Dan Cody's Yacht at MTC

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/20/18 at 10:30pm

I caught this tonight, and overall enjoyed it. It's well-written, well-acted, and it explores very timely issues of education, class, and privilege -- topics that seem to be on the minds of many playwrights Off-Broadway these days. Can't imagine why. 

Still, despite the fact that this is yet another new Off-Broadway play dealing with education, class, and privilege, I think they do a good job with it. It's kind of a modern riff on The Great Gatsby, in a very loose sort of way. It's tight, engaging, and revolves around an intriguing (albeit a bit unrealistic) premise. Rick Holmes and Kristen Bush both deliver excellent performances. For me, their performances were worth the price of admission (though to be fair I only paid $30). I've seen Holmes in a few supporting roles over the past few years, but this role really allows him to shine in a way I've definitely never seen from him. Some of the supporting actors don't fare quite as well, but most of them are stuck in pretty thankless roles. 

I wouldn't call this a must-see, simply because it's nothing all that groundbreaking. But it's worth checking out if you have the time, and if you can get in for a good price. 

Updated On: 5/20/18 at 10:30 PM

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 12:15pm

I found it...ok. I was never quite sure what it was actually about other than, like you said "another play about education, class, and privilege." I felt there were no new ideas or even a strong principle or backbone in the piece.

There are funny lines in act 2 about Whole Foods I liked, though.  

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 5/21/18 at 1:15pm

I saw this over the weekend as well, and came away thinking essentially it was a play with some interesting ideas that still had not found its theme. It wasn’t clear to me what ultimately the writer was trying to say through these characters and their experiences. Scene to scene, the writing was rather inconsistent. But then, I am frankly getting tired of this style of play writing, which we have seen endlessly over the past decade at every off-Broadway theater company.

Still, it’s a brand new play and it’s an early previews, so hopefully they will continue shaping it.