Your thoughts on The Other Place, Virginia Woolf & Picnic

[HopeChanged]

Posted: 2/8/13 at 8:03pm

Want to travel to NYC to see The Other Place. Thinking of also seeing Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf while in the city and possibly Picnic. Your thoughts? Love plays (and musicals) that make you think, feel, and stay with you for a long time. (Have seen Once twice. Otherwise would add that to lineup.) The Other Place and Virginia Woolf look like very good bets. Not sure about Picnic, aside from liking some of the cast. If Picnic is not a great pick, anything else you'd sugggest seeing instead?

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 2/8/13 at 8:49pm

The Other Place is worth it for Laurie Metcalf alone. She will take your breath away.

I didn't think much of Picnic. Mare, Reed and Ellen are all fine, but I thought the play itself and the two "leads" on the listless side. Most of Sebastian Stan's acting is done by his abs.

[macnyc]

Posted: 2/8/13 at 8:52pm

I would vote for Virginia Woolf as being the best of the three. It is simply amazing. The performances were all Tony worthy. I did enjoy The Other Place also. I enjoy seeing new plays, and it kept you wondering what was really happening. I felt oddly off balance watching it, in a good way. Laurie Metcalf is mesmerizing. Regarding Picnic, it was professionally done, with a beautiful set, but to my mind the play doesn't hold up. If you're in the mood for a period piece, however, you certainly could do worse! Enjoy your trip!

Updated On: 2/21/13 at 08:52 PM

[little_sally]

Posted: 2/8/13 at 9:35pm

I really enjoyed The Other Place, and yes, Laurie Metcalf is amazing. I loved Woolf too, and the acting in that is brilliant. I recommend both.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/8/13 at 10:36pm

The Other Place and Virginia Woolf are productions you will always treasure seeing. Picnic is a bland revival with exceptional work by Martin, Winningham, Burstyn and Marvel. The leads are a snooze.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 12:53am

THE OTHER PLACE and VIRGINIA WOOLF are worth seeing. Absolutely.

PICNIC, not so much.

[HopeChanged]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 7:18am

Thanks very much, all. You've basically confirmed my hunch. Will make the trip to NYC to see The Other Place and Virginia Woolf. And, if I can't find an intriguing 3rd option to add to that lineup, will just stick with those two shows. Again, many thanks :)



Updated On: 2/9/13 at 07:18 AM

[goldenboy]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 10:23am

I loved Picnic. I really like William Inge plays. I like the tales of yearning, sexual appetite and repression. I find his work fascinating. I really liked the production and the cast

I have seen Virginia Woolf too many times so I passed on that.

I hate plays about Cancer.. Life is hard enough to sit through that illness crap.

[macnyc]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 10:54am

Slight spoiler:





*************************************
The Other Place is not about cancer, if that is what you mean. The word is bandied about, however.

Updated On: 2/9/13 at 10:54 AM

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 12:19pm

This production of VW is astonishing, even if you've seen it before. I predict several Tony awards. For me it was the play of the season, by far, and I would NOT miss it if you have a chance to go.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 3:09pm

I have only seen THE OTHER PLACE. Lovex it and thought they should just give Metcalf the Tony now and be done with it. She was incredible. Get there when the doors open.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 3:24pm

I think that Metcalf and Amy Morton will battle down to the wire. I love them both. Morton should have gotten a Tony for August:Osage County.

Tracy Letts WILL win the Best Actor Tony. By that I mean he should. But you never know with Tony voters.

[little_sally]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 4:54pm

If you're looking for a third suggestion, I recommend Drood. It's so much fun and you'll need that after the heaviness of Woolf and The Other Place.

Updated On: 2/9/13 at 04:54 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 8:55pm

I think Morton should have gotten the Tony also. I jave not seen Woolf. She would be the main reason I would have seen it but I am not a fan of Virgina Woolf.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 2/9/13 at 9:12pm

I've only seen Virginia Woolf, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 6:22pm

sounds like I should grab a ticket to THE OTHER PLACE before it closes...

[SFFrontRow]

Posted: 2/12/13 at 6:40pm

I recnetly visited NYC in January (an annual trip) and I saw all 3 productions - LOVED Woolf (had seen it with Bill Irwin and Kathleen Turner several years ago), LOVED Other Place (and a previous poster is correct, it is not a "cancer play" - it keeps you off balance during the show and then at the end things fall into place), REALLY LIKED Picnic (had never seen it before and did not know the story). I think the Picnic ensemble was very good - was it the BEST thing I have seen, no. But definitely an ejoyable night of theater.

I think all three would make a great theater trip.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 11:57am

Just returned from a New York jaunt and saw:

Drood
Virginia Woolf
The Other Place
(And the Ragtime concert)

I was simply riveted the entire time through both Place and VW. HEARTBREAKING stories, and some of the best performances I've ever seen. My entire walk back to my hotel after the Other Place was simply, "Oh my."

If you are even toying with the idea of seeing them, DO IT!!

[newintown]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 12:00pm

I thought The Other Place was just terrific; I wish we had five new plays that good on Broadway every year.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 12:17pm

I couldn't agree more with newintown's sentiment; THE OTHER PLACE is my favorite new play in a couple of seasons, and Metcalf's performance left me speechless. I'm going again next week before it closes because I want to see Pullman.

VIRGINIA WOOLF is a top-flight revival with four great performances. I much prefer it to the last revival, starring two leads who gave pretty interesting individual performances but who acted like they'd just met five minutes before they walked on stage.

[HopeChanged]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 9:34pm

Thank you so much for all of your feedback. It really helps push me to overcome my practical/sensible urge to save money by just staying home and skipping it, and to instead just go for it and feed my mind and soul with great theater. So, I just booked tickets for The Other Place and Virginia Woolf. Got GOOD seats for both. Between those 2 plays and the hotel and the transportation, that'll be enough of a hit on my bank account, but worth it, as always. Thanks again :)

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 10:09pm

I'd skip Drood now that some of the original cast is gone and attendance by the leads has been spotty. I'd hate to see you give up award winning performances only to have Chita or Stephanie out.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 2/22/13 at 1:10pm

Just caught up with WOOLF last night. Wow, absolutely superlative. Not to be missed. The chemistry among the cast is electric and palpable. Saw THE OTHER PLACE Off-Broadway and was mesmerized by Laurie Metcalf; the play itself held my interest but I wouldn't use superlatives. PICNIC was OK, nothing more. Go with WOOLF and THE OTHER PLACE.