rOcKS @ 'The Understudy'

I don't have time to post a full review, but it was a lot of fun! The trio they've assembled couldn't have been better; the play itself is nothing to write home about but the cast made it a 100 minute laugh-fest. More later!

Was anyone else there? Whatd you think?

Updated On: 10/10/09 at 09:29 PM

It's definitely not an incredible piece of writing but it's light, frothy fun. When it tries to be emotionally resonant, it fails, and it takes a lot away from the piece. The performances, however, are each so strong that the sadder moments do ring true to some extent. But 85% of the show is comedy and the cast finds laughs where no one else could. I hope to see it again later in the run because if they were each in such good shape tonight, this just might end up being the funniest play in town in the next few weeks. The comedy in the play itself is a bit generic, but again, the cast makes it feel fresh and alive. The play takes about fifteen/twenty minutes to really get going but once it does, it's a lot of fun. Even if, at 100 minutes, it's still a bit too long.

Julie White is wonderful. Just wonderful. I never got to see her in THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED and I am so sorry for that because she's just a great comedic actress; nothing more to be said there. Mark-Paul Gosselaar started out being the weakest of the three but really won me over in the end. He just needs to relax a little bit, something I'm sure will come as he gets more comfortable in the role. He's still wonderful though; it takes a very good actor to play a bad actor and he makes that very clear. And Justin Kirk is sensational. If his other halves weren't so wonderful, he would have easily stolen the show.

It's swiftly directed, very nicely designed, and really entertained me. The play itself is just alright but this is a very strong production and I really laughed quite a lot. It's certainly one of the better things that Roundabout has offered up in the last couple of seasons.

*** out of ****

Updated On: 10/10/09 at 01:08 AM

I was there this afternoon as well. Due to White and Kirk's chops and delivery and Gossaler's depressingly still-amazing looks (though his acting was stilted even in moments it wasn't supposed to be), I had fun. It's a frothy, light play with no plot whatsoever about the love of theatre and why people do it.

That said, it's certainly not a laugh-fest. It's amusing -- I smiled through most of the play -- but those who said it was the hardest they've laughed in some time should probably either have higher standards, or temper their ejaculatory love of White and Kirk.

I'm glad I saw it... but I'd be lying if I said my attention didn't dwindle occasionally during the middle chunk (not the best thing for a 95 minute play). White is pretty delightful without verging on annoying, Kirk is easily the standout of the three -- impressive with his delivery as well as his physicality -- and I think MPG signed on just to give himself some theatre cred; it's not a particularly good part.

It's an enjoyable, breezy way to pass an hour and a half, and elements of it might resonate with those who love theatre (though the Jeremy Piven joke struck me as a lame, desperate pop culture reference for an easy laugh), but don't expect anything that's going to stick to your ribs.

Updated On: 10/10/09 at 06:18 PM

Going a little overboard, are we, AC? It's not a laughfest, but there's little writing here that I think could really be dubbed "atrocious." If anything, the play's fault is that it's incredibly aimless, and uses a one-line description ("an understudy with a past relationship with the stage manager gets on the nerves of a movie star during their rehearsals for a Broadway Kafka play") as a plot synopsis rather than simply the jumping off point. There's not really anything there -- no story, no character arcs, no climax; just three characters getting on each other's nerves during a rehearsal. It's breezy and fun at times due to the actors, but you keep waiting for the drama to kick in.

Wow...really?

And maybe "laugh-fest" was a bit over the top, but I did laugh quite a lot.

Rebeck is the most overrated, overproduced playwright in the history of the form.

That her pathetic pieces of garbage called "plays" are being used in acting classes as scenes for male-female work is extraordinarily depressing.

I was also at the show tonight and I have to agree with what most people are saying. I thought that, while yes the plot is very thin, the show was very enjoyable and the cast pulls it off brilliantly. I had a great time and thought it was very funny. I do agree that the Jeremy Piven joke seemed stuck in there (and out of date), but it did get a laugh.

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Saw it this afternoon and very much enjoyed myself!!! Strong cast!

The role was written for her, actually.

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I thought this was a totally pleasant evening of theater for the performances alone. Julie White is always a delight. Justin Kirk never fails to tickle my funny bone. And Mark-Paul Gosselar impressed me. He held his own against two very strong actors, and though he was occasionally a bit stiff, I got the feeling that he has the potential to really grow into the tole as previews go on and he gets a little more comfortable.

That said, the play itself is a wisp of a thing that strains the bounds of credulity. There are several occasions where one character overhears the other two over loudspeakers elsewhere in the theater. And yet no one EVER catches on. The unseen stoner running the lighting and sets is inconsistent to the point of disbelief. And the way the connection between two characters is slowly revealed is clearly written to tease out as much tension as possible over 90 minutes without any apparent basis in how people actually communicate.

I'd be happy to watch any of these actors on stage again. I'm in no rush to see anything else by this playwright (and, in fact, haven't caught any of her previous work). My feeling was that this was a very strong production that almost redeems its weak material.

Side note: I don't think White is too old for the part. The characters ages are never mentioned that I recall, and I thought it was a pleasant change of pace to see an older woman romantically linked with one (or two) younger men.

Okay I have to say that my daughter and I both talked to Gosselaar at the stage door and thought he was MUCH better-looking in person than on stage or screen...Scripps is right!

Clearly, Roundabout is casting my generation's earliest heartthrobs in a desperate attempt to deplete my savings account. Zack Morris. Uncle Jesse. Is Joshua "Pacey" Jackson next?!

I echo Dolly_Levi's sentiments, I may have to breakdown and stage door for M-P. Maybe drop a note backstage and ask him to meet up post-show at the Maxx!

Hah, I'm glad I'm not the only one with those "I might have to break down and do this" feelings about the stage door on this one. I don't normally do it anymore, but Justin Kirk is one of my favorite actors ever, and I'd really like to meet him. Has anyone met him? What's he like? And can someone tell me where the stage door is? Thanks.

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