Network extends to June 8

[Fordham2015]

Cranston wants that Tony

http://www.playbill.com/article/network-starring-bryan-cranston-extends-broadway-engagement-into-june

[ACL2006]

congrats! Though I've always wondered why they only do 7 performances a week?

[carolinaguy]

They only do seven a week because the role of Howard Beale is BRUTAL, the straight-play equivalent of Evan Hansen. I hope Cranston's stamina holds out; he's remarkably good.

[Fordham2015]

carolinaguy said: "They only do seven a week because the role of Howard Beale is BRUTAL, the straight-play equivalent of Evan Hansen. I hope Cranston's stamina holds out; he's remarkably good."

Yes indeed, his "mad as hell" scene is better than Peter Finch's in the movie.

[Call_me_jorge]

I hope they at least do a mini tour of this kind of like a view from the bridge

[SomethingPeculiar]

Call_me_jorge said: "I hope they at least do a mini tour of this kind of like a view from the bridge"

When VIEW toured, did it have onstage seating like on Bway, or was it a straight proscenium production?

I think the problem with Network touring: Cranston is selling most of the tickets, and it's a much larger physical production than View. Maybe he would want to play 6 weeks in LA at the Ahmanson or the Geffen if it doesn't interfere with his filming schedule? (IMDB says he starts production on a Showtime limited series "later this year." No star in their right mind would want to follow in Cranston's footsteps.

[carolinaguy]

As it's currently staged, the technicals would be nearly impossible for any kind of a tour with a hope of at least breaking even. It would have to be vastly revised, and I'm not sure the time outlay would be worth it. Better to film it for Fathom or something similar. (Though it's problematic other than Cranston, honestly.)

[Call_me_jorge]

VIEW had onstage seating, at least it did when it was in Chicago.

[ACL2006]

has Cranston missed a show yet? Curious if his u/s, Bill Timoney, has gone on yet.

[haterobics]

I'm still surprised no one has dressed up as Walter White and walked ominously behind Goldwyn and Maslany when they are outside the theater...

[quizking101]

haterobics said: "I'm still surprised no one has dressed up as Walter White and walked ominously behind Goldwyn and Maslany when they are outside the theater..."

Uh...creepy

But FWIW, I thought that was the coolest part of the show. I wonder how that scene looks during matinees and if it changes things at all.

[Larry6417]

By June 8th there won't be any set left for Cranston to chew on.

[bear88]

This extension adds a complication to my May trip, which is none of your concerns. But my question is this: Most of the comments and reviews I have seen basically say Cranston is fantastic but the play, overall, is nothing special aside from a few directorial flourishes.

Is that a fair assessment? And if it's unfair to the play, why is it worth choosing aside from Cranston?

[haterobics]

bear88 said: "This extension adds a complication to my May trip, which is none of your concerns. But my question is this: Most of the comments and reviews I have seen basically say Cranston is fantastic but the play, overall, is nothing special aside from a few directorial flourishes.

Is that a fair assessment? And if it's unfair to the play, why is it worth choosing aside from Cranston?"

If you don't see Network, what would that open up as other options? Too hard to parse whether you'll get enough from Cranston to justify seeing the show, heh.

But I think there are parts of the show that didn't age as well (Maslany and Goldwyn's roles), and the whole staging is immersive and interesting, but yeah, you leave thinking Wow, Cranston really nailed it...

[bear88]

I've got a ridiculously long list of possible choices for four slots (probably). I'm trying to figure out a first-choice play, which is hard to do when several options haven't opened.

[carolinaguy]

The staging concept is fascinating for ten or fifteen minutes, but then you can sum it up as, except for Cranston, the movie was much better.

[Stage Door Sally]

Reason to see it: Cranston delivers a sucker punch to the gut. 

[LarryD2]

The play itself is not as powerful or insightful as it thinks it is, but Cranston's performance is one of the best I've ever seen in nearly 40 years of theatergoing. If you can get in to see it, I would recommend it just for him. (Tony Goldwyn is also very good, though I wasn't much taken with Tatiana Maslany.)