Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoilers
Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoilers
#1Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoilers
Posted: 11/26/07 at 11:12am
Its Monday again.........
E16 
Streamers
Play Revival
Boston University Theater
Hungtington Theater Company
11/25 2 pm matinee
2 hours & 15 mins with 1 intermission
Tix Price : $15.00 + $4.25 processing fee = $19.25 (Balcony Seats)
Before I went to see this show I have no idea as to what is this play all about. I did some research a few days ago and All I know is this play is about the Vietnam War and there was a movie adaptation in 1983 by Robert Altman with Matthew Modine as Billy. I posted some inquiries about the play and everyone was telling me that this is probably one of the best play by David Rabe and go see it. I got us a $15.00 ticket (last seat balcony for 2 tixs) for a Sunday matinee and after the lights went out (half of the theater was empty) we went down 5 rows.. we ended up with great seats and the play started. Wow ! I did not realized this play was a little intense and provocative... there was VIOLENCE, FOUL LANGUAGE, RACISM , SEXUAL TENSIONS and NUDITY - yes.. there is Nudity! The play originally opened in LCT's Mitzi Newhouse theater in 1976 - It was really way ahead of its time. For the first time in almost 30 years.. Its being revive at the Huntington's BU Theate , directed by Scott Ellis (Little Dog Laughed) and features talented young actors, one of which is Brad Fleischer (Coram Boy). I actually thought this is gonna be another war play..but in reality - the war is its backdraft. The main theme of the play is the lives of the main four characters- Richie (Hale Appleman) a homosexual soilder from Manhattan, Roger (J.D. Williams) an educated, middle class African American soilder, Carlyle (Ato Essanodoh) which is almost the reverse of Roger- mysterious, crude, violence and almost a loose canon and Billy (Brad Fleisher) a conservative soilder from Wisconsin who has a secret.
6 Things I LIKE about the Play (out of 10)
1. The Story- I was really suprised that the story (one of the themes) is about homosexuality -one is openly gay ( Ritchie- sort of) and another one is closeted (Billie). I was expecting its like Journey's End. It talks about the psychological scars of the war, but mainly that's the background.
2. Act 2 - was very intense ! -starting from the scene where Ritchie was flirting with Carlyle by using his foot to caress his boots- that lead to the scene where Richie is felating Carlyle -- Billy got jealous ( that's what I think) and called Carlyle, "Sambo!"- then Carlye stabbed Billly-- till the end of the play which is something else- what a roller coaster ride- I was not prepared for that !
3. The Cast
Ato Essandoh, Hale Appleman, J.D. Williams,
Charlie Hewson, and Brad Fleischer in Streamers 
a. Brad Fleischer (Billy) - I think he was really a standout as a closeted soldier. He really nailed the role of Billy very well. I like him when I first saw him at Coram Boy (Meshak) and I was glad to see him here with more parts. I gotta say this (pardon me) but for those inquiring minds- Brad has two scenes without a shirt and just wearing his underwear... in case you wanna know! 
Brad in Coram Boy as Meshak 
Brad in Streamers as Billy 
b. Hale Appleman (Ritchie) - very good as the effiminante Ritchie who keeps hitting on Billy bec. he can tell that he is gay. He really gave that depthness to the character longing to be loved by another man.
c. Ato Essandoh (Carlyle) - as a F*CKed up soilder. Somehow he is so mysterious and you know that he might have been damaged as a child bec. of his very violent nature...I thought he was probbably the best of all the cast. I was really moved by his performance.
e. J.D. Williams (Roger) - his acting was good as an African-American guy , who wants to do the right thing.. does not want to be stereotype..only to be haunted by is friend's action- Carlyle.
All the supporting roles were just equally good-John Sharian (Sgt. Rooney) and Larry Clarke (Sgt. Cokes). I did not realized that there were a total of 11 actors until they all came out for the curtain call- mostly just minor characters...
4. Scott Ellis' direction
5. The set- (see production pictures) only 1 set. It very beautiful and functional. The scenery edges are very sleek that contradict to the proscenium of the stage. But look so perfect together.
6. The lighting was really great. Almost perfect-IMO
1 Thing I DID NOT LIKE about the Play (out of 10)
1. There were parts in Act 1 that was slow and its easy to phase out. Somehow there was lack of direction on which the story is going, but I guess that's what the playwright intended it to be. The characters grew on you with the instensity of circumstances. Its almost like its has that open-endness to it. I like it a lot, it could be boring & long winded in some parts but you just have to be patient with the play and it will ALL COME TOGETHER at the end.
IN SUMMARY:
I really like the play.. I know it could be a little outdated in the sense that some charcaters were a little streotypical- but it really did not bother me at all,. I was actually suprised that it was written in the 70's- considering it deals with homosexuality in the military..I am always happy with Hungtinton Theater Company. I think Ive seen all their productions last year. though I did not care for PERSEPHONE that much- I thought it was horrible but I am glad that Boston have this great regional theater. Too bad.. It looks like this show will probbably be half-empty all the time during its run but nevertheless it was a great and thought provoking play. Like the title - Streamers- its like jumping on a plane without knowing that your parachute will open or not... and you try to hold on on something...
and GO SEE the show at Boston's Huntington Theater (playing till Dec. 9)
J*
Score : 6/1- I LIKE IT ! 
Boston University Theater 
Production Photos (courtesy of Huntington Theater Company)
Ato Essandoh (Carlyle) and Hale Appleman (Ritchie) 
Ato Essandoh (Carlyle) on the floor, J.D.Williams (Roger) & Brad Fleisher (Billy) 
Charlie Hewson (Martin) with Hale Appleman (Ritchie) & Brad Fleisher (Billy) 
Larry Clarke (Sgt. Cokes) & John Sharian (St. Rooney) 
The Program
Extra Stuff
DISCOUNTED TICKETS for STREAMERS
https://www.artsboston.org/show.asp?shCode=1616&shName=Streamers¶m3=¶m4=¶m5=¶m6=¶m7=¶m8=¶m9=¶m10=
About The Play:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGhJZvAN4EQ&eurl=https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/season/0708/streamers/video.aspx
SCENES From the play plus CHARACTERS & SETTINGS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLHOdu6b2Ag&feature=related
About Scott Ellis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TA3f6Ei9EU&eurl=https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/season/0708/streamers/video.aspx
About the Playwright David Rabe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i--uopsNBY&eurl=https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/season/0708/streamers/video.aspx
Updated On: 11/26/07 at 11:12 AM
#2re: Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoi
Posted: 11/26/07 at 4:03pm
I forgot to include the reviews of the local papers here ..In case anyone is interested!
Boston Globe
https://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2007/11/16/the_tug_of_war/
Boston's Phoenix
https://thephoenix.com/article_ektid51466.aspx
Metro
https://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2007/11/15/23/5353-72/index.xml
********************
Theatermania (Boston)
https://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/11959
Updated On: 11/26/07 at 04:03 PM
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#2re: Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoi
Posted: 11/26/07 at 4:46pm
I saw the original and I don't remember any nudity, am I just getting senile?
Thanks for the review and the pics jaybird.
#3re: Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoi
Posted: 11/26/07 at 5:00pm
Of course.. I had not seen the original play but the nudity scene here is so unexpected.. its like the one they had in THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED .. Ritchie undressed and pulled his underwear . he really did not show his p**** ..just his bare ass... I guess it depends on where youre sitting bec. he is moving and talking while naked facing the lockers..applying talc powder all over his body.(this was done twice in the play) He was supposed to take a shower in the scene..
There were definitely scenes reminescence of THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED where the boys are talking while undressing down to their underwear and putting back their clothes on...removing their shoes & socks ..putting it back .. sooo Little Dog Laughed.
It must be the director-Scott Ellis
The scene where Ritchie is supposedly giving head to Carlyle was soo expected too.
Carlyle (sitting on the bed) pulled his pants while Ritchie semi-kneeled down or sat down ?- cant really remember- it was soo fast ! ( the lights was dimmed- it was done very artistic) though I was a bit embarrased bec. we were sitting behind old folks for the 2 pm matinee. I really did not know how are they going to react.. LOL !
J*
Updated On: 11/26/07 at 05:00 PM
being.jeremiah
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#4re: Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoi
Posted: 11/26/07 at 5:11pm
I saw the Roundabout staged reading for this- it was quite wonderful. One of the older guests, who's a war veteran, that the language of the play is tamer than what actually happens in "there."
Anyhow, hopefully this production comes to the New York shore!
#5re: Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoi
Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:29pm
Hi All-
I am bumping this thread..since it will play in NYC next season at Roundabout's Laura Pels...This was the production at Boston's Huntington Theater...directed by Scott Ellis which will transfer next season...I saw this last November.
For those interested on how they did the REVIVAL in Boston... Here it is...
Cant believe I only got 200 views on this one...and no one responded back then 
J*
Updated On: 3/21/08 at 02:29 PM
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#6re: Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoi
Posted: 3/21/08 at 2:51pmScorekeeper?
PEACE.
tapfrog
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/16/06
#7re: Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoi
Posted: 5/21/08 at 7:44amHow about including the BroadwayWorld review of the Boston show?
#8re: Jaystarr's 10/10 Report on STREAMERS (at Boston's Huntington) with spoi
Posted: 5/21/08 at 7:52amOh this show sounds great, thanks for the great review
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
