Trust - First Preview

[HairyMeeskiteInAnotherHall]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 10:56pm

I just got back from the first preview of Trust. I'll say that the whole was less than the sum of its parts.

The play is the problem. There's just nothing there - no substance, no message, barely any humor for a "dark comedy." This was the first time I witnessed a show in New York that didn't end in the mandatory standing ovation.

The actors themselves were bogged down by the material. No one shined because no one was allowed to. Zach Braff was decent with what he was given, as was Bobby Cannavale. The women, on the other hand, basically recited their lines as if they were practicing memorization. Sutton Foster, I'm sorry to say, should really stick to musicals, although maybe I'm not being fair because I did not see her in a decent piece of material.

The set was kinda nifty though, a little "Carrie-esque."

I could be unfairly judging the show based on it being in previews, but there isn't really much to be done.

Also - this was certainly not a show for kids.

Other thoughts?

[cactusb]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 11:21pm

What was the run time?

[HairyMeeskiteInAnotherHall]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 11:22pm

About 2 hours.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/23/10 at 11:55pm

Sounds like Paul Weitz to me.

[matty159]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 12:47am

Well, that stinks to hear. I love the cast. Guess I will wait to see if it shows up on TDF and whether it gets tighter.

[April Saul]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 12:49am

Damn, I already have TDF tix for Sunday night! Hope I like it more than you did...oh well!

[matty159]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 12:52am

It must have only been up on TDF for a hot second...or I am blind! I can't believe I missed it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 8:54am

Why are all of you taking ONE person's word about the FIRST preview to heart? I'm certainly not saying he is wrong on his opinion, but it IS only one opinion about the shakiest performance of the run.

As far as no standing ovation -- that is not rare for Off-B'way at all. Perhaps it's due to the fact that Off Bway has less tourists? But since the standing "o" is so over-used, I hardly consider its worth, let alone its absence. (And I don't stand unless I find something stellar, regardless of those around me.)

I haven't seen the show (but planning to) but I want to hear from SEVERAL folks over the next weeks before condemning it!

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 9:17am

Quick question about TDF from an out-of-towner: How do you get the advanced tickets?

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 9:41am

Matty it was on TDF earlier in July, probably did not offer very many because they gone quickly. I am going in August and looking forward to it.

aasjb4ever, TDF does have an out-of-towner program, you can check out their website for more info TDF.org. Keep in mind though it is not common for them to offer advance tickets for shows (with the exception of some long running off broadway shows). They do pop up, dates mostly for when a new show is in previews, like Trust, FAlling for Eve, Time Stand Still, La Cage (which never showed up again).
Updated On: 7/24/10 at 09:41 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 10:33am

I don't know anything about an "out of towner" program, but I am a tdf member which gives the chance to buy SOME b'way and many off b'way shows for VERY low prices. (Under 40 for Bway and under 30 for OFF)

From their website:
Who qualifies for TDF membership?
To qualify for TDF membership, you must belong to one of the following groups: full-time students, full-time teachers, union members, retirees, civil service employees, staff members of not-for-profit organizations, performing arts professionals, members of the armed forces or clergy. When you join, you will be asked to supply TDF with proof of your eligibility.

It is unreliable as to what shows are available and they are not usually available more than a week to ten days in advance...but not always true.

Well selling shows are almost never on there. N2N is there nearly for every performance and has been for quite some time. When I am hoping to get tix for something on a specific date, I just keep checking the site -- several times a day. You can never predict when the box offices are going to release tix. (Things are NEVER updated over the weekend.)

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 10:53am

For those discussing advanced rush, I was able to buy a very good seat (third row, on the aisle) for next week online just a few hours ago.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 11:16am

The "out of towner" program (TDF National membership) is for people who reside at least 100 mies from NYC, cost is $12.

For those interested here is Info from TDF.org in regards

Who qualifies for TDF NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP?
To qualify for TDF NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP, you must live 100 miles or more outside of New York City and belong to one of the following groups: full-time students, full-time teachers, union members, retirees, civil service employees, staff members of not-for-profit organizations, performing arts professionals, members of the armed forces or clergy.

Visitors who live over 100 miles from New York City now have access to the same extraordinary selection of New York City theatre, dance and music performances at discount prices ($20 to $36 a ticket) that over 80,000 New Yorkers enjoy—but at a special reduced membership of only $12 a year (regular membership for New Yorkers is $30.00 per year), only a dollar a month!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 11:24am

Wow...never knew about the Nat'l Membership....I could have taken advantage of that being in Boston! Oh, well.

I guess it's so much cheaper than regular membership since they don't expect "national members" to come to NY that often. But then again, 100 miles isn't THAT far away, really. I'm in Boston and on average make it into the city 12 or more times a year.

[sgv123]

Posted: 7/24/10 at 11:45am

I used to have the NYC membership before I knew about the National membership. You can change it dramamama611.

[EdenIsMyHero]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 12:30am

Has anyone tried rushing this? I was just checking online and it does not seem to be finding any available tickets for several dates I checked...is it sold out?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 1:01am

SGV -- thanks for the info, I'll look into the switch!

[Katurian2]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 1:52pm

@Eden

The way Second Stage's rush policy works is they only have rush seats available on days when the show is NOT sold out, so if tickets aren't showing up for the night online, you won't be able to get rush tickets either. Your best bet is to get advance student tickets for the discounted price.

[I'mseeingbraille57]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 10:20pm

Just got back from tonight's show. It was eh, if I had to describe in a word (or expression rather). Braff has some really nice moments, he plays a character we've all seen before from him, but he's quite good at doing it. He gets the most laugh and is able to make some genuine moments come to life out of a fairly run of the mill psychodrama/romance turned wrong. I also really like Cannavale, he's perfectly douchey and has a surprisingly touching scene at the end if you allow yourself to buy into the trite plot device the playwright employs. The two women don't fair so well, Graynor had some moments where she was spot on, but they were pretty far and few between and Foster is just really miscast and delivers a lot of her lines in this strange monotone way that translate to I don't care. If she doesn't care neither will we. For an actress who generally has pretty comedic chops she's missing a lot of the laughs, although I wouldn't say the script is exactly setting up the actors for joke after joke. The audience seemed to enjoy it though, it got a standing O tonight (whether you want to believe that indicative of quality is your business, I suppose) and they laughed a lot. It did have some good laughs and I think the more the run it the more they will find. For me though, Foster especially struggled with the shows darker moments, I just didn't buy her performance, I didn't feel like she was honestly in those moments. All in all not a terrible night in the theatre, I think at best you'll walk out mildly entertained and perhaps bragging rights for having seen Zach Braff if you're a celebwhore, but nothing particularly moving or revelatory about the human experience.

[i_love_megan]

Posted: 7/25/10 at 10:55pm

I have to disagree about what has been said thus far about the play. I have seen the show 3 times and can assure that it has grown tremendously! First of all, I have to touch on what has been said about Sutton. I think Sutton is bringing beautiful subtleties to her character and I have been very much moved by her performance. Yes, she has a certain rhythm to her character but i feel like it works so well, especially the subtle contrasts between her "dominatrix" self and "normal" self. . All in all, i would not have gone to see this show more than once had i not enjoyed it the first time. It is an interesting piece of theatre and I hope everyone finds something to love about it!

[April Saul]

Posted: 7/26/10 at 10:27am

I have to say that unfortunately, I completely agree with Braille. Second Stage has had some great stuff lately--most recently, Chad Deity and Year Zero at the Uptown--but their streak stops with this one, at least for me. The premise of the show is initially entertaining, and some of the lines in the play are really funny--Weitz can write some serious zingers--and elicit lots of laughter from the audience, but by show's end, it's really a muddle. I felt that of the four, Braff comes off the best...although I don't fault the actors or the director, but the script they were dealt.

The play started to lose interest for me about 20 minutes in; even my companion, who was still liking it at intermission, gave it a thumbs down after a pretty painful second act. It stands at two hours, but I felt it would have at least have helped to trim it to a 90 or 100-minute show with no break.

As far as a standing O, last night's crowd was a very friendly one, and I think a lot of them stood. There were two fangirls behind me (I'm assuming they were there for Braff) who made lots of happy noises and told me they'd seen BOTH Saturday shows as well...also the first time I'd seen people seriously stage-dooring Second Stage so I gotta think that's the Zach factor.

Chatted with a fellow before the show who turned out to be the director; he'd also helmed Becky Shaw, which I thought was terrific, and he felt this one to have some similar sensibilities. I only wish I could agree...

[MillieDillmount]

Posted: 7/26/10 at 5:21pm

I caught the show both times on Saturday, I enjoyed it a lot. I don't see how you can judge a show so harshly this close to when it started previews. I noticed changes from show to show on Saturday. The pacing is picking up. The actors are still devloping their characters. Of course it's not going to be perfect the first week. Give the actors and the creative team more time to hone the show, it has a lot of potenial!

This show is dark, it has a heavy subject matter. You aren't really sure where it is going. It was nothing what I expected it to be. I had no idea it was going to be so heavy. I don't understand how everyone is saying there was missed laughs, but I also don't understand why it's billed as a 'dark comedy'. I think it would be much more effective if they would have billed it as a drama.

I thought Bobby was spot on in his role, I hated his character, but I don't think he is supposed to be likable. Sutton I thought was great in her first play, I don't think she struggled with the heavier moments, she is still developing Prudence, when the show opens she will find the missing moments. I enjoyed Zach's character. Ari, I thought she was the weak link in the show. I didn't think she did much acting.

All of the characters are heavly flawed, non of them have a clear gasp on reailty. The show is about them stuggling to survive with the life they were dealt. I thought it had a great message. I just love the last scene, I thought it was the perfect way to end it.

I hope for the people who are deciding to see it or not you don't just go by the few reviews here. It's a great show with a lot of heart. It makes you think about a lot of things. Just go in open minded and you will love it!

I am excited to see the finale product of the show.

[MillieDillmount]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 2:07pm

Sorry for the double post, but I'm just curious if anyone else saw it yet? I'd love to hear more people's reaction to it!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 2:22pm

In other news, BACHELORETTE with Eddie Kaye Thomas and Celia Keenan Bolger has gotten fantastic reviews.

[April Saul]

Posted: 7/27/10 at 3:14pm

I, too, saw those Bachelorette reviews and got a discounted ticket before the code was pulled; it sounds like more what I was hoping Trust would be! Interesting, though, because when I asked for reactions to Bachelorette on this board and ATC, people weren't nearly as enthusiastic as Isherwood...