YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU previews.

[mjohnson2]

Previews start tomorrow. Is anybody planning on going?

[gleek4114]

I've got tickets for mid September. I can't wait to hear what people think. I'm super excited for this!

[FloydJoe2]

I'll be there tomorrow and shall report back!

[Dollypop]

I'm actually looking forward to this. Every time I've seen a production of this play it's been either high school or community theater. I'll be interesting to see what's it's like in the hands of pro's.

[mjohnson2]

Agreed. I really hope that this is this year's GLASS MENAGERIE where a play that has been overproduced to high hell gets a new production that isn't innovative, but just happens to be extremely good and reveals how great the text actually is.

[theaterfan862]

Does anyone know if the show has a rush policy of any kind?

[n2nbaby]

Student rush.

[ljay889]

Dollypop is back!

[theaterfan862]

N2nbaby do you know more details of the policy?

[givesmevoice]

From Telecharge: "Student Rush: $30.00 - Available at the Box Office only on the day of the performance - Limit 1 ticket per valid ID - Subject to availability."

http://www2.telecharge.com/BehindTheCurtain.aspx?prodid=10406&mode=gettingTickets

[theaterfan862]

Thanks so much Givesmevoice!

[FloydJoe2]

I just got out of the first preview (curtain down at 10:25). The time flew by and I had such a wonderful time tonight. As Dollypop said, it's great to see this piece of theatre, that's been done so many times by your local HS and Community Theatre, presented by a group of professionals and they do it so well. Everyone in the cast is doing marvelous work up there, especially Annaleigh Ashford, Kristine Neilsen, and of course James Earl Jones. The company is the definition of a truly brilliant ensemble and they will only get better with time! Kudos to Scott Ellis for his fine direction. Will post more thoughts when I get home!

[CurtainsUpat8]

I just got back from the first preview and let me be the first to say this is a MARVELOUS production! It's my one of my favorite shows, which is why I wanted to go early. What can I say. Just delightful. The set is beautiful. The show is as funny as ever. The audience (who I think were people who already knew the show) were howling with laughter. All of the actors created crazy, believable characters that all inhabited the same crazy world.

The usher told me that they never had a dress rehearsal in that theatre. I don't know if that is true or not.

It's a magnificent play. It runs about 2 and a half hours. Perfectly written.

James Earl Jones is great. Everyone is. If I had to have a few negative things to say it would be about Rose Byrne. I don't know her television work at all. She is often too soft and she really doesn't have much charisma. I would say she was the weakest link.

The music by Jason Robert Brown is hardly noticeable.

All in all, I think it will be a big hit with New Yorkers. I don't know if the tourist crowd will go.

I am going to write this too because it is going through my mind, and I was afraid it might come up. Other than James Earl Jones, there are only two other black actors in the cast... and they are servants. Donald talks quite a bit about being on "relief" and it has always struck me to have racist overtones. It still does. It is a little odd that we are supposed to be "color blind" to James Earl Jones with the other two black characters written as they are. It's just an observation.

All in All... get a ticket and go. I had tdf. Great seat. Back of the Mezzanine but I could see everything really well.

[C. C Baxter]

I was also at the first preview and had a wonderful time! I'm a sucker for a revolving set and suffice it to say that the reveal of the Sycamore household's interior is absolutely stunning. There is so much detail in every corner of the home that I would gladly spend a few hours just walking around it to spot every last quirky prop, animal or fixture (all of which add to the characters). Kristine Nielsen is, as always, delightful and there's something about seeing James Earl Jones deliver those lines about following your passion that adds an extra layer of power to them. Maybe it's because I've admired his work for so long but when he speaks, you want to listen to every word he has to say because in a way, he feels like he could be all of our grandpas. Even though I'm very familiar with her film work, I was very curious to see how Rose Byrne did and I'm more than happy to report that I was very impressed. She more than held her own and had some truly lovely (and often hilarious) moments. The cohesion between all the members of the cast, especially given the fact that it was the first preview, only makes me want to revisit the show later on in its run. If they're already firing on all cylinders now, I can only imagine what it will be like to see them once they've had a few weeks under their belts.

[dtzumbrunnen]

I haven't been to a first preview since Leap of Faith, so we'll just say I was unsure exactly what to expect tonight. Totally unfamiliar with the material before tonight and I was impressed with several of the performances.

This ensemble is already coming together nicely, with Kristine Nielsen, Annaleigh Ashford, and Will Brill creating deliciously off-kilter characters. Will's background action is incredible, and whenever I glanced at him his reactions were hilarious. Annaleigh is killing it on pointe with her so-bad-it's-good routine, and Kristine Nielsen's just doing everything perfectly. All of it. Her kitten handling is top-notch. Also, bravo to the marketing team for including Adorable Kittens on the posters outside the Longacre - very nice touch.

The other star of the show is the interior set. You're constantly noticing new components when you have a spare second (which is rare, as pacing was quite good tonight). I leaned over as the house rotated at the beginning of Act 3 and asked, "is that an alligator head?" and sure enough, it was. So keep your eyes peeled - lord knows what else is up there.

Such an enjoyable evening. For those interested in timing, we started just shy of 8:10 and were out at 10:25 with two 10 minute intermissions.

[WhizzerMarvin TrinaJasonMendel]

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.

[mjohnson2]

Wonderful to hear all these great reports. Now only to wait and see if After Eight went and saw it so we can hear the other side of the spectrum, or he might love it, which would completely seal the deal for me to get tickets for tomorrow.

[bwayphreak234]

For those who were there tonight, what was the set like? Also, thrilled to be reading these glowing reviews!

[CurtainsUpat8]

The set was preset as the front of the house. Kind of a Victorian. It was on a turntable and turned to show the inside. It was one floor with a staircase on SR that went to a landing and exit to the second floor of the house.

There was darker wood, like an older house has. There was something hanging on almost every inch of the wall space, which made for a lot to look at. And it was very interesting things.

I was in the mezz and couldn't see all the detail. But the sets and costumes were amazing.

I have very fond memories of the Jason Robarts version that was taped. I must have watched that ten times so I came into this production wondering what I would think. This production was equal to that but better because it had more energy. It's a glorious script and they are all having fun. It reminds me of a production I saw years ago... The Ellis Rabb production of The Royal Family.

It's real old fashioned theatre done very well.

Annaleigh Ashford is so funny as Essie, she sets the bar high for everyone else. And Will Brill is Will Brillant!
Kristine Neilson is likable, lovable, and and gets huge laughs, which she deserves. Penny is such a pleasant character.

Although I like Byron Jennings as an actor, I think he should have been more gruff and rigid. The Kirby family is a mirror of the Sycamore family.

It's directed really well. The first Act sets up the CRAZY Second Act and the third ACT does not fall apart, like most third Acts, but makes us humble and grateful.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

So I guess as of now, it looks like Scott Ellis could end up getting a Best Director Tony nod for this production (depending on how the rest of the competition turns out), though of course this is the first of three productions he'll be directing this season (The Elephant Man/On the Twentieth Century), depending on how he does with The Elephant Man, does anyone think he'll end up being nominated twice in the same category ala Matthew Warchus back in 2009?

[Scottsacto]

So Happy that Whizzer Liked It!! Add this one to my Possible Fall Checklist!!

[Luv2goToShows]

Great to hear so many positive thoughts, I am looking forward to seeing this at the end of the week!

[Rhoda4]

Just curious.... How is Julie Halston? Just love her, and have seen her in so many shows (especially all the Charles Busch stuff)

[Wickedmonkey332]

This is definitely going on my list of must-sees this fall!

[dtzumbrunnen]

Rhoda - Julie felt like the hammiest of all the characters. Her part is small, but she certainly gets lots of laughs. While all the other characters in the Sycamore family have a soul that shines through, you never see that from Julie Halston's character (granted, she's not a part of the family - just an alcoholic actor that was picked up on the bus - so entirely appropriate choices).

She definitely adds to the cacophony of the second act!

[bfreak]

So happy to hear all these great reviews. I know that this play is considered a three act show, but is it separated into two acts for this staging? Basically is it one or two intermissions, it doesn't say on telecharge.