Sweat previews

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 6:46am

Sweat began previews at the Public Theater this week, so I was wondering if anyone has seen it yet and would care to share their thoughts. (I also hope someone can share the running time.) I'm seeing it this Saturday and am looking forward to it. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/21/16 at 11:43pm

I saw this tonight thanks to the TodayTix Lottery, and I really enjoyed it. It runs about 2 1/2 hours with an intermission. 

It's a really great show, but it's HEAVY. Just the subject matter, the characters, the plot. It's just heavy. I don't think it's a tearjerker type of show, but it's just really tough, and you feel bad for the characters, but also know that they just aren't willing to help themselves, etc. Someone behind me mentioned that "These are the people voting for Trump." But Nottage does a fantastic job of giving each character a background and depth without them being just sketches of people. 

Day and Wilson were the standouts to me, being the most showy roles, but all around the acting was subtle and fantastic. Really loved the direction as well. She kept the scenes moving, but it all felt motivated. 

The design is probably the best I've seen at The Public. I didn't expect much in terms of design given that space, but wow. I was really impressed by such a beautifully detailed and interesting set. 

It's not a showy play liked Ruined is, so I'm not sure it would survive commercially on Broadway - but hey, The Humans is doing well, and it's pretty bleak as well. But it's def worth seeing. And a story that needed to be told. 

[jbird5]

Posted: 10/22/16 at 10:59pm

I thought it was boring, too tally. It basically ratified everything Trump is saying about NAFTA, trade, immigration, etc. But then turns around and trys to have everyone singing Kumbaya. it felt a little dishonest. The cast was excellent except for Miriam Shor who was wasted in more than one sense of the word (her character not her). The set was indeed amazing.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/22/16 at 11:34pm

I've heard from pretty solid authority they're looking to transfer it. But I'm sure that depends on reviews, etc. 

[PianoMann]

Posted: 10/23/16 at 12:30am

I'm seeing Sweat in a few weeks and I'm really looking forward to it!  I'm a big fan of Lynn Nottage and the reviews of its original run lead me to be very optimistic.  Sight unseen, I'd love for the show to transfer to Broadway for the sheer reason that Nottage has not yet had a play of hers produced on Broadway, and this one seems timely enough to have a shot at a strong, limited commercial run with potential awards prospects.  I'll definitely report back once I've seen it!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/23/16 at 12:42am

Agreed! It's an ensemble piece, so awards wise that might be iffy - I guess I'd put Johanna Day as a lead? And Davis? But it's a great show. Just not as showy as something like Ruined - which I loved. But I think it's a story that needs to be told, and an interesting perspective. 

That said. Will we ever get stage combat that looks real?! 

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 10/23/16 at 1:16am

This looks interesting. She's one of my favorite living playwrights.  It's a shame Ruined never made it to Broadway.   It could have enjoyed a nice run. Still one of the most moving theatrical experiences I've had.  

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 10/23/16 at 1:53am

I saw this tonight and loved it. RippedMan, I agree, 'heavy' is the perfect word to describe it. I went to a concert right after and was glad because I needed something to clear my head and lift me up a bit after seeing Sweat. It moved me and I was impressed by the acting, the set, the direction, and the writing. What an all-around great experience.

[BakerWilliams]

Posted: 10/23/16 at 11:57am

Nottage knocks it out of the park once again. A hard, heavy, and intensely satisfying piece. 

For comparison, it's better than Ruined, but not as good as Intimate Apparel. 

With this, Love, Love, Love, The Roads to Home, A Day By the Sea, The Humans, and Master Harold, I can't remember the last time so many good plays were running simultaneously.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 10/23/16 at 3:04pm

I saw Sweat on Thursday and enjoyed it - perhaps, appreciated is the better word - so much. It's heavy, it's a gut punch and it stays with you. It tells a story of a class of Americans who it seems do very much feel forgotten. As someone else mentioned, we have seen that with the current presidential election. Though it's an ensemble piece, I felt each character had plenty of personality and backstory to shine and stick out. I was moved to tears on more than one occasion.

Johanna Day was the standout for me. She's delivering a tremendous performance, as is Michelle Wilson. But again the full ensemble is excellent. One housekeeping note, the run time is definitely more like 2:30 plus intermission (they say 2:15 plus).

 

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/23/16 at 4:55pm

I just got home from the matinee and am still processing it. I think NJ Broadway Girl described it well as a gut punch. It mines the same turf as the recent Skeleton Crew, but I think that Sweat is more visceral.

The chronology is very interesting. It bounces back and forth between the years 2000 and 2008, and the month, day and year are projected at scene changes. (Although you can also tell which year it is by the characters' appearances, one character in particular.)

The acting was amazing across the board. Every single actor was believable. Miriam Shor's role was not large, but I enjoyed her performance. Also, I was puzzled by something:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

At one point, the character of Brucie says to his son something about "...since your mother died," and it took me by surprise because we know that Cynthia is very much alive! So I asked a fellow theatergoer after the show, and she opined that the actor might have misspoke his line. I'm wondering if anyone else noticed that. 

I would recommend it as long as you're in the mood for something pretty depressing, and aren't in fear of losing your own job, because this play will make you uncomfortable. Not that that's a bad thing.

Updated On: 10/23/16 at 04:55 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/23/16 at 10:14pm

I never found myself near tears, only because the people in question are all pretty terrible or at least make bad decisions. 

And re: the spoiler: I think he misspoke. Don't remember that in my performance. 

[A Director]

Posted: 10/24/16 at 12:29am

I saw SWEAT at at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015 and found it stunning.  It is a story that needs to be told because many people know what has happened to once prosperous towns and cities.

The decline in Reading started long before NAFTA.  Lynn Nottage began going there before a  certain someone decided to run for President.  To me, the play does not ratify what he says about NAFTA.  This is not the reason Nottage wrote the play.

I'm troubled by the comment "the people in question are all pretty terrible..."  Tracey, Cynthia, Brucie, Stan and Jessie are not terrible people.  They probably started working in the plants right out of high school and have been there for 20-35 years.  This was probably true for their grandparents and parents. They thought they were set for life.  What happens to them is not their fault.  After all the years, it is not so easy to make a change.  Based on seeing SWEAT, reading about it and hearing Nottage talk about it, she does not want the audience to pass judgement about the adults; she wants you to listen to their stories.

Yes, Jason and Chris make bad decisions and they pay a price.  On the other hand, neither started terrible.

When I saw the production, I was moved and felt like I had been punched in the gut. On the other hand, what Oscar says in the final scene gave me a little uplift.  Best of all, the play made me think.

As for the comment "These are the people voting for that certain candidate," these are fictional characters and how do we know how people in Reading are going to cast their ballot.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/24/16 at 9:21am

I don't think anyone is doubting that it's a story that needs to be told, but as someone who lives in NYC and sees an enormous amount of theater, I've seen this story before. It's definitely worth seeing but wasn't revelatory, IMO.

[kjck89]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 10:43pm

Hi Everyone- I'm seeing this play in a few weeks and I'm very excited and intrigued especially from everyone's thoughts of the play. I'm also a huge Miriam Shor fan and was wondering if anyone who's seen the show knows if there's any chance that she would sign playbills after? 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/31/16 at 11:43pm

I wouldn't see why she wouldn't? Not sure where they sign stuff at The Public? The lobby? There's a lot of shows going on right now, so no clue how any of that works. But her part is fairly small, but she does a great job with it.

[PianoMann]

Posted: 11/14/16 at 5:45pm

I saw Sweat this past Sunday and loved it as much as one could love such a dark and sobering play. I don't know if the show resonated with me so much because of what happened on Election Day just this past week, but I can't imagine Nottage could have envisioned just how relevant this show would be in its New York premiere. I agree with some of the criticism that the show often relied on some familiar theatrical devices, but I didn't particularly mind because I became very invested in the lives of these (mostly) well-wrought characters and their relationships. I was equally impressed by the terrific performances and the very impressive set design, especially for the Martinson theater. In terms of production quality, I think it's ready for a commercial Broadway run and I hope it transfers. I don't know how it would do at the box office, but it deserves to be seen by a much wider audience! I'll be trying to make a return visit through the TodayTix lotto before it closes.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/15/16 at 1:02am

Agreed! Nottage deservers a stab at Broadway, though.

[bandit964]

Posted: 11/15/16 at 9:56am

This was my first TodayTix Lotto win!.  

I agree with most posters and enjoyed the play every much.  Such natural dialogue and believable choices being made.  Hard to pick a side.  Nottage makes you empathetic to all characters.  Bravo on the set design for that small space.  

RippedMan: That said. Will we ever get stage combat that looks real?!

^^LOL  It is unfortunate that it's seldom we see believable stage combat.