NATURAL AFFECTION at TACT

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 9:34am

I was so excited to see that TACT is doing this. I really think the play is a flawed masterpiece and probably has more immediacy than, say, PICNIC or BUS STOP.

In either case, it's gonna be great to see Kathryn Erbe and John Pankow back on stage again.
NATURAL AFFECTION preview

[dsleft]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 11:08am

I saw this on Friday and it was very exciting. The dialogue seems clunky at first, but my ear got used to it. The acting, direction, and all the design elements were first rate. It is drama with a capital D, but there are a lot of laughs too. It is an odd play, but it really works as a piece of theater. That living room looks like the one my parents had in the early 60's too!

Updated On: 9/22/13 at 11:08 AM

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 7:25pm

This is good to hear, I will be seeing it this week.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/26/13 at 8:37pm

I was just going to ask if anyone has seen this--I've been really busy and cking out this board less, and had no idea there was an off-Broadway revival of Inge's play until I saw a listing in The New Yorker.

At least on paper, I'm a big fan of Inge's last two original (flop) shows, Where's Daddy and this. Where's Daddy? probably would never be a success, but I know some biographers claim Natural Affection didn't close so early due to its violent moments, but instead due to the Newspaper's Strike of '62.

[sorano916]

Posted: 9/26/13 at 11:59pm

Natural Affection opened tonight. Hopefully there'll be some good reviews. I thought it was well-acted. The set was such a flashback. The only major negative were those god-awful wigs Kathryn and Victoria wore.

EDIT: Well, the WSJ liked it... better than Glass Menagerie, it seems: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304713704579095591116271208.html Updated On: 9/27/13 at 11:59 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 6:44pm

Terrific review!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/27/13 at 6:56pm

I admit I don't know the critic's taste well--and it is mitigated a bit by the fact he seems to be the only one on the planet who was disappointed by Glass Menagerie--but I think he's completely right about Natural Affection being ahead of its time, and it's great to hear that it's getting a top rate revival. Interesting that what critics objected to in the play when it premiered, was by the time of Sweet Bird of Youth what they were dumping on Williams for.

[dsleft]

Posted: 9/28/13 at 12:37am

this one was pretty damned good too, and my experience of the show.

http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/news/story.asp?ID=MTSMA8

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 2:51pm

Isherwood was much more mixed (to negative) in the Times http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/theater/reviews/natural-affection-opens-at-the-beckett-theater.html?_r=0

[sowren1020]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 3:38pm

It was dreadfully miscast, with Ms. Erbe totally unable to play the leading role convincingly. John Pankow was brilliant in a supporting role with fine design by the set and light designer. Terrible wigs and costumes but it seems to directed with some pace and intensity but the mother/son casting could not carry the show. I'm a Jenn Thompson fan, with a different cast it might have been successful.

Updated On: 9/29/13 at 03:38 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/29/13 at 3:49pm

I'd still love to see this--it's interesting how different the opinions are on the casting--you definitely are not alone about not liking the casting, but others seem to see it as a strength.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/5/13 at 5:03pm

I saw the show and I am definitely glad I did. It was a really great play that was well acted (for the most part). I really didn't know what to expect and by the end I was very shocked by the turn of events. Act Two was definitely better for me but both acts moved along and I was never bored.

The set was really great and had nice bits of detail because you could see into the other rooms of the apartment and got the feeling of the place.

I've never liked Kathryn Erbe and this didn't change my mind. She's very bland and never really changes up how she acts. The HORRENDOUS wig didn't do her any favors. At first I didn't care for Chris Bert as Donnie but by the end I really enjoyed his performance because there were underlying bits of malice that played very well. The highlight for me though was the introduction to my new crush, Alec Beard. It certainly didn't hurt that he was half naked through much of Act One. Aside from the visuals, I thought his performance was the best for me because he actually embodied Chicago in 1962 more than anyone else in the show. But also this...