Act One Previews- Page 3

[ethan231h]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 7:34pm

how long is it?

[CukorLover]

Posted: 4/3/14 at 11:30pm

Careful there StageStruckLad. I was there last night as well, and unless you forgot your glasses, the sides of the orchestra were both full. I had a terrific vantage point from where i was sitting. The show let out at exactly 10:40, for those who've inquired. I found much to like about the piece and give those actors credit for giving it their best, regardless of the somewhat awkward staging. The set is mammoth, yet the timing of the turntable is still off, which does put a stop to the action. Shalhoub, Martin and Fontana are all giving excellent performances, so hopefully they can tighten things up over the next several days before opening.

[tom2000a]

Posted: 4/4/14 at 12:00am

I saw it last week. I am a huge fan of the book and Kaufman and Hart plays. The play is not as good as the book but there is no way it ever could be. That being said, I wasn't entirely disappointed. I liked very much many aspects of it. I didn't think about how long it was because I was never bored. I could be in the minority or maybe the silent majority. A lot of people were complaining that it was too long after the show. The old woman next to me, who was a little tipsy said "It'll never last!". The set is spectacular. All of the acting is great. I really enjoyed the evening.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/4/14 at 12:31am

It's leisurely, anecdotal, and overlong, but also atmospheric and engaging. In spite of its length, it succeeds in holding one's attention for the greater part of the evening. I enjoyed it overall.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 4/4/14 at 8:44am

You're quite right, After Eight. I meant to write that the top third (or so) of the side orchestra was empty. But for a LCT preview (when the member tickets are a bit discounted) that's not a good sign.

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:17pm

Just bumping this to see if there were any updates to the show or running time?
I'm going on Saturday night and am honestly intrigued. I love this cast. I'll post my thoughts on here as well.

Thanks.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/10/14 at 11:28pm

Going tomorrow. I'll get back to you.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 12:46am

I'm surprised to read the negative postings on this thread.

Saw the show tonight, and I thought it was terrific.

Act One is one of my favorite books, it's seminal, and when I first heard Lapine was adapting it as a stage play, I had misgivings.

But he managed to condense and dramatize the work in ways that illuminated the character of Moss Hart. Every episode in the book was dramatized in a concise, smart way. It was insanely theatrical, and even added pathos, especially during the scenes with Hart's parents.

Shaloub was terrific, as BOTH Kaufman and Hart (and Hart's father). He was always onstage, and whoever his dressers are deserve a special Tony award for getting him in and out of costumes in 10 seconds, almost 70 times during the course of the show.

Andrea Martin was wonderful (as usual) in all three of her roles, and the whole thing is a Valentine to the theatre.

The audience loved it, you could hear a pin drop at every moment of the show. It's a fascinating retelling of one of our theatrical treasures. I never once felt that the show did a disservice to the book. If you love the theatre, go see it.



Updated On: 4/11/14 at 12:46 AM

[Love Theatre2]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 8:10pm

If someone would like 2 great seats, I am selling two, for May 3 at 2:00. orchestra, very good. I paid 177, but will take a reasonable offer. I am double scheduled.
[e-mail]

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 12:42am

Saw the play tonight. Perhaps it was because of my low expectations, but I enjoyed it. Is it at the top of my list of favorites? No. Was it an enjoyable night at the theatre? Yes.

As someone said previously, it is a love song to theater, so the people who will appreciate it the most are the people who feel the same way. I've never read the book, so the whole story was new to me.

I thought Santino Fontano was really great and Andrea Martin was wonderful too. Tony Shaloub was fine but nothing spectacular. The most memorable part of the production is definitely the set - gargantuan and intimate at the same time. However, there were a couple of moments when characters were standing close to the edge of the second level, and I got very nervous for them. It was distracting.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 12:51am

DramaTeach, I was there tonight too and had the exact same reaction. I actually liked it. It WAS a bit long and it was very easy to identify which bits could be cut down.

I LOVED Santino. I actually didn't think Andrea Martin was super well cast. My favorite role of hers was the agent. I thought she was too over the top as Aunt Kate. And her Beatrice Kaufman didn't seem like a natural fit to me. I agree about Tony Shaloub. To me, he was the weak link. A fine performance, but nothing spectacular.

I LOOOOOOVED the set and how they used it. I found it so fascinating.

I had one major complaint. I HATED the device of Tony and Santino both playing Hart. Especially after Tony playing Kaufman for the middle 1.5 hour of the play. His final random appearance as Hart at the very end was super jarring and took away from Santino's brilliant performance.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/12/14 at 1:10am

Yes, bjh. Felt the same way about Shaloub's last appearance as Hart. Wasn't sure who he was supposed to be. Took me a second. I liked Martin as Mrs. Kaufman, but I'll agree that her performance as Aunt Kate wasn't my favorite.

[Okiekat]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 12:41pm

I saw this Saturday night and enjoyed it. I really liked Santino Fontana and Andrea Martin. Tony Shalhoub was fine. The set is stunning! btw, the play now runs about 2:40.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 2:13pm

Saw this last night also

The turntable actually gets a round of applause. It is a sight to behold. Loved the show. Shaloub was great especially as Kauffman. Loved how he channeled his inner Monk and looked like the early day forerunner of Felix Unger with constantly washing his hands and nitpicking microscopic dust particles off the floor. Santino was great as the younger Hart and Andrea Martin finally got a chance to shine in multiple roles. The rest of the actors are first rate.

I did not read Hart's book so this was a totally new story as far as how he got started. Not aware he died at such a young age. My wife thought she would be bored by it but she absolutely loved it as well.

All in all a great night in the theater.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 9:58pm

For those who gave negative feedback from the first week of previews...I think the 30 minutes of cuts they made must have not only salvaged the show, but made it enjoyable. It never felt long, even at 2 hours, 45 minutes. In fact, at intermission I wish that they would have just continued on. The first 75 minutes of Act One was like watching a biographical film. A lot of setup brings us to a monumental moment in Hart's life, but it's not a cliffhanger moment like many dramatic plays have at the end of their first acts. Which was fine, I didn't see that as a problem. I certainly didn't want to leave at intermission, rather I wanted it to just continue on as I wanted to know about the next significant moment in Hart's life.

The set is one of the most impressive and effective results of design that I have seen since I can remember.

Shaloub, Fontana, and Martin's performances are great. The entire ensemble, actually.

The score and sound design work well to support the mood and to mask the scenic shifts. I'm not sure how many would notice this, but most of the piano pieces were played live on the stage. One other related note: the musical scoring in the first act led me and one other audience member (whose comment I overheard) have the same reaction: at many moments I thought they were setting up a musical number. Sort of in the same vein as the film DE-LOVELY.

Overall, this is one of those theatergoing experiences that will have a lasting impact on me, mostly because I love Moss Hart's book. This adaptation certainly dished out the sentiment of love for the theater. For a biographical drama, I'll take ACT ONE over ALL THE WAY any day.

[Heman5up]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 10:02pm

I saw this today. I enjoyed it though they need to cut down further from 2:40 right now. Also it bothered me to have "two Moss' " on stage at same time with second narrating the story. Also writers has too many instances of telling us that "they worked on this for x hours". There must be a better way to do this than just saying it.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:43am

Bloated, overlong, boring, and saddled with an overbearing set that brings the play to a screeching halt so it can spin around and around and around. I got sick of watching everybody climb all over it.

Basically, it is a play about a young man learning lessons about playwriting that the play's own author doesn't seem to have learned. I just sat there wishing I was actually watching an actual Kaufman and Hart play -- why didn't they just revive ONCE IN A LIFETIME if they had all that money to spend?

Updated On: 4/16/14 at 11:43 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:46am

You've never read the book, DramaTeach?

And they allow you to teach drama?

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 12:09pm

Degree is in English, but of course I'll have to read the book now. Any other recommendations?

[broadfan327]

Posted: 4/30/14 at 1:01am

I saw it tonight and agree with CapnHook's review. I never was bored, and I am one to always nod off at the start of a play. Sure, there are parts that can be cut, like the party scene IMO, but I identified greatly with the description of the creative process and the love of the theatre it was portraying. I thought the acting was superb and the set design was amazing. I enjoyed it better than All the Way, which was very good, but too preachy for me. I sat in the loge, and yes, there were about 30 of us in the loge, but it is a great view.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 6/1/14 at 12:39am

*** SPOILER ***

Can someone be a doll and explain the final line to me? Sadly, it went over my head a bit. It was something along the lines of "not a bad curtain for act one"

Is it a "not bad for my first outing/venture" sort of line? Updated On: 6/1/14 at 12:39 AM

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 6/1/14 at 12:08pm

I saw this last night and went in with relatively low expectations based on reading several reviews (though some were very positive) and a bit of dread about the show's long running time (2:40). But even though they could have probably cut about 10 minutes), I was completely captivated, and anyone who has even a modicum of interest in the process of bringing a play to Broadway will probably enjoy it to one degree or another. The acting was excellent (and a special mention to Santino Fontana), and that set--wow! Beowulf Boritt should be a lock for the Tony for scenic design of a play.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/1/14 at 12:15pm

I loved it, and agree, I was never bored. When the marquees were brought in to reflect his seeing Broadway, I got a little teary eyed.

**SPOILER**

To explain the end, he's saying basically it's not a bad way to end the first act of his life. The second act being his being a successful playwright.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 6/1/14 at 5:16pm

thanks, RippedMan!!

[FutureGM]

Posted: 6/3/14 at 11:00am

Just for your own information, the line is "Not a bad curtain for a first act." Also, this is the final line of the book; if you haven't read it already, I would highly recommend it!