Katrina Lenk: Just a Reminder...

[John Adams]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 10:18am

From: PBS website

"The Tony Award-winning play Indecent comes to GREAT PERFORMANCES, Friday, November 17 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) as part of the fall Broadway’s Best lineup."

and...

Indecent: Behind the Curtain

Updated On: 11/17/17 at 10:18 AM

[TFMH18]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 10:29am

May she see vindication this Tony season. (She will.)

[rebeccmam31]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 12:48pm

Oh, THANK YOU so much! I had totally forgotten. I just set my DVR. :)

[RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 12:51pm

Loved her in Indecent! Will be excited to see it again :)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 5:28pm

Damn, forgot to set the DVR....will have to wait for one of the other airings....of which there seems to be plenty.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 5:42pm

Damn, forgot to set the DVR....will have to wait for one of the other airings....of which there seems to be plenty.

As with all of their broadcasts, it'll be up on the PBS website as well as the PBS app on Apple TV.  

[nmlhats]

Posted: 11/17/17 at 9:42pm

If you are a member of your local station you can stream a ton of stuff via PBS Passport. Indecent looks to be available until Dec. 1st.

[John Adams]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 12:04pm

Wow. Just finished watching.

What an awful, awful irony in the final rain scene, as broadcast for television. I'm currently processing whether the anger I feel enhances or diminishes the play... [?]

Updated On: 11/18/17 at 12:04 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 12:48pm

I would suspect the final scene might have a different edit for the Broadway HD version streaming in January. But let's not begrudge too much whatever had to be done to put the broadcast in your home for free last night. 

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 2:10pm

Can someone explain what the edit is? I saw the show over the summer and loved it, haven't gotten a chance to watch the broadcast yet. Thanks.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 2:22pm

John Adams said: "Wow. Just finished watching.

What an awful, awful irony in the final rain scene, as broadcast for television. I'm currently processing whether the anger I feel enhances or diminishes the play... [?]"

It's awful, isn't it? I just watched it and it totally ruined a gorgeous moment. 

[John Adams]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 2:32pm

That's exactly how I felt, too, but then I thought about how my anger was similar to that of those in the play. Kind of a really wierd "meta" moment.

Still don't like it, though, as it turned a redemptive ending into a censored ending.

For whatdoesntkillme, who asked:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

When the final rain scene is played in the rain, portions of the actresses' wet bodies had to be blurred for TV, in order to hide their visible breasts through their wet clothing.

 

Updated On: 11/18/17 at 02:32 PM

[John Adams]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 2:39pm

Smaxie said: "[...] Iet's not begrudge too much whatever had to be done to put the broadcast in your home for free last night."

I'm guessing you may not be old enough to remember PBS' broadcast of "Steambath" back in the early 70s.

But I do take your point, and I am grateful for what PBS brings to "viewers like me". Oh, and I also realize that this was not PBS' decision.

 

Updated On: 11/18/17 at 02:39 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 3:00pm

You are guessing incorrectly. And many PBS stations refused to run Steambath. The nudity in Passion was also edited out with alternate takes on PBS. Again, I expect a different edit for the Broadway HD version.

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 8:10pm

John Adams said: "That's exactly how I felt, too, but then I thought about how my anger was similar to that of those in the play. Kind of a really wierd "meta" moment.

Still don't like it, though, as it turned a redemptive ending into a censored ending.

For whatdoesntkillme, who asked:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

When the final rain scene is played in the rain, portions of the actresses' wet bodies had to be blurred for TV, in order to hide their visible breasts through their wet clothing.

"

Gotcha. That's too bad. I was sitting so far back in the Cort I guess I didn't realize that was even a thing. I was scared they altered the text in some way, so at least that's still intact.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 8:13pm

Well, we have reason to cavil. It's the transcendent moment of the play, when the oft-repeated controversial play-within-a-play's critical sequence is re-explored with exquisite realism, and performed in its original language. Its beauty is in its use of rain, of the wet nightgowns providing romantic and erotic charge, fueling the moment in mysterious ways. The women are wet, providing a transformation between them, inspiring a moment of touch. On the broadcast, they cut to the faces, the bodies all but blocked out. In the medium shots, the gowns may even be blurred (like the breasts when PBS showed Hawaii) . And then, they didn't even give us a moment to absorb the imagery. They smash cut to promo. It was a ruinous end to a lovely performance, 180 from the experience in the theater. 

Perhaps I'm overreacting since I saw the play on B'way, and had both time and distance to reflect. But this moment -- rather like the final visual one in Wit, defines the play's poetic resolution. It was sad to see it semi-realized.

Updated On: 11/18/17 at 08:13 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/18/17 at 10:08pm

I was also upset by the blurring and the awkward cut up to their faces in the final rain scene. The moment was spectacular in the theatre, a totally unbridled version of the scene we've heard described over and over throughout the play. We so rarely get to see women in love in any medium, nor being sexual in a way that completely eliminates men from the equation. I hope the BroadwayHD version is not censored, because I do think it really takes away from those final moments. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/19/17 at 10:23pm

I'm honestly furious about the way the scene was presented in the broadcast. I get that they can't show everything at PBS, but the combination of the obvious blurs, awkward camerawork, and smash-cut to ads really destroyed the power of that scene.

Also, not to be too snobby. Wondering why this thread title is about a single performer rather than the show, which was well-loved on this board? I just happened on it. Can the thread title be changed so people know what it is?

Updated On: 11/20/17 at 10:23 PM

[John Adams]

Posted: 11/20/17 at 10:13am

Scarywarhol said: "I'm honestly furious about the way the scene was presented in the broadcast. I get that they can't show everything at PBS, but the combination of the obvious blurs, awkward camerawork, and smash-cut to ads really destroyed the power of that scene."

The FCC says that "nudity itself is not indecent", but was this "nudity"? And to what length would groups like Focus on the Family go to attack PBS in this instance? By the time the scene appeared on TV, it was no longer Prime Time. Should a decision have been made to take the risk? In these times, with this President, is it wise for PBS to to take the risk? So many questions...

Scarywarhol also said: "Also, not to be too snobby. Wondering why this thread title is about a single performer rather than the show, which was well-loved on this board? I just happened on it. Can the thread title be changed so people know what it is?"

Not snobby at all. At the time I created the thread, I only wanted to alert folks of another opportunity to see an example of Katrina's work. I singled out Katrina because she's someone I worked with in Chicago theater many years ago. Since that time, I've been a fan of both her and her work, and it's been a joy to follow her successes. The entire ensemble of actors in "Indecent" are magnificent, but I don't have a personal connection to them like I do Katrina. So really, the "snob" is me...

Who knew the broadcast would come with its own bit of controversy???

PS: I tried to change the Subject of the thread, but wasn't successful. Any tips?

 

Updated On: 11/20/17 at 10:13 AM

[WaffleOnWheels]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 12:13pm

Watched this last night, and.. wow.

Not only did the show move me beyond any other theater I have seen for a long time, but it introduced me to one of my new favorite performers, Katrina Lenk.

There is something so enchanting about her and her stage presence. Not only that, but her facial expression were out of this world. Even if she is in the background of a scene, my eyes were drawn to her, actively reacting to what was happening in the scene.

Boy, I gotta get to The Band's Visit!

[TFMH18]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 12:57pm

"Boy, I gotta get to The Band's Visit!"

Yes, you do! If you felt that strongly about her work in Indecent (which is admittedly as wonderful as you describe), goodness you won't be able to handle what she's doing as the leading lady at the Barrymore.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 11/21/17 at 4:14pm

This was an absolutely stunning production. I am shocked that there's not already productions popping up regionally. I truly lost my breath at some points!

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The dust falling out of their jackets as they "return to ashes."  I was wrecked. I get emotional just talking about it.

. Truly remarkable performances and such exquisite lighting!!

This is one of the greatest productions of the 21st century and I'm so glad it was documented.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 11/24/17 at 11:41pm

Finally got a chance to watch this, on a plane no less (pro tip: don't do that).  What a stunning production.  I wish I had been able to see it in the theatre.  I had never heard of Katrina Lenk before but wow, what a performer.  They were all incredible, but she really stood out to me.  I thought the last rain scene looked oddly cut but since I didn't see it in the theatre, I wasn't sure why.  Too bad they felt like they had to do that.  Irony.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/25/17 at 12:58am

Honestly, and I don't mean this in a bad way, but where did she come from? I know she was in ONCE, but I feel like she came out of nowhere and now has had back to back starring roles on Broadway. What did she do in the prior 10 years of her life?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/25/17 at 1:14am

RippedMan said: "Honestly, and I don't mean this in a bad way, but where did she come from? I know she was in ONCE, but I feel like she came out of nowhere and now has had back to back starring roles on Broadway. What did she do in the prior 10 years of her life?"

Google is your friend but here is some low hanging fruit:

http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/the-season-that-put-katrina-lenk-on-our-radar_81053.html