LIVES OF THE SAINTS at Primary Stages
LIVES OF THE SAINTS at Primary Stages
#1LIVES OF THE SAINTS at Primary Stages
Posted: 2/19/15 at 5:08pm
Saw the show last night and apparently major changes have already been made. They cut one of the plays (Babel's in Arms) which is upsetting to me because I find that one to be hysterical. They're also playing around with the order although I still think it needs some tweaking.
As with any collection of one-acts there are hits and misses but more hits. When Ives does the absurd and the signature word play then he's on fire. I find that when he tries to get a little more existential (like with It's All Good) then he peters out. I think my favorite of the evening was Enigma Variations because I've only ever read it before.
The actors are all up to the task as some of them have been in Ives' plays before. Arnie Burton and Liv Rooth were probably the highlights for me. Rick Holmes is the only one in the cast that I didn't always like.
The set is fairly minimal with a conveyor belt sending props on and off the stage.
Overall an enjoyable evening that still needs a bit of tweaking to make it really amazing of which I know any Ives show is capable.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#2LIVES OF THE SAINTS at Primary Stages
Posted: 2/19/15 at 6:08pm
I was there last night too. I agree with ClydeBarrow. I enjoyed the show. It's built-in hit and miss when a show is a series of short plays. But overall it hit.
Are the plays published? Is that how you know BABEL? Why do you think it was cut?
Side note: Stephen Sondheim was there last night and seemed to be enjoying it. His laugh was heard above others several times in the show. He was sitting very near me.
I read somewhere that he is working on a show with David Ives.
Updated On: 2/19/15 at 06:08 PM
#2LIVES OF THE SAINTS at Primary Stages
Posted: 2/19/15 at 6:18pm
Most of his plays are published. The published version of LIVES has different plays then what is being currently performed. I forget which of his books Babel's in but maybe TIME FLIES. Couldn't say why it would be cut because I could think of others in the evening that were more deserving of the ax.
And I had no idea Sondheim was there. He was at the performance of Roundabout's INTO THE WOODS I saw. We must be on the same schedule.
"Pardon my prior Mcfee slip. I know how to spell her name. I just don't know how to type it." -Talulah
#3LIVES OF THE SAINTS at Primary Stages
Posted: 3/26/15 at 7:44amI saw this last night. I find that there is always one short that I don't care for, and this time around it was the first one - about the two friends and the tv. However, after that, I thought the rest was highly enjoyable. I tended to love the crazier more out there ones - especially the dead mother and the dopplegang(l)er ones. I don't know if Carson Elrod is just a particularly good actor, or just gets David Ives rhythm (or both) but he continues to be a highlight for me.
