Go See "The Hairy Ape" At Park Ave. Armory

[RippedMan]

Anyone seen this yet? I've seen a few O'Neil's and I just don't think his writing is for me. It just never grabs me and mostly I feel board. But the production photos for this look really interesting, and I know this is more absurd - which I like - and I've never been to the Armory, so I'm intrigued. 

[AuntSuzzy]

I'm going Wednesday. Even if O'Neill and Expressionist theater aren't your thing, the cast is fantastic and the staging will be amazing. The Armory is a unique space in NYC - I highly recommend the experience. Last year Kenneth Branagh's Macbeth filling the Drill Hall was unforgettable. If you can get a ticket, go!

[RippedMan]

It's up on TDF, so thinking about it! But I sat through "Long Day's Journey Into Night" - bored - and "Desire Under the Elms" - bored. So I just don't think he's my thing. But I'm intrigued by this at least. 

[GreasedLightning]

I'm a huge fan of O'Neill, personally, and was also not thrilled with the recent "Long Day's..." 

I have yet to see this, but this play has always been one of my favorites of his and this staging intrigues me. I'd give it a shot if you're on the fence! 

 

[UncleCharlie]

I haven't seen this production but I saw The Hairy Ape last year in L.A. at the Odyssey Theater, an excellent regional house. I like O'Neill in general and most of the half dozen pieces of his work I have seen, but this just wasn't my thing. If you didn't like Long Day's Journey, my guess is you probably won't like this.

[supersam1026]

Any reports on this? Probably going to see this next weekend.

[theatregoer3]

I saw it last week. Fantastic production. The set is wild.

[everythingtaboo]

Wanted to see this, since it's short one, but I don't see a seating chart on their site, even going through the booking process, and I need to know where I'm sitting. Do they have one at their box office?

[Andre4]

So as I have learned through a few walkouts I typically hate Eugene O'Neill BUT: that was ****ing AMAZEBALLS! The production in the Armory was SPECTACULAR (just like Macbeth with Kenneth Branagh was). Somewhere between theater, expressionist performance art, and grandiose spectacle. Bobby Cannavale and David Costabile were super fab!!! Special thanks to the latter for taking a picture and personalizing his signature to me! He was SO nice (as almost all great actors seem to be!) I am going back next weekend with my wife - the production really makes this one work!

[whatever2]

You are correct -- i could not find a seating chart throughout the checkout process ... even though elsewhere on the site one is promised for each production. Each production has bespoke seating, so unlike a regular house the Park Avenue Armory can't just upload a generic chart.

If I'm not mistaken, the Armory does not have a walk up box office. Supposedly if you call someone will talk you through individual seat location. But here's what i did: the seating configuration for this show is very well displayed in a pic accompanying a NYT article (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/27/theater/an-industrial-hellscape-with-you-at-the-center.html); I let the website select my seats, checked the photo, and then kept adding to my basket until i got a pair i liked. I then of course deleted all the others.

That whole mishegos took about two minutes, so i don't think i was depriving anyone else of seat choices in the process. Not a perfect solution (despite the clarity of the picture, I might have counted wrong, or the rows might not start with A), but i was satisfied with my results.

Good luck!

[GreasedLightning]

There is, indeed, a seating chart. I saw it when I booked my tickets last night. 

[CurtainPullDowner]

One of the Best things I've ever seen, Go!

[VintageSnarker]

The only O'Neill I've seen is The Emperor Jones, which I found tedious. And I have issues with misogynistic content. But the staging sounds interesting. Would you recommend giving this a chance? 

[sylvesterbird]

@VintageSnarker, I found The Hairy Ape a mediocre read, but this production is absolutely breathtaking. I echo all the great reviews - saw it this afternoon and was blown over. The design is really unlike anything playing at the moment, and Cannavale and the rest of the cast are fantastic. Please give it a chance and go see it!

[Wick3]

I'm seeing the show next weekend. Is there an intermission?

[dshnookie]

No intermission, 90min

[RippedMan]

So I managed to use my ticket today, and I'm so glad I did. I LOVED this. It's insanely beautifully done. Just incredible stagecraft. You walk into the Armory - which I've never been to - and you see the seats, no set. So you're essentially walking on the stage to get your seats. The show starts, and the audience is sitting inside a giant turntable, so the set rolls on from either direction. They also use the beautiful armory to get effect. Just incredibly beautiful. I still don't think I'm an O'neil fan, but enjoyed this more than others I've seen. I highly recommend getting a ticket as I doubt you'll see anything like this.

[brdway411]

It's on TDF. I enjoyed the last Roundabout production of Long Days Journey. Would this be as enjoyable? 

[RippedMan]

See, I didn't care for Iceman Cometh or the other one that was at the St. James, so I can't speak to that. But it is very absurdist/surreal/poetic. I think you would probably appreciate it, and the physical production is really just something to marvel at. Plus it has Beth Ann Baker in it, who I love in everything. 

[bjh2114]

Do you mean Becky Ann Baker?  If so, I love her.

[RippedMan]

Haha, yes yes that is who I meant. 

She doesn't have a ton to do here, but when she's slumming it with the ensemble, I got a kick out of it. And of course, she's fab when she's doing her thing.