SEA WALL/A LIFE to Broadway- Page 2

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 5/14/19 at 9:57pm

sm33 said: "CT2NYC said: I saw it on 3/13, 2 1/2 weeks before the end of the run. He stood in a single spotlight which didn't move for the entirety of A Life. He shuffled a bit within the spotlight, but he was never dead center stage or stage right."

I saw it the day before it closed, and this is exactly how I would describe it. I was really glad that I'd gotten seats in the center of the audience."

Thanks, I have friends who also confirmed it. Of course, there was the very brief part when...

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

he came down off the stage and ran through the audience, but, when he was up there, he pretty much stayed put.

 

Updated On: 5/14/19 at 09:57 PM

[taylortrensch]

Posted: 6/25/19 at 1:38am

is it likely this production will have online rush tix/rush tix at all? or should i just go ahead and buy w/the discount? 

[CarmenA3]

Posted: 7/23/19 at 11:55am

A discount was released... TMANIA7 until 8/31.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 7/23/19 at 11:58am

I would assume there will be a TodayTix rush, it isn’t selling particularly well.

[AADA81]

Posted: 7/23/19 at 12:22pm

dramamama611 said: "I know its silly, but it really warms me up how much Gyllenhall (sp?) has taken to theater performing!"

I don't think that's silly at all.  I respect that someone with his Hollywood profile has continued to commit to the theater, both on and off Broadway; next spring he'll be doing SITPWG in London's West End.  Gyllenhaal once said he'd like to do a play for every 2 movies he makes and he seems to be sticking to that.  He also said he feels more challenged by theater as an actor.  I say good for him.

Updated On: 7/23/19 at 12:22 PM

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 7/24/19 at 12:25pm

Where are all the Tom Sturridge fans? While neither play totally captivated me (yes, they were thoroughly depressing, but so is watching the news), I thought Sturridge gave an incredibly moving performance, and I would choose him as the evening's MVP. I know he hasn't done much Shakespeare, but for some reason I left the theater wanting to see what he would do with Hamlet.

[NievesG]

Posted: 7/26/19 at 1:23pm

Just got an alert from TodayTix -- $35 rush will be offered

[Balcony Bill]

Posted: 7/26/19 at 1:41pm

I have tickets for August, and am not concerned about seeing a monologue at the Hudson. It's only 970 seats, and it felt very intimate when I saw Sunday in the Park. I've seen one-person shows in bigger theaters, and when the performer is talented, it still works. I saw Lynn Redgrave on tour in Shakespeare for my Father, in an 1800-seat venue, and the show still worked beautifully. A great performer can make a space feel intimate.

[taylortrensch]

Posted: 7/27/19 at 5:32am

did anyone go to the opening preview? also, do you think they're going to regulate the stage door situation so that people who actually see the show get a shot at being close to the barricade instead of people who've been waiting as the show was going on?

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 7/27/19 at 6:44am

Honestly, I doubt the stage door will be that crazy. When I saw Sunday, I was very easily able to get a front of the barricade spot (and that was walking all around the block, not cutting through the hotel, didn’t realize that was a thing). If you go right there, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 7/27/19 at 6:50am

Actually, never mind. I just saw a video from the stage door and it looked like massive insanity. How bizarre, when I saw Sunday there were maybe 60 people there and it was gorgeous outside. Maybe the crowds will die down after the first few days.

[taylortrensch]

Posted: 7/27/19 at 8:21am

n2nbaby said: "Actually, never mind. I just saw a video from the stage door and it looked like massive insanity. How bizarre, when I saw Sunday there were maybe 60 people there and it was gorgeous outside. Maybe the crowds will die down after the first few days."

fingers crossed that that's the case. i think with this month's release of spider-man the jake hype is at its peak so that's probably why

[eesa]

Posted: 7/27/19 at 11:00am

I bought an extra rush ticket for tonight by mistake if anyone is looking to see the show https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1118276&boardid=55&boardname=ForSale

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 7/27/19 at 11:50am

I just bought my ticket to see the final performance at the Sunday, September 29th matinee. Excited!

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 7/27/19 at 11:45pm

the stage-door is nuts because Jake was just in a marvel movie, sure a lot of autography sellers are buzzing around....

[Damiensta]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 8:09pm

For people that have seen it, I have question below

SPOILER.........

when Jake runs thru audience , he says “sorry to have woken you up” to an audience member. Does he say that in every performance or was someone actually sleeping?

it happened at last nite performance 

[teresa2]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 10:33pm

I just saw it tonight and he said it. I am guessing he says it at every show.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 11:13pm

Just got back from seeing this. I had polar opposite reactions to the two plays/ monologues. I thought that Sea Wall and Tom Sturridge were both REALLY bad. I have never been a huge fan of Tom. He has some extremely annoying tics, and his awkward pauses just made it seem like he was going up on lines right and left. The awkward delivery of a really strange piece was just a bad combination. 

But then Jake Gyllenhaal comes out and delivers A Life, and the first awful 45 minutes of the night are nearly forgotten. I loved both Jake and the piece. It was heartfelt, moving, humorous, and touching, and Jake's delivery was astonishing. Jake is easily one of the best and most versatile actors working today, and seeing him on Broadway is such a treat.

I left the theatre feeling satisfied despite not enjoying half of the evening. A Life is definitely superior to Sea Wall in my opinion. Having Jake deliver such a beautiful piece after a bumpy delivery of a weak piece just made Sea Wall seem that much weaker. The Show runs about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Each monologue is 45 minutes, and there is a 15 minute intermission. This is definitely worth checking out just to see Jake in his element.

[chelspires]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 11:59pm

At some point in the first act, I believe it's the first time Alex (Tom) runs up the stairs, is something intentionally knocked off to on to the floor? There's a pause as Alex looks at it and then continues, and another pause and stare before he walks off stage. I couldn't recall if he ever mentions what the item is--what is it? Based on the pace of this particular play, Tom's reaction was so well acted, but it just seemed so random. I've also considered maybe it's to foreshadow the climax of his monologue?

[CarmenA3]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 12:30am

Chelspires: During the "preshow", Tom is at the top of  the ladder with a box of polariods that he is looking through - I assume of his family and absolutely ties in to his monologue. That box is what he "accidentally" kicks on his way up and all the pictures spill out. I was at both the Tuesday night and Wednesday matinee shows - it is in fact deliberate. I agree with you - his reaction is so genuine, that I thought it was a real accident the first time!

He also has a plate of food which he drops at some point during the pre-show (I missed that but asked an usher when I saw the stage crew cleaning up the floor).

LOL - EVERYTHING you see in the show is deliberate (I say this appreciatively, b/c the first time you see all the little things you swear they're being improved).

bwayphreak234: Sorry you did not enjoy Tom's monologue. I personally thought his pauses showed just how broken by his tragedy he still is that he can't even finish what he is saying because it hurts so much. And rest assured that those pauses are intentional.

[The Ferryman Himself]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 1:02am

I really, really enjoyed this evening. It's always nice to see two actors doing what they do best. It's even better when the material complements their talents. 

I really enjoyed Sea Wall and Tom. It's certainly more theatrical than A Life, but it's more of a slow burn and I think Tom is really giving a stunning performance. I enjoyed him more than Gyllenhaal, who is also giving a great performance. A Life is more straightforward and actor-ish to me, but Jake delivers it very well and it's a moving piece. 

[NievesG]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 11:34am

bwayphreak234 said: "He has some extremely annoying tics, and his awkward pauses just made it seem like he was going up on lines right and left. The awkward delivery of a really strange piece was just a bad combination."

I mean... the character is recalling a pretty horrible death, the dissolution of a loving relationship, among other things, so the pauses work for the material, in my opinion.

I am not a huge fan of non-linear structures in plays like this but I think both gentlemen worked with and transformed what they had. Ultimately, I believed and felt the experiences, which is more than I can say for some performances I have seen recently. I think Gyllenhaal did balance the material better and it was wonderful to watch him ride the roller coaster of life and death, joy and despair. The piano ending was a nice tie to both works. I'm happy I caught it, they are two brilliantly paired works on trauma and grief, and I look forward to more performances by both.

Updated On: 8/1/19 at 11:34 AM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 11:37am

Has anyone purchased Rush seats -- either on TodayTix or at the theatre?  If so, where were your seats?

 

[NievesG]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 11:45am

JSquared2 said: "Has anyone purchased Rush seats -- either on TodayTix or at the theatre? If so, where were your seats?"

Yes, Tuesday from TodayTix, I was in Balcony E12. It seems like all the rush folks were up there A little far but no obstructions.

 

Updated On: 8/1/19 at 11:45 AM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 12:56pm

NievesG said: "JSquared2 said: "Has anyone purchased Rush seats -- either on TodayTix or at the theatre? If so, where were your seats?"

Yes, Tuesday from TodayTix, I was in Balcony E12. It seems like all the rush folks were up there A little far but no obstructions.

Thanks!