SWEAT Previews

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/2/17 at 10:07am

Previews for the new play Sweat, by Lynn Nottage, begin in two days (Saturday, March 4, 2017) at the Studio 54 Theatre. Sweat transfers to Broadway after its run at The Public Theater, and is set to officially open on March 26, 2017.

Who's going?!

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 11:40am

Bumping since previews start tonight (though it seems there isn't much buzz...!)

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 11:52am

I'm going on Monday, but this production is as under the radar as can be. 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 12:11pm

WhizzerMarvin said: "I'm going on Monday, but this production is as under the radar as can be. "

To be fair, I feel like you could say that about all the new plays this season- I keep forgetting they're happening. 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 3:24pm

I'll be there tonight!

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 3:41pm

Please report back, VotePeron. I will be there in two weeks and I can't wait!

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 3:53pm

One of the more remarkable plays I saw last year. So glad this is getting a second shot on a bigger stage (and I don't feel the absence of the intimate Public stage will take away the overwhelming impact of the play).  

In light of the most unexpected of electoral outcomes, this play needs to be seen: especially by urbane liberals (I'll note that I consider myself amongst that lot).  

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 4:57pm

i'll be there tonight~

[helvizz]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 5:34pm

Out of curiosity, does anybody know why he producers thought it'd be a good idea to start previews on a Saturday, specially when the house is dark on Sundays? They'll go in today, the director will take notes but won't be able to implement any changes until Monday. That's why I've always imagined it's better for the people involved to start previews in the first day of the week the show usually starts performances - in this case, mondays.

Updated On: 3/4/17 at 05:34 PM

[LarryD2]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 6:38pm

helvizz said: "Out of curiosity, does anybody know why he producers thought it'd be a good idea to start previews on a Saturday, specially when the house is dark on Sundays? They'll go in today, the director will take notes but won't be able to implement any changes until Monday. That's why I've always imagined it's better for the people involved to start previews in the first day of the week the show usually starts performances - in this case, mondays.

 

"

You're assuming there won't be rehearsals tomorrow. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 11:20pm

Any first preview reports?

[VotePeron]

Posted: 3/4/17 at 11:21pm

Saw this again tonight after absolutely adoring it at the Public. I've taken issue with how often you hear about shows being "timely," "relevant" and "important" - when in fact, it's the extremely rare show, like SWEAT, that absolutely is. Don't get me wrong - I think at it's core, every show should be timely, relevant, and important, but Sweat transcends every perception of what is possible through the power of theatre in today's time. 

The show got even better in the transfer, with nearly all the original NYC cast intact. The new member of the company, Alison Wright, was wonderful as Jessie. She fit the company beautifully. It's very obvious that director Kate Whorisky reentered the rehearsal room asking the cast to dig deeper, leading everyone to find nuance in their characters that added to the complexity of the show. Johanna Day is a shoe-in for the Leading Actress Tony, and I can't imagine she'll have any extreme competition unless someone from Indecent puts up a fight. If the producers aim to put Michelle Wilson in Featured Actress, she has a great shot as well.

The show is more or less a direct transplant of the Public's production, but fits like a glove in Studio 54. The rear mezzanine has been covered, and the way the auditorium is lit, makes the space feel extremely intimate. The set is the same, but the grandeur of the open stage space compliments the more personal bar. The lighting fixtures and rigging are visible from above, and add a great industrial feel. They added these strange, yet cool vertical floor to ceiling steel walls along the sides of the box seats, which mimic the feel of a factory exterior. 

I really hope the marketing team gets their **** together with this, though. I can't imagine this isn't the frontrunner for Best Play, but it really isn't helping that the gigantic Holiday Inn marquee is still hanging (and lit!) on 53rd street above the stagedoor. I'm assuming they're relying on strong word of mouth and reviews, but until then, they need to get butts in the seats. I hope I can encourage anyone possible to go see this - it's raw, visceral humanity that tells a truly American story. I can't recommend it enough.

 

Updated On: 3/4/17 at 11:21 PM

[petewk87]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 12:44am

How's the view and sound in the mezzanine? I saw a comment on Show Score suggesting that it's a big house for the play and all the lines may not be heard easily? Thanks!

Updated On: 3/5/17 at 12:44 AM

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 6:01am

Thanks VotePeron for such a descriptive review.  Can you elaborate on what you mean by 

The rear mezzanine has been covered?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 8:02am

Based on the pricing and seating charts on Telecharge it appears only the first four rows (AA-DD) of the mezzanine are being used for this production.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 8:46am

Oh, I see. Makes sense. Thanks frogs_fan85 for the clarification.

I missed this at the Public. Must get tickets. Adored Alison Wright on The Americans.

 

[Seperite]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 1:04am

I must disagree with the rave. Over 24 hours later, I'm still reliving various scenes from the play in my mind, because it was gritty, interesting, entertaining, thought-provoking, and enjoyable. One does not always (or often) get the privilege of watching a play that is so...timely.

But it was far from perfect. While the characters and story of very interesting, the play itself feels like it drags on and on and on. The first 90% of the play felt as though the characters and story were all running in place...and then, in the last few minutes, there was a whirlwind of plot development. In theater, of course, it is unnecessary for plot to develop at breakneck speed; it's nice to get to know the characters deeply and watch them grow over two and a half hours, even if not much happens storywise. But here I felt that we became acquainted with the characters rather early on, and didn't get to know them much more deeply over the ensuing two hours. The climax of the play certainly makes for an interesting jolt, but the build-up could have been cut by 30 - 45 minutes without missing a beat.

The other negative is not something one sees too frequently on Broadway: subpar acting. Perhaps because it was a first preview, it'll take some time for the actors to settle into their roles, but with the exception of one character (the bartender) I did not for one second believe that these were blue-collar workers from a hardscrabble town. Everything about them screamed "I am an urbane, sophisticated, city-dweller pretending to be salt of the earth." I could not suspend my disbelief. If you've spent significant time out in the "heartland" of this country -- outside of the metropolitan bubbles surrounding NYC, LA, etc. -- you know that there is just something...different...about people who don't live in the megalopolises on the coast. You can just feel it, detect it, see it, when you travel this country and interact with others...there's an authentic Americun!ism that is so very different from what one encounters here in NYC. While that trait is instantly detectable among real-life Americunns, I got none of that -- none -- from the denizens at Studio 54. They were all clearly actors, dressing up, playing make-believe, and putting on a show. And that took me completely out of the moment.

Sigh.

Great that this kind of story is being told on Broadway, though. It is a searing, gut-wrenching play. Despite the quibbles, I definitely recommend it.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 3:07am

Seeing it on Wednesday and really looking forward to it.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 9:47am

Seperite I agree with much of what you said about the play itself. I saw it at the Public and have no intention of seeing it again. That said, I hope it succeeds, and I'm glad they thought to block off some of the mezz.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/7/17 at 9:27am

I was there last night and was impressed. I agree with Seperite that build up to the climax could be shortened a little- maybe only by 10-15 minutes- but the big scene was so effective that it basically erased an misgivings I had about what came before it. 

I told my friends upon exiting that I could already see the movie being made. Julianne Moore as Tracey (Johanna Day); Viola Davis as Cynthia (Michelle Wilson). The play practically reads like screenplay and would require little adaption. Sweat beings in media res with a parole officer separately interviewing two young men, one white and one black, about the state of the lives after recently being released after serving time for a crime they committed eight years ago. The date about the stage tells us it's 2008 and after the brief opening we are transported back to 2000 where we get to see the events play out over the course of a year in a neighborhood bar.

I thought Day and Wilson were both excellent, as was James Colby as the bartender and Will Pullen as Day's son.

I liked the slice of life nature of act one. Not too much happens with the plot, but you really get an understanding of what it's like to be these people. The frustrations, hardships, the sheer monotony of their lives- it's a lot to take and a hopeful ending never seems to be looming on the horizon.

Sweat is the type of play that sticks with you and I'm glad I got a chance to see it after missing it at The Public. 

[Damiensta]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 12:30am

Wow, I guess I went to another show bc I felt the acting to be bad community theatre with actors trying to hard.

Show could use 15 min cut.

I guess there is always a first time to everything . First time that I disagree with Whizzer.

My friend and I were asking ourself what did we miss bc of the acclaim we had heard.

Guess this one was not for me . But glad that they are willing to produce a play with no need to inject a major star in the cast. Good luck to production.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 2:02am

There have been many successful plays with no major stars attached.

Updated On: 3/9/17 at 02:02 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/8/17 at 2:13am

I think Day's son is the worst of the bunch. But haven't seen the Bway production! 

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/9/17 at 12:33am

Just got in from seeing it.

Whizzer, my friend said the same thing to me about a movie when we were leaving.

I enjoyed the play overall. It is verh well written. I too had some issues with the acting and can't decide if if was just a directorial choice. Michelle Wilson as Cynthia stood out the most for me with this issue. Being from Pennsylvania, familiar with that area and it's history portrayed in the show and being black, something was off with her. All I can come up with is that she was directed to act like a stereotype and not realistically. Script wise, her character and attitude was on point. It is just the way it was presented and and came off as a bit amateurish acting wise.

I thought the big scene was directed well but not realistic enough. That is all I will say because I forgot how to do the spoiler thing.

I sat 2 rows from thd back left Orchestra. In the beginning there seemed to be a sound issue. There appears to be floor mics. Maybe I just adjusted but it seemed to get better by the end of act I.

Yes, it is timely but for that time. The corporate issues are timely now and should make any corporate big wig squirm in their seat as the show does not mince words about corporate America.And I loved that. 

The show runs longer than listed. About 2 hours and 20 minites with the intermission.

******POSSIBLE SPOILER********  <-------I went old school!

 

 

I did not feel it needed to be trimmed. That time leading up to the end, for me, just added to the "suspense" of getting to the answer to the question we had all night.

******END SPOILER******

 

It is well worth seeing. I think Nottage is an important voice in the theatrical community. I saw a few people leave at intermission. Their loss.

[petewk87]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 4:21pm

Any recommendations on seating? I may do TDF or rush, and will likely get rear orchestra or somewhere in the mezz. Would those seats be obstructed? Would the sound be generally good in the back?