful women to grace this planet, ever. With luck and smart directors, she is going to mature into an actress that few expected, but I did. She can sing with a beautiful voice and tone, and that alone in this day and age of so-called singers is rare.

You were lucky to see these two. Count your blessings.

RippedMan:

I saw the show early on in its run and thought it was just OK-- Tyson is the reason to see it. I saw the movie 30 years ago and it has haunted me ever since. The play didn't affect me emotionally at all. I think it fell flat for me because I was expecting the emotional wallop of the film.

*** SPOILER ***

The ending seemed sweetened up to the point of completely blunting its impact. In the movie, Carrie's walk through her childhood home was nearly unbearable to watch. She realizes that her last chance to once again experience happiness and independence has evaporated and has nowhere to go but home with her son and daughter-in-law. She retreats in utter defeat, overwhelmed with the knowledge that she will just be returning to her one room prison to wait out whatever is left of her life sentence.

I got none of that in the play. Tyson seemed like a crafty child who had pulled a good one over on her parents. She gave the impression that she was coyly appeasing their demands--all while rolling her eyes and shrugging her shoulers, letting us know she had no intention of going along with any of it.

*** END SPOILER ***

Perhaps the tone of the ending has changed some since I saw it. Even if it has, I'd rather watch the film again than revisit this production.

Jax, I totally agree. To me the play felt so slight. I just didn't feel any emotional punch or emotional drive or anything. I just couldn't quite understand it. But hearing your explanation of the movie, it gives the whole story a lot more heft than I think was seen on the stage.

And my comment about making it all black, etc. was more like "why can't it just be a mixed-race cast?" Like why does it always have to black and white? I mean, sure Tom Wopat is white, but he's the sheriff of the town. So.... it makes sense contextually. I mean, they wouldn't have had a black sheriff at the time. So it's not like it's that creative of casting.

And the MIchael Wilson comment is that he's tried to reign Cuba in, but there's only so much he can do. The producers don't want to lose Cuba because he's a major draw for the audiences, so the director can ask him to reign in his performance, but what else is there to do? The audience was laughing and loving it, so who knows.

It felt like I was in a Coke ad.

WTF does that even mean?

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I wept through both acts. Ive never seem the film or other productions, so maybe that is a good thing. Maybe it wasnt meant to be so humorous, but it was heartbreaking enough as it was. I appreciated the humor.

I thought Cicely was transcendent-the rest of the cast did what they needed to do. I appreciated Cuba-he played the role like a petulant child and I liked his choices. Vanessa created a believable nemesis.

Foote's writing is astonishing. Many people are bored by realism, but I am transfixed. I love watching people talk on an ordinary day.

The audience was dead quiet, but some did sing with Cicely. That was very sweet.

Overall, very moved and very blessed to have seen this.

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