Where to begin? I loved it! Very hard to believe it was a first preview with the zippy pacing and already laugh-inducing timing. Everyone is deliciously good and the set was gorgeous!
Kristine Nielsen was hysterical, getting a laugh out of every line and shake of the head. The way she modulates her voice from high to low is a riot. I find it rare to find an actor so funny and still so warm at the same time. I would gladly take her for a mother.
Annaleigh Ashford milks her dancing like crazy, but it helps maintain the zaniness of the house. James Earl Jones was great and Reg Rogers, hammy as ever, nearly steals the show everytime he enters as the Russian dance teacher; it's similar to the excellent work he did in The Royal Family a few seasons ago.
I enjoyed Rose Byrne's performance a lot. It's tough to be the straight man with all these lovable loonies on stage, but she got most of the laughs and had chemistry with Fran Kranz, who played Tony.
I thought JRB's music was fantastic! If this had been the season of Enron and Fences, I think he actually might have won Best Score here!
It's always a joy to see Jane Greenwood's costumes, and she gets to have some fun here. Lots of color and a few fun prints for the ladies.
The time flew by, but my true test was that I unfortunately get stuck behind one of those damn poles in the balcony. In dull or painful production, which let's face it, the Longacre is no stranger to, those poles can exacerbate the torture as you fixate on the black stripe in your field of vision. Tonight, after about 10 minutes, the pole seemed to disappear and I was completely lost in the world of the Sycamore household.
This could easily end up being a highlight of the fall.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
