Mr. Burns @ Playwrights- Page 2

[DressedInYourPajamas]

Posted: 8/25/13 at 5:21pm

I just saw this this afternoon and thought it was spectacular. Washburn is such a fresh, unique, and interesting voice and her play is enrapturing. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but it definitely makes you think and is incredibly interesting, whether you end up enjoying it or not. See it.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/25/13 at 5:51pm

I think I'm def. going to rush this. Seems weird, but I might be into it.

What's the design like?

[trentsketch]

Posted: 8/25/13 at 6:25pm

I saw this, by total chance, when I was in DC last spring. I really liked the material. It's a long play but it worked for me. I don't know how much they'll try to cut down at this point. The DC production ran around 2.5 hours, too.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/25/13 at 6:41pm

I honestly think that describing the design would qualify as a spoiler.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 12:01am

This show has some very funny moments and a lot of musical parodies that are great fun to watch. Loved all the skits about The Jetsons, today's pop songs, etc. The Mr Burns fight sequence set to a lot of songs is great fun. This show has a lot of potential.

But the first 45 minutes talking about the Simpsons are interminable. This show would be far stronger if they simply cut the entire first 45 minutes, and start the show after the "fake intermission pause". Then eliminate the intermission and you'll be left with a very funny 90 minute show.

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 12:09am

From what I've heard, though, deleting the first third of the show might make it into a funny farce about pop culture in the future, rather than a sometimes dry but unique look at the process of myth making.

It's like the journey may be boring to some, but it makes the destination more rewarding.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 12:27am

Absolutely. The first act needs to be there.

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 9:23am

I LOVED this show. It's going to be polarizing, yes, but what it affectively does is portray the roles of pop culture and storytelling in society and then delves into how mythologies are formed--what they mean to the cultures creating them, why we tell stories, how we hear stories, and so on.

It's not a play where character is king. It's key to note that the actors are all playing "themselves" from a credit standpoint. Quincy Tyler Bernstine plays Quincy, etc. Because as much as they're all people, their roles in the show are as storytellers.

I'll echo those who said Matthew Maher wasn't at all difficult to understand. He's a stunning actor. He and Bernstine are two of my favorite performers working the boards these days. FWIW, last night's audience was very appreciative. No walkouts that I saw. But I'm sure there will be more, sadly. It's a nervy, unusual play, so certainly there will be those turned off by it. I'm thrilled to have seen it and expect to be thinking on it for some time.

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 9:38am

A monument of self-indulgent drivel, and a monumental waste of time.

The song "I Will Survive" was played as the benumbed, defeated audience trudged out of the theatre. Whether the audience will survive something like this, however, is open to question.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 9:51am

^^
After reading that review, I think I'll go tomorrow.

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 9:56am

^

I'm surprised you haven't gone already.

No question, it's right up your alley.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 9:58am

I hope to go this week sometime. I've heard some good things and reading the comments in this thread has me very excited!

Matthew Maher gave one of the best performances of last season in The Flick and I'm thrilled he's working again so soon.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 10:45am

You know, I kind of clicked this thread seeing the name "Mr. Burns" and wondering jokingly if it might have anything to do with The Simpsons. I don't know whether I'm delighted or alarmed to have that instinct confirmed.

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 11:04am

A sincere question, After Eight: you seem to very strongly dislike most shows you go to, particularly new plays. So I really wonder--why do you keep going?

I'm truly not being facetious. From the outside, I just don't understand the urge since you seem so consistently let down.

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 11:50am

Sauja,

I go in the hopes of seeing good theatre.

If I dislike most plays I see (and I don't believe that's the case), it's the fault of the plays. I'm entirely open to good theatre.

I've liked several good new plays this summer, but have not commented on them here, because they were in smaller venues and no one here seemed to see them.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 1:04pm

Please. You didn't comment on them because you enjoy being as vitriolic and condescending about everything as you possibly can.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 2:33pm

To be fair, he did rave about The Old Friends.

Though, he couldn't do so without insulting everything he hates, but still.

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 2:44pm

Fair enough, After Eight! Hope the like-to-dislike ratio at least keeps it worth it.

Meanwhile, I wish more folks on here would talk about some of the smaller, less publicized theater options (I myself of guilty of tending to chat about whatever is most discussed). I'm usually eager to hear about things off the beaten path in case I'm missing a gem.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 2:57pm

I've liked several good new plays this summer, but have not commented on them here, because they were in smaller venues and no one here seemed to see them.

Oh please. I guess we've all been using this board totally wrong. Instead of using it as a way to spread word-of-mouth about shows you might not have seen because you were unaware of them, we were just dissuading people from seeing shows we hate. Thank you for showing us the error of our ways, After Eight! Let's all go back to spewing hate about everything to the public while the shows that go unseen by most can be our little secrets. Also I don't think plays performed by your cats in the living room count.

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 7:58pm

I gave Sauja my reasons, and those are my reasons.



Updated On: 9/1/13 at 07:58 PM

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 11:45pm

All I can think of is this.

Updated On: 8/26/13 at 11:45 PM

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 8/26/13 at 11:57pm

Actually, their audience base has a large portion of theatergoers in their 20s due to their $25 to $30 ticket promotions to attract younger audiences.

They should be commended for doing edgy non-mainstream work quite successfully. I totally loved every minute of their prior show "The Flick" and gave it a standing ovation (reminded me of "The Breakfast Club").

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/27/13 at 12:00am

They are really the only high-profile midtown theater that is doing it even close to right, or trying at all to get consistently new work out there at affordable prices, and I am always grateful for that.
Updated On: 8/27/13 at 12:00 AM

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 8/27/13 at 12:04am

My response was to After Eight saying "Plus, I owe YOU no tips on good plays. Go find them yourself, you arrogant little punk."

Which was basically the message board equivalent of get off my lawn.

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/27/13 at 12:12am

Updated On: 9/1/13 at 12:12 AM