Unnatural Acts-Anyone go yet?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 11:57pm

I think Unnatural Acts started performances tonight. If anyone goes, please post thoughts here. It sounds intriguing. I was reading about the plot and the development. Thanks.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 9:25pm

Anyone? Bueller...Bueller...Bueller. :)

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 11:59pm

Saw the first preview tonight. Amazing play.

I'm still thinking about it, and whenever my brain remembers that all the events in the play actually happened at Harvard in 1920, I get a couple of goosebumps.

It's just a bizarre and unique haunted feeling I get, when I think about the fact that these actors are all playing real men who are all dead and whose plight nobody knew. Nobody knew about it when they were young men at Harvard and nobody knew about it when they died and nobody knows about it now. Unless they see this play.

Posted: 6/23/11 at 1:37pm

I saw it Tuesday and absolutely loved it! VERY well acted and written - in fact all of the actors helped write it. Go see it- you will not be disappointed.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/23/11 at 1:45pm

It officially opens tonight. Can't wait for the reviews. Talked to two people who saw it earlier this week and they raved about it. It is on mylist.

[Jilani]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 1:55am

Please see this if you can - Jess Burkle, my partner's roommate for all four years at Harvard is one of the actors, and he is very talented!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 9:53am

Neither Brantley or Vincentelli were overly impressed with it. Does anyone know what the other reviews were like?

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 11:02am

Other reviews were pretty positive.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 11:26am

When does this run until?

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 11:37am

Only a few more weeks.

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 1:42pm

Both Brantley and Vincentelli praised the performances - which are in themselves a huge reason to see this show.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 2:18pm

I got a ticket for tomorrow's matinee -- the subject matter intrigues me and, yes, both Brantley and Vicentelli spoke favorably about the acting.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 2:39pm

It has been on my list. I might try to see it tomorrow or next week.

[newintown]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 4:26pm

I have nothing against these young actors, but you really shouldn't tell fibs on your friends' behalf here.

About the performances, Brantley says "Many members of the young, all-male cast aren’t quite up to transforming clichés into character. But they exude an affecting air of commitment to their project. And a couple of them — notably Nick Westrate ... and Max Jenkins ... — create incisive and credible portraits, unvarnished by vanity or sentimentality."

So I wouldn't call this unqualified praise for the cast - to commend 2 of a cast of 11 (and condemn the rest) isn't much of a commercial for the show.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 4:46pm

newintown, am I missing something? Who claimed the actors as their friends?

Glad you pulled that review up because I read it also and they weren't raving about all of the performances.

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 6/24/11 at 5:58pm

No fibs on my friends' behalf here. Scout's honor :) Just a big fan of the show. Am excited for people to see it.


NYMag just posted Scott Brown's rave:
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/06/theater_review_a_long-ago_ivy.html

[TheColorOfFlame]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 3:14pm

Bump. Anyone else seen UA? It just got extended a week...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/3/11 at 1:47am

See it. See it. See it.
I am hoping to make a return visit before it closes. Wonderful company, very compelling, very haunting and unsettling.. especially when you find out just who two of the accused men 'grew up' to become.
Low budget, of course, but beautiful set by Walt Spangler.. Simple and very well designed for the thrust space. Striking and effective lighting. Across the board wonderful cast - as I would expect, since most were involved in development / writing. I was concerned that the end was a bit much.. the long monologue and the choreography of the others was the only time it felt heavy handed. It is difficult to single anyone out, but I MUST commend Jess Burkle, Roe Hartkrampf, Nick Westrate, Frank De Julio and Joe Curnutte.
My only issue is that many of the high tension moments in the court are played straight forward, directly to center, so if you are sitting on the side, you don't get those particular stage pictures that Tony Speciale (conceived / directed) seemed to really highlight.
By all means, go, go go. I have been reading info on the Court since seeing the show and have ordered the book written about it several years ago. Sadly, I missed the sister play to Unnatural Acts, Veritas, at the Fringe last year.

There IS somewhat brief nudity in the opening scene... no nudity after that.

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/3/11 at 8:25pm

It's highly unusual to see a play written by committee, as the Playbill indicates here. Based on the play on stage, I wouldn't say it's the greatest idea. A play needs a firm and distinct vision, and this one doesn't have it, either in style or content. The result is what could have been a taut and compelling play has been turned into one of diffuseness and dullness. It is overlong by at least half an hour. There are a few effective scenes that hint at the play that might have and should have been.

The cast performs valiantly to make their characters compelling, but they're just not drawn well enough.

This play takes place at Harvard. During its many longueurs, I reflected on how almost every play i've seen dealing with these elite universities or boarding schools makes them seem so horrible that one wonders why anyone would want to go them. Surely there have had to be people who had happy experiences at these schools, no? But offhand I can't think of any plays that have shown them in a positive light. Perhaps someone here can come up with a few.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:41am

the sister play to Unnatural Acts, Veritas, at the Fringe last year.

Is it actually related to Veritas, or are they just coincidental?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:46am

From what I have read, they actually began as one play being developed to the story of the Harvard Secret Court, but due to creative differences, the creators split and all continued to develop the idea as different shows.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:50am

As someone who saw both Veritas and Unnatural Acts, I can say without a doubt that Unnatural Acts is far, far superior. Don't miss it.

As for this silly business about how a play needs to be created by one person in order to be good. Clearly anyone who thinks this never goes downtown. There are countless amazing companies doing ensemble-created shows.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 1:16am

I find it more amusing that there is a belief that a show developed thru improv can't have one point of view...

[After Eight]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 8:23am

Vespertine,

I do go downtown. Unnatural Acts is downtown. I haven't seen one of the "good" plays by committee to which you refer, but I'll take your word for it.

And "good" is subjective. Several posters here found this play to be "good." I did not. But I've seen a lot worse.

Broadwayguy,

I'm sure the creators of this play thought they had a unified point of view. It sure didn't play out here.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:17am

I certainly left the theatre as a satisfied customer and didn't think that there wasn't a "unified point of view."