"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" Boston Reviews

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:31am

Looks like this one's gonna be good. Very positive review. I love me some Kathleen Turner.

Ed Siegel of The Boston Globe: "Perhaps it's because Turner is a natural Martha that she doesn't get under the character's skin. Perhaps it's because Irwin has to work at discovering what makes George carry on in this tormented relationship that he succeeds so well in getting into the nooks and crannies of George's soul… Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is not only a very entertaining, if hair-raising, comedy of manners, but an investigation of truth and illusion, in and beyond the bedroom. Director Anthony Page's production is particularly good at capturing the comedy of the play, a quality Albee found lacking from Mike Nichols's otherwise excellent film... David Harbour toils to good effect as Nick and Mireille Enos brings a touch of Ophelia (whom she played at the Long Wharf Theatre) to Honey. But it's on George and Martha's sagging shoulders that the play depends, and it's Irwin who carries it."

The link to all of the reviews is below.
"Virginia Woolf" reviews

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:37am

Positive? I didn't find either one to be positive.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:51am

Did you READ the reviews, FOA? I don't think he was being kind to Turner. "She doesn't get under the character's skin". Is not a compliment. And the second review makes it sound like a disaster.
Is it too late to get Stockard Channing and Jonathan Pryce?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 11:54am

This is really too bad - this is a role I can really see Turner sinking her teeth into and having a huge comeback. I'll be very disappointed if she doesn't step it up.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:10pm

I saw a production of this play a few years back starring Elizabeth Ashley as Martha.........she was incredible.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:36pm

Well I wasn't talking about Turner specifically...I was talking about the production as a whole. He's not so nice to Turner. But as to the whole production:

"Director Anthony Page's production is particularly good at capturing the comedy of the play."

I think it's fairly positive to all the actors, save Turner. I still think she's amazing and I tend to not always sway with the critics. I'm just supporting her. It may not be a rave...but it is a pretty good review.

Updated On: 2/18/05 at 12:36 PM

[WillParker]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:49pm

OMG--Elizabeth Ashley as Martha would be FIERCE!!!!! She had never entered my mind (probably because I was too busy hoping that Turner would leave the production and they'd get Mercedes Ruehl to do it!), but WOW----the thought of Liz Ashely just made me almost wet myself...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:57pm

Both Ashley and Ruehl did the role a few years ago, but Albee wouldn't approve either for Broadway (he never spelled out why). He's been looking to get WOOLF back to Broadway for well over a decade and Turner is the first actress he's thought had the right qualities to play Martha.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:58pm

It's still a little early to call time of death on this revival though. Opening night on Broadway isn't until March 20th. I'll be there and will post my thoughts after I see it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 12:59pm

She does have the right qualities. I'm about to board a Greyhound up to Boston to kick some KT ass. If she screws up this trip to Comeback City that's been handed to her on a silver platter, I'm gonna be REALLY pissed.

[jim coleman]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:03pm

Kathy Bates was originally mentioned to play Martha. I would have loved that. It is my favorite play. I saw it with Uta Hagen in the original, and then with Colleen Dewhurst in the revival. You are right, those reviews are not very good. I can't imagine Bill Irwin in an Edward Albee play. It boggles the mind!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:05pm

Albee has rarely ever been satisfied with any production of this play. It is possible that should the production meet his standards, they could not be to the critics' tastes.

[WillParker]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:06pm

I think I'm not going to be able to forgive Mr. Albee for not approving either Ms. Ashley or Ms. Reuhl...sheesh...

jimcoleman, I was fortunate to see Mr. Irwin in The Goat, after having seen Bill Pullman in the role, and he was quite fantastic. Very different from Mr. Pullman's performance, but just as emotionally effective. I'm really looking forward to seeing him do this role.

[Iluvbroadway]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:13pm

Can't wait to see VW in NYC this April!!!!!
Bill Irwin was super in The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?
Is VW a 30s mmmmusical starring little miss alice faye??? lol

[WillParker]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:20pm

no, silly goose, that was Chicago!

but, and maybe Margo can help me out on this one , what is the movie that Martha is quoting "whaTT a dumPPP"

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:22pm

Beyond the Forest.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:28pm

In one of her memoirs, Bette Davis wrote that she desperately wanted to play Martha in Virginia Woolf. That would have been incredible to see.

Of course, they would have had to alter some dialogue near the beginning of the play right? If I remember, there is a moment when Martha talks about "Bette Davis saying 'what a dump."

I guess they would have altered the line for Ms. Davis.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:35pm

Will Parker, Ashley was riveting as Martha and her costar Frank Converse was not shabby at all.....I recall seeing the performance the night when we learned that Bill Cosby's son had been murdered.

After her second curtain call, Ms. Ashley hushed the audience and spoke briefly about her love for Bill Cosby and said she had spoken to him about an hour before showtime when she learned of Mr. Cosby's tragedy. She told us that she asked Bill Cosby if there was anything she could do for him. Ms. Ashley told us that Mr. Cosby replied to her, "Yeah, go out there and give the performance of your life tonight!"

That she did.

[WillParker]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 1:40pm

jealousy fills my bosom.

[KindnessofStrangers]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:28pm

Um, I don't see either of these reviews as positive.

[WillParker]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:35pm

one of them is positive in regards to Mr. Irwin, anyway.

[kates]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:43pm

Ok, I actually saw this show last Friday, on its second night. Overall, it was rough around the edges, but the potential to be great. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed both Irwin and Turner's performance. Irwin however, seemed to be more comfortable in his character and with his performance, which was absolutely brillant. Speaking only for the night I attended, it seemed that a good portion of the audience didn't understand a number of the humourous lines. The woman next to me kept complaining to her husband that she didn't get what was going on. I think a few people may have heard it was an up and coming show and so went, without any understanding of or appreciation for Albee's writing. In closing, while both of the reviews had valid points, I would disagree about Turner's performance (especially in the third act) and highly reccomend this play to any one who can see it.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 2:52pm

Just a note....being from Boston...
Our critics are notoriously harsh.
Recently we did in "Seussical" and in years past we almost stopped the original "Oklahoma" from happening. Im surprised at the positive notice from Ed Siegel...he is usually more hard nosed. I remember when Rent, Phantom, Miss Saigon etc. parked here for long stays and were the talk of the town, Ed slammed the shows.

[Lamc16]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 3:48pm

I'm really hoping that you're right. I generally don't listen to critics--esp. boston and ny critics--because more often than not, I don't agree with what they have to say. I greatly enjoyed Kathleen Turner in "The Graduate" which I saw both in London and in New York. The reason critics trashed that show was b/c it had $5 million in advanced ticket sales and b/c they knew that their reviews wouldn't get people's asses into the seats. They resented the fact that it did so well. They also pretty unfaily used the successful and iconic film against the production (which I fear they may do w/ VW as well). I also find that "professional" critics are very unfair when KT is concerned. Back in '95 they praised everyone in "Indescretions" except KT--which ultimately resulted in she being the only one in the five person cast NOT nominated for a TONY. And while her one-woman show, "Tallulah" did have some flaws, she was fantastic. I think she's a great actress and deserves better. Besides, the fact that Albee personally chose Kathleen after searching for five years says a great deal.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 2/18/05 at 3:52pm

Stockard Channing would be perfect for the boozy Martha - just as long as she doesn't drive herself to the theatre!