New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
#1New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 10:51am
"The New Group's production of playwright Eugene O’Neil’s rarely revived Mourning Becomes Electra, starring stage and screen vet Lili Taylor and indie-queen Jena Malone, had moved ups its limited run’s closing date by six weeks. The epic drama, which opened February 19, was originally slated to play through April 18. The show will now play its last performance on March 1.
In addition to Taylor and Malone, the show features Joseph Cross, Anson Mount, Mark Blum and Robert Hogan. The cast also includes Carolyn Baeumler, Phoebe Strole, Patrick Mapel, Therese Barbato, Geoffrey Bryant, Susan Goodwillie, Mycah Hogan, Sean Meehan and John Wojda.
The seldom-revived Electra, which debuted on Broadway in 1931, is a Freudian update of the Greek tragedy of Orestes, set during the American Civil War. It tells the story of General Ezra Mannon (based on Agamemnon), his adulterous second wife, Christine (based on Clytemnestra and played by Taylor), and children Orin (based on Orestes) and daughter Lavinia (based on Electra and played by Malone), weaving a tale of revenge, lust, jealousy and revenge.
With an unedited running time of five hours, Mourning Becomes Electra was last revived on Broadway in 1972..."
http://www.broadway.com/Mourning-Becomes-Electra-Moves-Up-Closing-to-4-1/broadway_news/5021869
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#2re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:02pm
GOOD.
As much as I hate to see actors and stagehands out of work, I hate seeing people suffer through dreck even more. Besides, they'll all find work. Let's be serious. Good riddance to bad rubbish. I'd like to think of this as payback.
Updated On: 2/23/09 at 12:02 PM
#2re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:10pmHow did I not know Joe Cross was in this? I haven't been reading the board often enough as of late. I'm booked all weekend so I won't be able to make it. I know a lot of people have said the show was bad but I would have liked to see Joe again.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#3re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:12pmIs anyone really surprised by this? I love Lili Taylor, but this dreck should close up shop before March 1.
Vespertine1228
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/30/05
#4re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:14pmGoing on Thursday to see how long I make it. Considering I saw The Story of My Life yesterday, it's been a week of getting in right before the curtain comes down.
harper4
Understudy Joined: 6/9/08
#5re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:20pm
O.U.C.H.
Can't say that I am surprised. Feel for the actors and stagehands, wish them well. This one is all on Scott Elliot. What a waste...
#6re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:22pmI wouldn't really place all the blame on Scott. Good actors can rise above material and bad direction. They didn't. I blame all involved. Design, direction, talent, and so on. No one is going to escape blame here. It's a bad production in every way, shape, and form. Simple.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#7re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:28pmNo, it's all Scott Elliott's fault.
#8re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:41pmI place most the blame on the director. I mean the production was so misguided there was little the actors could do to salvage it. What a mess!
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
snowskittle
Leading Actor Joined: 1/10/09
#9re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 12:48pmTwo more down this week. This is not good...not good at all...
harper4
Understudy Joined: 6/9/08
#10re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 1:12pmColor, under normal circumstances I would agree wholeheartedly with you but in a case like this with such good actors and such a wonderful piece of literature the blame has to be on the direction. I wasn't as down on some of the design elements as you are, but again the final call on all of that (especially in a non-profit run) is the director's. I think everyone should take their medicine, but Elliot by far deserves the biggest dose.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#11re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 4:51pmBoy, for a subscription house to close a show early...
#12re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 5:02pmI never said not to point fingers at Scott Elliot, but I certainly think that because they are such great actors, they should be able to manage at least passable performances under crappy direction. Lili Taylor managed to play the matriarch of a powerful family without even a stitch of regality. Jena Malone walked around with her arms crossed and a pouty, "Keira Knightley" look on her face for 3 and a half hours and then switched to pouty but with her arms down. So on and so on. Scott Elliot may have directed them crappily, but it's the actor's job to know their characters and inhabit their characters. It's Eugene O'Neill! His characters are so complex and perfectly sketched out. Is it his finest work? No. But it certainly gives the actors quite a bit to work with outside of the direction.
#13re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 5:13pm
How does it work when a subscription theatre company ends a show's run early?
Do the subscribers that didn't see it get their money back?
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#14re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 7:56pm
I'm not a genius at math but that looks like seven weeks, not six weeks.
Either way, I totally understand this closing early. I'd rather issue refunds to my subscribers than risk them seeing this show and discounting their memberships for future seasons.
#15re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 8:05pm
I didn't find it that bad!
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"
ChristopherDurangFan
Understudy Joined: 2/28/08
#16re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 11:40pmShould I definitely not see this, even if I ABSOLUTELY ADORE LILI TAYLOR?
Tom-497
Featured Actor Joined: 12/18/05
#17re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 11:53pm
If you adore Lili Taylor, you should certainly see it. Those who liked this production are definitely a minority, but they do exist.
I liked it despite its sometimes significant problems, and I heard several other people speaking enthusiastically about it on the way out the night I went.
#18re: New Group's ELECTRA to Close Six Weeks Early
Posted: 2/23/09 at 11:59pm
I adore Lili Taylor. And I mean... will watch her in ANYTHING. She's the best thing about the third season of "Six Feet Under" and "The Haunting" is one of my favorite movies thanks to her. I absolutely love her.
But this... I couldn't watch her because I feared it would taint my love for her, haha. She was bad. Horribly miscast and did a poor job acting the role. Don't waste four and a half hours of your life and well-earned money to see an actress you love do a bad job in a bad production. Even if it's a comp seat, don't.
