WHITE NOISE at The Public Theater

[LightsOut90]

Just a fyi most of the dates of the initial run are almost sold out, really excited to see Daveed Diggs back onstage

WHITE NOISE

[Danielle49]

Thanks for this. Went into the Public the other day to grab student tickets for Sea Wall / A Life thinking Gyllenhaal would be a huge draw, but saw this post and figured I’d grab them for White Noise as well. I got the last one on my date. Looked at the calendar and it seems most dates are sold out with seats here and there that are AmEx exclusive. What a hot ticket this is turning out to be with Parks, Diggs, and the world premiere label.

[Mister Matt]

I always wondered what had happened to this show. I really enjoyed it in Chicago several years ago with Luba Mason and Diuglas Sills. It needed some work, but a timely book and solid score. The Hip Hop Howdown brought down the house.

[orlikethecolorpurple]

Not the same show (thank god imo). This is not a musical.

[RunningThatRoad]

FYI, this was completely sold out not as of yesterday, but a bunch of seats on the far edges just opened up for almost every performance. I snagged a few to go with friends in late March.

[macnyc]

Thanks! I bought two tickets. They are partial view, but they are only $40 (not including fees). But I have to confess I really wish the Hip Hop Hoedown was part of the show! I bet Daveed would do it justice.

[Danielle49]

Show was extended for an extra week — the rest of the run is sold out so snatch up tickets for that final week while you can!

http://bit.ly/World-Premiere-Suzan-Lori-Parks-White-Noise-Extends-Public

[Megsamegatron]

Danielle49 said: "Show was extended for an extra week — the rest of the run is sold out so snatch up tickets for that final week while you can!

http://bit.ly/World-Premiere-Suzan-Lori-Parks-White-Noise-Extends-Public"

Thank you so much!!

[Mister Matt]

Not the same show (thank god imo). This is not a musical.

Well, that's a shame.  Everyone deserves a chance to see the Hip Hop Hoedown.

I bet Daveed would do it justice.

He totally would.

[RentBoy86]

Friend works on the show and is getting me a ticket for a Sunday in March. Don’t know much about the show, but it takes place in a bowling alley and there is a fully functional bowling set. And the goal, as always, is to move to Broadway in the fall.

[NYfanfromCA]

Previews start tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5.  Running time says 3 hours, 15 minutes, with one intermission.  Who's going?  

[Danielbee]

[JBroadway]

I was there last night...

I’m really not sure how I felt about it. For the first hour or so, I kept thinking “this is pretty good, but it’s the most normal Suzan-Lori Parks play I’ve ever seen or read. When is it going to get weird?” And then, toward the end of Act 1, it gets WEIRD. Stylistically, the play stays pretty naturalistic the whole time (at least, for an SLP Play). But the premise that arises is so strange and outlandish, that I truly can’t figure out whether I thought it worked. But I do know that, for better or for worse, it was designed to make the audience deeply uncomfortable, and it succeeded.

The play is in fact over 3 hours long. The lights came up at 10:20 last night after a 7pm curtain. Some of it does feel cuttable; there are some plot elements that feel extraneous, making the play sometimes feel overly busy. But I think I see why Parks threw everything she had at us; because if we don’t REALLY spend time with these characters and get to know them, if we don’t REALLY get to see the scenario unfold all the way, the bizarre premise would just feel like cheap shock-value, and I don’t think it does. But I also don’t think it quite feels as cohesive it should be yet. Still, it’s a pretty fascinating piece, and parts of it work really well.

Daveed Diggs is excellent; in this role role, he proves that he’s not just a charismatic performer - he’s genuinely a very skilled actor. The rest of the cast is also very strong.

[LightsOut90]

how is the bowling alley set?

[JBroadway]

LightsOut90 said: "how is the bowling alley set?"

 

The way it’s done is clever and creative, but it’s visually very ugly IMO 

[CarmenA3]

I was at the first preview as well and pretty much agree with JBroadway's assessment. The twist is WAY OUT THERE (at least IMO). With such a weird start, I never bought in to the rest of the storyline. There is also a LOT going on (e.g. personal issues) with each character - so much so that we don't get a deep look at anyone in particular.

The acting was strong and DD is very good. The bowling alley isn't introduced until sometime into the show, and I kept wondering what those set parts were going to be used for.

I will say that for a play that is just over 3 hours, it didn't lag all that much. That being said, there are enough mini storylines in the show that can be cut to trim the time.

[Danielbee]

[bandbfilm]

Hi. Have 2 seats I can’t use for this Sunday March 10 - they are center reserved row d, if anyone wants them at cost. (166 total including service charges). Thanks.

[Ledaero]

Late on posting this, but I was also at the first preview of White Noise. I absolutely loved the show. I think Lori-Park's script is a brilliant analysis of modern race relations and power dynamics. I didn't mind the set, it wasn't amazing but it functioned well. And its bowling alley caught me by surprise and I found it very effective how they used it/bowled. The play is long, but really worth every minute. Tempted to try and see it again before it closes.

[RentBoy86]

Saw this tonight & thought it was a huge miss. Clunky writing ( “He beat the **** out of her. Literally.” ), terrible direction (why is there a fridge at the bowling alley?), lackluster performances.

So, the main character willing signs himself up to be treated like a slave for 40 days and then discovers it’s hard? And we are suppose to, what, feel empathy for him? Or the fact that these 4 best friends are all terrible friends to each other? The characters were so unlikeable.