Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
#1Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 10:33am
A friend and I happened to catch the first preview of this play. I figured it would be a good idea to familiarize myself with Eno, since his Realistic Joneses will be on Broadway soon, and I was curious about him.
**************Mild spoilers follow!********************
Basically it's a dysfunctional-family drama, with something of a twist. It's one act, but thematically it's divided into two parts. The first part, to my mind, could be seen as The Closed House, and the second part is The Open House.
The dysfunctional-family genre is usually not my favorite. I can never believe that family members would really treat each other that badly, or, conversely, put themselves in a situation where they'll be treated badly. In contrast, in a play like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, the audience is given such a backstory over the course of the proceedings that we can see how the years of disappointment and rage come bubbling up. (Fun Home offers similar depth.) But in The Open House, we really don't get to see how the father's character has developed, why he is the way he is. Anyway, Eno uses a device that does add interest and serves as the gradual transition between the two parts. I don't want to give away too much because the show is new, but maybe we can discuss later, if anyone is interested. The whole thing messed with my head, which is probably the playwright's intent!
I thought the acting was very strong overall. One of the characters I thought was portrayed by someone too young for the role, but she did a good job conveying advanced age, and by the end of the play I understood why she was cast.
It's not a comedy, but it does have many funny lines and moments. The audience, which was filled with younger people, really seemed to be into the play. Since it was the first preview, I'm thinking they were industry folk. The show ran about 78 minutes, no intermission. (I'm starting to time these things, because people always want to know!)
Updated On: 2/12/14 at 10:33 AM
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#2Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 11:51amThanks for the heads up that this is playing. The only seats available for tonight are partial view. Anyone sat up there before? Why would they be partial if they're up high?
#2Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 12:11pm
Can you see the partial view seats on the seating chart? I sat up in the balcony, and the view was fine. I was pleasantly surprised. (There are two balconies, one on either side of the theater.) I don't know where your seats would be located, though.
My ticket was in the BB section, and it was not marked partial view.
Updated On: 2/12/14 at 12:11 PM
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#3Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:58pmYeah, when you go to purchase it has a circle with a dot in it which indicts "partial view." But it's in the center of the balcony?
#4Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 3:34pm
I was mistaken about the balcony. It's actually called the mezzanine, and it wraps around three sides of the hall, not two.
I do see the partial-view tickets that you're referring to. I really don't see why those would be partial view. There is a pillar in the BB section. But there's plenty of room to stand up there. So if you really can't see, you can always do that if you're able.
Updated On: 2/12/14 at 03:34 PM
broadwaybelter
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/26/04
#5Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 3:37pmInteresting. By your description, this doesn't sound like the usual Eno fare.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#6Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 10:10pm
I lucked out and got a ticket today in the second row. So I went!
I loved it! I remember seeing Middletown (at the Vineyard) and not really liking it, and so I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm not sure I'd call it a "dysfunctional family drama." There's no yelling or plate smashing or any big "secret" revealed. There a few tidbits of information about the family thrown out, but they aren't treaded on and then they're gone.
As someone else said it's interestingly structured, and once you realize what's going on it's great.
Overall, I thought it was really hilarious, but at the same time, I'm not sure I "got" it. There wasn't really any pathos and any "moment" at the end where it was like "oh." It was just kind of a play about a family that has problems and then another family basically wants to move in.
I can see why those seats might be partial view because the set doesn't go all the way to the edges of the stage, but I think you'd be okay. The first half of the play there's literally no moving. All the characters are basically just sitting in the same seats the whole time.
broadwaybelter
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/26/04
#7Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 10:13pm
Hehe. Amusing review.
A dysfunctional family drama does not mean: "yelling or plate smashing or any big "secret" revealed" but rather, "a play about a family that has problems and then another family basically wants to move in".
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#8Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 10:20pm
Yeah, I'm not the best reviewer. It's more of a ramble. But I was entertained, and thought all the actors were really great.
It's a great piece because some big issues are addressed, but at the same time, they aren't really blown up into anything. I really liked that. As compared to like "Other Desert Cities" where everyone was basically sitting around crying by the end.
#9Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 11:01pm
I'm glad you got such a great seat!
************ SPOILER ALERT!!! ***************
One of the points being made, I think, is that each of the "new" characters is connected in some way to the original characters. It's kind of like if the first character was living in an alternate universe and had made different life decisions. What messed with my head is that I kept waiting for the first characters to come back! And I cared if the dad was going to be okay, even though he was pretty obnoxious and probably better off dead. I'm joking, but only a little.
Updated On: 2/13/14 at 11:01 PM
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#10Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/12/14 at 11:21pm
*SPOILERS*
Totally. When the son kept leaving and coming back, I thought he was going to change back.
Someone in the audience was talking about how it was almost like a dream version of the family, etc.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#11Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/13/14 at 11:51pmSaw it tonight and I liked it, but I definitely wouldn't say I loved it. In fact, until the second group of characters came in, and the structure of the play began to make sense, I was very on the fence. Overall, it's an interesting, cleverly-designed piece with a great cast. The acting really couldn't be stronger. This isn't something I'll remember for years to come, or even something that will likely be at the forefront of my favorite plays list at the end of the season, but I liked it enough.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
stevenycguy
Broadway Star Joined: 12/7/05
#13Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/15/14 at 11:24pm
This is meant as a dark comedy where the husband, the wife, and their kids bicker and bicker at each other. There are a lot of funny one-liners said in a caustic manner especially by the father. About 50 minutes in the play, characters run out of the house for various reasons (to get sandwiches, etc) and then they come back playing different characters such as a real estate agent (hence, the title "the open house" since the realtor is staging an open house to sell the house.)
Tickets are a steal at $25 so I urge anyone to get tickets! And I have to say everyone at the Signature Theater couldn't be nicer - the box office personnel, the people with headsets to direct you, the house manager, etc etc. Extremely courteous staff all around.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#14Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/15/14 at 11:33pmAwwww! Wish I had read the sign. Can you summarize what it said? I'm curious to read some insight into the play.
stevenycguy
Broadway Star Joined: 12/7/05
#15Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/16/14 at 12:08amThe sign is a biography of the surprise guest who appears for the last 10 seconds of the show, including the name of the major upcoming movie where you can see this guest.
#16Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/16/14 at 12:19amOkay, I don't know if I missed anything or not, but I have no idea who the surprise guest is! Could someone be kind as to private message me? I would be in your debt.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#17Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 2/16/14 at 1:27amYeah, I'm confused too. Fill me in!
PlayItAgain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/11
#18Will Eno's The Open House at Signature
Posted: 3/2/14 at 1:05am
MAJOR SPOILER 
there referring to the dog appearing at the end.
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