The Wayside Motor Inn

[FloydJoe2]

I didn't see any previous threads about this but I saw this tonight at the Signature Theatre and have mixed feelings about it. It's a very interesting premise, 5 different couples with 5 different stories each in a different motel room but all sharing the same space onstage but never interacting. However, Act One seems to drag with not much conflict, just a lot of exposition. Act Two is where things start to take form and we get some payoffs in each of the little stories but some are just bland. The cast does a great job though and each couple has great chemistry. Curious to other people's thoughts.

[After Eight]

I thought it was pretty good, and definitely one of Gurney's better plays in recent years. The dialogue flowed smoothly, the characters were finely drawn, and the whole play had the ring of truth about it. However, two of the stories failed to light much dramatic spark.

The acting was fine thoughout.

[playlover2010]

I liked it very much, I thought both the acting and direction were excellent. There were some really gorgeous stage tableaus. There wasn't a lot of action, but I didn't mind that because the subtle dynamics and acting were so fine. I'd recommend it.

[mjohnson2]

I'm with After Eight on this one. In the technical sense, it was a very well written play, but onstage it just didn't have enough tension for me, but The Signature is a theatre that you can usually count on to put on shows that are much better than most of the stuff we get on Broadway each year (hence, why I went so early in previews when I usually go to like the 3rd to last one). Would recommend in terms of overall shows in New York playing right now, but it certainly isn't the best the Signature has to offer. After all, only half a year ago, they gave us CHERI, which was absolutely incredible.

[followspot]

I'm confused why this is being discussed as a new(ish) play. THE WAYSIDE MOTOR INN is one of Gurney's earliest works, first produced in 1978. Has it been revised in some way?

[mjohnson2]

Oh, so it was. Yeah, this is a revival put on by Signature because he is a resident playwright there.

[AndrewAndrew]

Do we regret checking into The Wayside Motor Inn now playing The Signature Theatre or was it 4 Stars? Watch our full Video Review and find out!


Click Here for Review of The Wayside Motor Inn

[Borstalboy]

I saw it about a week and a half ago. Pleasant, unchallenging, middle-brow.

[AndrewAndrew]

^ a perfect three word review

[NewYorkTheater]

A.R. Gurney was surprised at the Signature Theater’s choice for the opening play in his playwright-in-residence season with them.
“The Wayside Motor Inn was dismissed by the critics when it opened, and it’s never really worked before,” Gurney told me...
Whether this 1977 play works now depends on how satisfied you can be by a well-staged production that presents five dramatically underwhelming stories in a theatrically inventive way.
The Wayside Motor Inn Theater Review: Gurney’s Five Tales Told Simultaneously