The Best Man

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/6/12 at 8:47pm

At the first preview of The Best Man and have an unexpected intermission for a medical emergency.

The good news is Angela is as brilliant as ever and looks amazing in her peach suit. She can do no wrong.

[PopAria]

Posted: 3/6/12 at 9:33pm

Medical emergency? Any good moments from the stage?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/6/12 at 10:27pm

Apparently someone in the orchestra was having a seizure.

It's the second planned intermission and I really like the play. The actors are gold but a tad shaky on lines. Once they gel this could really be dynamite.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/6/12 at 10:32pm

Glad you enjoyed! It's a great play, but I know there was some worry that it would come off as dated.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/6/12 at 11:08pm

I know there was talk on here that Angela could possibly be snubbed of a nomination because the role is small.

Thoughts, Whizzer? Is her performance worthy of a nomination?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/6/12 at 11:42pm

ljay- I'm the wrong person to ask as I would gladly give Angela a Tony every night she steps out on stage. She's my favorite actress ever and I can't say much more than she's her usual brilliant self. I would certainly hope that she receives a nomination; people have been nominated for doing less.

I wasn't familiar with the play and I really, really liked it. The third act is terrifically written and I truly wasn't sure what would happen. It doesn't come off as dated at all. If anything it's a history lesson and cautionary tale that applies to today and I'm sure beyond.

John Larroquette was wonderful and anchored the play nicely. He seems to have taken some care in crafting his character and I found myself rooting for him the entire time.

I think James Earl Jones is well cast, but he seemed to reaching for a few lines tonight. Once he has the part down he'll be pretty amazing. His showdown with McCormick rocked.

Candice Bergen had a bad coughing attack and was finding the character a bit. Kerry Butler started out over the top, but settled down in act two. Michael McKean was very funny throughout. I really think they are all going to mesh together during previews and will be VERY solid by opening.

Finally, in a silly version there are just so many opportunities for song cues in the script that they should just make it musical! Larroquette tells McCormack (great as the slimey politician) this is the MAIN EVENT, and I couldn't stop singing Barbra's "Main Event" for the next two minutes.

Also Angela has a scene in act two where she is having tea with Bergen and Butler. It's almost criminal that they don't let her say, "I haven't brought you two here just for a tea party..." There's also a line about manic depressives where she should chime in something about them not doing rewrites.

Naturally there's a reference to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Larroquette says, "May the best man win," which made my friends and I all think of Nick & Nora. Of course only a genius like Vidal could be referencing things that hadn't been written yet, which made me appreciate him even more.

The more I think about it, the more I want to go back and see it again!

Updated On: 3/6/12 at 11:42 PM

[Sonia&Vernon]

Posted: 3/6/12 at 11:50pm

Ann Sothern got a Golden Globe nomination for the film version, so the role of Mrs. Gamadge as gotten some recognition in the past.

Updated On: 3/6/12 at 11:50 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 12:21am

Hm. Might have to splurge for a ticket to this. Sounds great.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 12:29am

For what it's worth the mezz was surprisingly empty and I'm kinda shocked this hasn't been on TDF. I assumed with this cast the entire limited run would be fairly well-sold, but if tonight is any indication, that isn't the case.

[James2]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 12:34am

I'm relieved to hear such good things about this play. I haven't heard a whisper yet about rush or a lottery. Is there going to be anything of the sort?

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 12:37am

The performance was shaky tonight. No doubt this will improve as the actors settle down in their parts. I would say that the casting in some roles is not ideal.

The play is a good one, but it seems a little frayed around the edges at this point. As a spokesperson for Vidal, the lead character comes off as too preachy and above-the-fray. He leaves a void in the center of the play.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 1:57am

I inquired today at the box office. The man who helped me was uncharacteristically self-effacing and pleasant. He said that, unfortunately, they still don't have any kind of rush policy finalized yet.

When I asked if he thought it would make a tremendous difference to sit in the last two rows of the mezzanine, he explained that it didn't, as far as he was concerned, and so I bought a ticket for Mezzanine Row J. He was right. The views are perfectly fine up there.

I agree with Whizzer. Angela looked stunning in her peach suit and can do no wrong. I, too, am the wrong person to pick her apart critically. The truth is, though, she came in to the room with the proper burst of energy - "a mix of coziness and steeliness," as per Mr. Vidal's description of the character from the script. Lovely, lovely work.

The part is small, however. I wouldn't be surprised at a lack of Tony nomination. Estelle Parsons did a similar amount of work in "Good People," also perfectly marinated in character, and was left out, too.

Larroquette and Bergen, especially in the first act, often talked like they were acting for a camera rather than a theatre audience. Larroquette really picked up steam in the second act. Just when I thought he was sleepwalking through his performance, he took me for a spin, proved me totally wrong and ultimately moved me very much.

McCormack is handsome as ever, right from the soles of his feet up to his slick hair and shoe-button eyes. His very slight, wavering southern accent is odd and sometimes distracting, but the effort was valiant. He inhabits the character very well - he represents all that is wrong about American politics, and in that he symbolizes corruption and baselessness, and yet his portrayal is vested enough that we can believe that HE believes that he is doing no wrong. His scruples are truly that far-gone.

Butler seems more comfortable than anyone on the stage and is often very funny. Her southern accent is a bit over the top, but it is also light, airy and entertaining. She fills the stage with energy, plays coy very well and will ultimately prove an asset to this production.

Jones is the number one reason to attend. He sweats more talent than most actors have. His character, former president Hofstader, enjoys the sparring of the younger politicians like a housewife enjoys her soaps, and the audience clearly enjoyed HIS enjoying. He commands the stage, often threatening to take it away from those who share it with him, but this will surely even out soon enough. He is deliciously entertaining here - there is no mistaking that.

Bergen is unshowy in an unshowy role, and seemed the least comfortable on stage. However, she does manage sarcastic verbal spparing with Butler very well, and she also brings out much pathos in her intimate scenes with Larroquette. She is a welcome presence.

Dakin Matthews is terrific in his small but juicy role, chewing up scenery and garnering laughs, and Michael McKean is also a reliable theatrical presence in a role with limited wiggle room.

Jefferson Mays does very specific character work brilliantly as a former friend of Cantwell's brought around to dredge up incriminating information about him. He is meek, shy and thoroughly unremarkable, which can be surprisingly difficult to pull off. He incurs sympathy very quickly.

The show, however, is not tight at all, and is nowhere near ready to open. Doors open and shut at the wrong times, with hands reaching out and closing them, sets clunk into place without rhythm, and the actors bump into set pieces, sometimes knocking them down. At one point, a human presence was seen on the (at the moment unused) background set, quickly darting off.

Jones sent a telephone falling to the floor as he headed for the door in one scene. To his credit, he didn't even miss a shred of a beat.

It seems that the actors have been rehearsing with each other for some time, but that they have been rehearsing on this set for 3 or 4 days.

The medical incident occurred at approximately the point when Larroquette and Jones discuss the fact that secretaries of state are practically viewed by the public as foreigners. Suddenly, Jones called for a doctor in the house, and a stage manager ran out to attend to him. He said something like "no, not me, someone for him" and pointed into the audience. Then, the curtain fell.

By the time the curtain came back up again Larroquette and Jones were frozen in place, looking at each other, smiling, and laughs could be heard throughout the house. ("Let's pretend that nothing happened, and watch them pretend it, too.") It was fascinating to see them repeat about two minutes' worth of dialogue performed earlier, including Jones exclaiming "Hell no!" to comic effect in one the more memorable, and illustrative, scenes of the play.

Seeing Angela come out for her solo bow, and gracefully kind of walk to the side, acknowledging with her body language the larger work of the other above-marquee actors bowing alongside her, was very moving indeed. The woman personifies dignity and class.

The play is far from perfect, which is what should be expected from a still-not-embittered Vidal, in his 30s when he wrote it. It nonetheless still represents him and his views strikingly well, and for that reason I love it. I consider him a personal hero.

The evening was very special. I look forward to seeing "The Best Man" again when it opens.

Updated On: 3/7/12 at 01:57 AM

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 2:15am

Did any of you guys see this prod (below)? (I did, and loved it very much)...if you did, is it worth seeing THIS cast as well?
http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=12551

Updated On: 3/7/12 at 02:15 AM

[bondgirl]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 7:16am

Thanks for your helpful comments, Rudy. I can't wait to see this when I'm in NYC in April!

[castlestreet]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 7:53am

Seeing the show Saturday night- 4th row center- can't wait!!!

[Patash]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 8:41am

My only opportunity to see it is for the Wednesday matinee in two weeks. I was surprised how I could only find single seats (at discount) way, way back. I like to see close. Then I found seat A-1 in the orchestra. I may get some neck strain, but I love being close for good acting.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 11:13am

Did anyone stage door the performance?

[thinton]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 2:23pm

I second the question about how the stage door was. Also wondering about how much stage time Angela Lansbury has.

Does Kerry Butler's character sing in the show? I find it odd that the role has often been played by women known for their singing ability: Edie Adams, Christine Ebersole, and Kerry Butler.

[MichiganGrad09]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 4:49pm

Hi board! I went to the first preview performance last night to see my love, Eric McCormack :), but was impressed by all of the talent on the stage. This really is some cast.

The show obviously has some kinks to work out, but for the first preview? Looks good! Go see that cast!

Love the environmental feel in the house!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 5:22pm

They've been advertising it a lot on TV, which - at this point - means they aren't selling too well. What's the cheapest ticket? $70?

[pli1018]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 11:11pm

Telecharge now lists The Best Man as having student rush. Tickets are $31.50 each, one per ID.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 11:35pm

RippedMan, why do you assume a heavy ad buy automatically means tickets aren't selling? For instance, I remember not being able to escape the Wicked commercials the first months of its run and that sold well from the start.

[binau]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 11:48pm

And of course The Book of Mormon is the biggest counter-example, which is (or was) heavily advertised despite being sold out every night.

But If the Mezz is empty, it is empty :P.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/8/12 at 12:17am

True, valid points. Just seems odd to invest the money in an ad-campaign if it's selling well. I can understand it for shows like Book of Mormon or Wicked which will run for years with various casts, but this show is a limited engagement.

[PopAria]

Posted: 3/8/12 at 6:18pm

Did anyone else think this was boring??

Kerry butler was the most fun. 2nd was Angela and then James Earl Jones. Eric McKormic was great too but none of the individual performances made up for the the boredom.

Walking into the theatre is like a carnival. Everything is decorated with red white and blue and they have patriotic music playing. Then the show started and I fell asleep.