WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Review

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:03pm

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Review

“Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” is legendary playwright Edward Albee’s famous and shocking dark comedy that refers to influential British feminist writer, Virginia Woolf. Woolf pioneered the ‘stream of consciousness’ literary genre while simultaneously delving into the psyche and emotions of her bewildering characters. Albee intelligently asks the emotionally-draining play’s (who’s own characters suffer marital discord) title question because Woolf herself suffered from mental illness and ultimately went insane and committed suicide. The multi-meaning title is also a parody of “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?,” a tune heard in the 1933 Disney film “Three Little Pigs.”

First performed in New York in October of 1962, with the late great Uta Hagaen, “Woolf” captured the Drama Critics Circle Award and the Tony Award for the 1962-63 season. Over forty years later, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” is back, this time with the ferociously dynamic Kathleen Turner and Tony winner Bill Irwin as the tragic couple, George and Martha. In another ironic twist, the names of the two central characters are those of the first US President and his wife.

The play begins under a moonlit sky, late at night, on a small New England college campus. After drunkenly stumbling home from a party thrown by Martha’s father, they switch on the lights as Margaret exclaims: “What a dump!” At that moment the audience realized we may get to know these people better than we might possibly want.

George (Irwin) is a history professor and Martha (Turner) is the daughter of the head of the university. Their hellish marriage is full of mutual disgust and humiliation. Soon into the evening Martha informs George they’ve “got guests coming over!” Their guests are Nick, (David Harbour) the new, ambitious biology professor and his young, naïve wife Honey (Mireille Enos). Throughout the evening the audience witnesses how large amounts of alcohol in all four individuals work’s as a catalyst, as we quickly see the different kind of character traits they embody.

All four actors are deserved Tony nominees for their work in this enthralling revival. David Harbour gives Nick an opportunistic, sly, albeit dry edge, while Mireille Enos’ Honey is very much the stupid blonde. Bill Irwin, the only of the four actors to actually garner the prized award did so by stumping voters with George’s sly cynicism. However, it is Turner who indeed brings the most magic to the stage as her boisterous, blowsy, and heavy wrinkled Martha loves to torment her husband. Throughout the play, Turner’s pacing and comic timing is nearly as brilliant as the play itself.

Albee’s searing play exhibits a gripping buildup in a series of emotional climaxes. Director Anthony Page does strident work, but a sprier, eagle-eyed Broadway director may have picked up some of this productions slight oversights. Nonetheless, the still shocking content and the dramatic portrayal of the destructive battles in one couple's tempestuous love-hate relationship is frankly far better than most new works today.

“Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” succeeds at the difficult task of making an audience care for characters they wouldn't want anything to do with in real life. Even though the play’s core only consists of four people talking for three hours, it never bores, but instead tragically entertains.

[MusicalDirector109]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:09pm

A wonderful review!!! This production was my favorite of the 2004- 2005 season. I've seen it twice and hope to see it againg before it closes. After seeing both "Doubt" and "Woolf", I would have split the Tony for Best Actress in a Play. They did it for the musical in 1959!!

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:11pm

Agreed - Cherry Jones & Kathleen Turner were both Equally Brilliant. Still, after seeing this...I am a bit perplexed at the Irwin win over O'Byrne and Jones. I mean, he was good, dont get me wrong. But personally I thought both of the other men were slightly better.

[MusicalDirector109]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:17pm

The second time I saw VW I was in the third row of the orchestra. I watched Bill Irwin act with his entire being. The face and the hands were a study in themselves. I didn't see Jones but I felt that he was better than O' Byrne. I love watching Bill Irwin act- so glad that I also caught him in "The Goat" with Sally Field. Now you've got me wanting to see VW again!!

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 8:22pm

Well Good...I know the review is a bit late. It and GGGR were just 2 plays I couldnt get to early enough in the very crowded past season. So, it was a nice to see something a little heavier than the usaual light fluffy summer fare.

Posted: 7/9/05 at 9:18pm

I went to last night's performance. This is one of my favorite plays, and one I've known since the mid-60s. I didn't see the original production, but I have heard it many times on disc. I did the the 1976 revival with Colleen Dewhurst and Ben Gazzara.

This is a play that works, and 3/4s of the cast of the current revival is what makes it work. Kathleen was nothing short of superb, and in the truly in the moment throughout the 3 act, 3 hour piece. Harbour and Enos are equally strong, in my opinion.

Irwin, for me, was the weak, and weakest, link. I felt he was cast against type and the full force of the play suffered as a result. Irwin plays George as a comic would play him, miming along the way; and he comes across as effeminent on the surface. There is no sexuality between his George and Kathleen's Martha (or probably anyone's for that matter). Irwin lacks sexuality and testosterone. George must have those, and his tragedy, in Martha's eyes, is that because he has those, there should co-exist within him ambition and drive, which are absent. Irwin didn't deliver to me, and his acting was studied, as opposed to the other 3 actors all of whom made their performances believable.

At the very least Kathleen should have shared the Tony.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:56pm

Jose, I saw the same performance. I didnt think he was as awful as you, but that being said...he had to be having an off night. He went up on his lines more times than I could count, the manerisms were nothing more than afectatious, and to me just didnt have that sparkle everyone else seems to have seen. That said...I did still think the entire piece, and this production worked VERY VERY WELL on a WHOLE! Kathleen was BRILLIANT!

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:08am

I didn't think he was "awful," just weak and not in the same league as the others in the cat.

Sorry that we didn't get a chance to say hello in person.


edit: oops! "in the cast." Updated On: 7/10/05 at 12:08 AM

[mandy2loveRB]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:25am

LaCageAuxFollesFan2 and Jose', Thank you for the great review! I love this show, not only because I am a huge fan of Bill, but because of the strong acting from all 4. As much as I love Bill, I might have to say that Bill was the 'weaker link' there. I mean, Ms Turner is just monstrous in everyway. I cannot get enough of her.

And...I felt the same way with Jose' about Bill's performance when he was doing "The Goat." He was totally miming all the way and at first, I was not comfortable. With this play, I think he changed in his drama department and I really enjoy what he is doing now. Deserve Tony? I think so. I was torn between O'Byrne and Bill and thought Brian would get one, but I was so happy to see Bill win.

Everytime I saw Woolf, Bill is great and I was lucky that I did not see Off Night yet. I will go back next month and hoping I can see another great performace!

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 1:54pm

Great...Im glad folks are going back that saw it once and are now seeing it again. If you havent seen it yet, and put it off the way I did...you MUST GO and see this, its far better fare than the other remaining revival of STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and deeper & darker than THE CONSTANT WIFE. The only revival I havent seen currently playing is the Tony winner, GGGR...I MUST get to the Jacobs from what Ive been told.

[Lamc16]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 5:43pm

Great review, LaCage. I am IN LOVE with this production. I've seen it four times now. One night a month or so ago, Irwin not only flubbed a line, but completely lost his place and Kathleen had to feed it to him. It all happened so fast I'm not sure if many other people noticed as I had. He's still incredible as George, and Kathleen is unbelievably amazing! I am so thrilled that people seem to be enthusiastic enough to return to the show again and again. I hope this thread will encourage people who haven't yet seen it to immediately report to the Longacre theatre.

Posted: 7/10/05 at 8:38pm

VIRGINIA WOOLF is one of the great American plays.

In my opinion, anyone who cares about theatre should grab the opportunity to see a first class production.

The last one in NYC was 30 years ago.

And before that was the original production in 1962.

It's unlikely another will happen in the remainder of my lifetime.

* Uta Hagen gave Martha class with an undercurent of sluttiness

* Elizabeth Taylor gave Martha fragility with an undercurrent of passion

* Collen Dewhurst gave Martha warmth with an undercurrent of looseness

* Kathleen Turner gives Martha toughness with an undercurrent of vulgarity.

All were, and are (film and current production), stunning.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 8:55pm

La Cage, you did a wonderful job on your review. It was beautifully written and very perceptive. Now I REALLY have to see this production before it closes.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:14pm

Thanks Dolly - yes, Go see it!

[Cuteoperaboi2]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:38am

GREAT review!! I saw the play about three weekends ago and thought the same thing. I was floored by the genius in it!!!! I am a huge fan of Turner's acting, and seeing the show really confirmed to me that she is truly an artist. Personally I felt Bill and Kathleen's chemistry as George and Martha was very good in terms of sexuality...there was just enough and not enough which I think is supposed to be part of the play. Brilliant performance by David Harbour and Mireille Enos as well--not mention David is quite the looker. :) I will try and see the play at least once more before it closes.
Justin

Posted: 7/11/05 at 3:45am

". . . and he comes across as effeminent on the surface."

I'm curious what this means, keeping in mind his existence as a meek, non-motivated, ****-whipped professor in New England in the 60's?

[mandy2loveRB]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 12:58am

I just want to mention that...tonight's performance was another great one. I could see all the actors were kind of tired (2 shows today), yet that generated some sort of effects on the late night party.

I just notice...among 7 times, at least I saw 3 versions of "Good Night" of George when the guests leave (roughly); very quiet one, yelling one, and the mix of them (yelling "Good" and whispering "night"). Did anyone see anything else?