The New Century? Anybody see it? And...

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 5:03am

spill the beans---------------------------------------------------------------------

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 9:23am

I saw it a couple of weeks ago, there are some MAJOR problems that may very well have been repaired by now.

The show was dreadfully, dreadfully, dreadfully uneven. When it worked, it really worked, and when it didn't it just plain lay there gasping its life out. The show is a series of three monologues and a final scene that brings the three characters together, in a particularly unconvincing situation.

Linda Lavin's opening monologue is marvelous, beautifully written and performed. Lavin squeezes every single laugh out of it. It really is a joy to behold, almost a Master Class in comic timing.

Then comes Peter Bartlett delivering his monologue, "Mr. Charles Currently of Palm Beach" and the energy and enthusiasm in the room just evaporated. The monologue itself is partly to blame, it feels mostly like Rudnick cleaned out his Snappy Gay One Liner File. I haven't heard so many Laugh Lines go over like a lead balloon in my life. And Bartlett seemed to know it wasn't going over, and started worked even harder, and it kept on not working, and ultimately it got to be excruciating.

After the intermission, Jane Houdyshell reminded us all of why we go to the theatre in the first place. Her monologue, a woman who channels her creativity into making rather ghastly crafts products, was the triumph of the evening. She navigated the rather tricky role with real grace, making the character likeable and touching without glossing over her less admirable qualities. Houdyshell is a National Treasure, no doubt about it.

Then there was the big final scene that tried to knit everything together. Some laughs were managed, but it just sputters out in the end.

It was a preview. They may have fixed these problems by now.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 9:35am

I'm seeing it tonight and looking forward to seeing Linda Lavin on stage...will report back.
Updated On: 4/14/08 at 09:35 AM

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 9:45am

I saw the first preview. Lavin was brilliant. Barlett's bit was very successful the night I saw it, though the material is the weakest of the three monos. And Houdyshell's was
wonderful. The final scene was totally confusing and never amounted to anything.
Yet I forgave that final scene--the three monologues were worth it.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 11:43am

I agree with Roscoe.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 9:47pm

I was at opening night tonight with Adamgreer (thanks, tdf). Before I begin my review of the show, I would like to mention the celebrities we saw while walking in: Nathan Lane, Debra Monk, Edward Hibbert, Julie White, David Pittu, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Miriam Margoyles. To top it off, our seats were AA 103, 104 - the freaking first row center...for an opening night...and they were only $25 bucks! Yes, we were probably the only two people who actually paid for our tickets, but wow, it was incredible.

Now to the show. Linda Lavin's opening monologue was like, as others have said, a master class in acting. She got every laugh and delivered each line to perfection. It was absolutely thrilling to see her on stage...the original Sydney in SUPERMAN who sang "You've Got Possibilities"...I was in awe of her...and she looks fantastic.

Peter Bartlett was fine in his monologue, but it was a bit too over the top for my taste. It wasn't as hilarious as the first monologue, and his point could have been made in less time. His partner/whipping boy Mike Doyle, while not a very good actor, was smoking hot. I'm working on getting a chest like his. Damn!

Jayne Houdyshell was excellent in her monologue about crafts. I think she is a fantastic actress, and while the monologue itself might not be very well written, she sold it and got all the laughs. Wonderful job.

The final scene was extremely random, in particular the disco dance at the very end was totally out of place. It should probably be rewritten or cut, but I guess it won't be since tonight was opening night.

Still, a fun night out at the theater and certainly worth $25 bucks. I had a great time.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 9:59pm

Thanks WaT... Now I read your review....as you know... I pmed you of things we cannot discuss & post ....only between friends !

All I can say is.... I am for you!

J*

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:04pm

i love you, jay!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:06pm

BTW- Is there a playbill? bec. there's none on playbill.com.. that's weird?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:08pm

yup. a playbill in color!!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:11pm

Thanks for the review WaT...it's wonderful to hear Lavin's doing well!

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:15pm

The NY Times Review is up!

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/theater/reviews/15cent.html?ref=theater

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 10:17pm

Well, I agree with most of what was already written, but just to add my own .02....

First of all, how WAT and I ended up in the best seats in the house is entirely beyond me, but there we were. First row center, on the aisle.

The entire thing is dreadfullly uneven. As someone mentioned upthread, when it works, it really works, and when it doesn't, the entire thing falls flat.

Linda Lavin delivers the first monologue, and does a fantastic job with a rather over the top character. She gets all the laughs, yet still manages to make Helene at least appear to be a real person.

Peter Bartlett, an actor I've really liked in other things, has more trouble with his character, but that's because it's written waaaaaaaaaaaay too over the top. Bartlett seemed like he was doing his monologue for an audition to play Roger DeBris. He gets some snappy one-liners, but it just doesn't go anywhere.

My favorite part of the evening was Jane Houdyshell's bit, entitled "Crafty." This is where Rudnick has the most success. Houdyshell's character is both funny and real, and is never over the top. It was the only point in the play where I thought, "I know someone just like her." The scene was at times hilarious and at times touching.

Then we get to that last scene, where it just all falls apart. I understand Rudnick's desire to try and tie the three stories together, but surely there was a better way to do it than what we saw onstage. It just feels way too contrived and random.

Overall, an uneven, if brisk, evening at the theatre. Worth it to see Lavin and Houdyshell.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 8:53pm

Has anyone seen it recently? I'm thinking of adding this play for the 2:00 p.m. show on Wed. June 11th. At the moment, I have:
Tuesday, June 10th: Gypsy
Wednesday, June 11th: Xanadu @8:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 12th: A Chorus Line
I hope to meet more than a few Broadway World forum members during my vacation. Later, Roman in Austin, Texas

[Corine2]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 9:03pm

The first play "PRIDE AND JOY" was at the TRIBECA THEATER FESTIVAL a few years ago and the role was played by Jackie Hoffman. While I adore LAVIN, Hoffman was funnier in the role.
The first play is one of the funniest short plays I have ever seen especially with Hoffman in the role. It was so funny I went to see Hoffman three times.

I think the one with Jane was in the Tribeca Theater festival but I don't remember it. She is marvelous and indeed a treasure.
The show is very hard to watch if you lived through 9/11.

It is worth seeing but MR CHARLES and the last short play were tedious and painful to watch. The other two with the ladies are worth the price of admission and I loved the women, they were brilliant.