Finally saw Mary Stuart tonight...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 12:51am

Someone asked in another thread about rush. I got a rush ticket at 6:25, as did the person behind me, so they're definitely available later in the day. I was in the side section, but could see just fine.

I had wanted to see this play for some time, but for various, random reasons, never got around to it. I'm so glad I caught up with it this evening.

I confess, I have a predisposition towards liking this period in European history, having done a lot of reading about it. So, I may have found this more to my taste than others have. However, I thought the entire thing was riveting. I didn't for a moment find it "dull." I was worried I might, because I generally find "talkies" (as someone else on the board called it) to be quite boring. However, this was much more than just a "talkie" for me. There was enough seduction, betrayal, and intrigue to keep me entertained the entire 2 hours and 55 minutes, even though I knew the outcome beforehand. There was a lot going on, and much to digest. There was plenty of action and the play was incredibly engaging- it was fun to follow all the double-crossing taking place. A truly remarkable production.

Lots of praise is to be given to the talented ensemble cast, though my favorites were Nicholas Woodeson (whom I thought was fantastic) and Chandler Williams.

Of course, at the apex of everything are the two towering performances of the leading ladies, Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter. The two women each give a master class in acting, and I dare say may be turning in the finest dramatic performances on a Broadway stage at the moment. McTeer's unrestrained Mary countered with Walter's indecisive Elizabeth make for quite the duo. The scene at the top of act 2, the only one the women share together, is pure theatrical electricity. I greatly enjoyed the performance Marcia Gay Harden gives in God of Carnage, but one of these two women certainly deserved the Tony. I suspect Tony voters, like myself, were hard-pressed to decide which one of them should get the award, so they went with Harden.

The production, rain and all, worked for me on every level, and I hope to get back again before they close. Like I said earlier, I am generally bored at plays where people "sit around and talk" (I despised The Seagull revival everyone raves about for that reason), but this play kept me riveted, because it was so much more than just a "talkie."

Updated On: 7/9/09 at 12:51 AM

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 9:38am

Thanks for sharing your review! I am going to catch the show during its last week of performances in August, and looking forward to it! I have heard really great things about it.

[NakedMaid]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 10:37am

I was at the show for the matinee yesterday. Did it sound like Harriet may have been losing her voice? Or is that just how she sounds. I didn't find it distracting or anything and didn't really catch on to it until some old fart behind me said loudly "She's losing her voice" and then I started to notice actors bringing on glasses of water for her at odd times. Is this water thing the norm in the show??

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 10:56am

I saw this back on Father's Day. There were no glasses of water to the best of my recollection.

AdamGreer...I couldn't agree with you more. I was terribly involved with the production from begining to end. Unlike you, I am NOT a fan of this period in history (or any other, to be honest). I am a fan of fabulous story telling, acting and production values.

I was riveted and truly feel as though either one of them was more deserving of the Tony Award. (Not to slight MGH's performance or honor.)

The show is brilliant and deserves larger audiences than it is drawing....but almost every straight play does.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/9/09 at 11:24am

Those of us who are lucky to have seen it will look back on it, years from now, as some of the best acting we have ever seen, including its current detractors.

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 7/12/09 at 9:13pm

I saw it this afternoon and was completely blown away. I too bought my rush ticket right before showtime, I got orchestra R4, but was able to move to B103 after intermission.

I thought the play was absolutely remarkable. I have studied that time period recently, but not in as great a detail as I wish I had before seeing the play. I appreciated the story, and it's leading me to do more research on what was going on. All of the acting was beyond superb, and I finally understood what everyone was talking about it being a master class in acting. It was indeed!

I'm still speechless, due to its awesomeness. Go see it!