The Cradle Will Rock at Classic Stage Company

[BenElliott]

Performances of The Cradle Will Rock started at Classic Stage Company tonight. It has direction by John Doyle. I could've sworn I saw a thread on this already, but the search couldn't find anything.

So I saw it tonight the audience was unfortunately pretty empty. I really hadn't heard much buzz surrounding this and yet it had quite a lovely cast. Anyways here are some of my thoughts.

Rema Webb singing "Joe Worker" is worth the price of admission. In fact, the cast here is really wonderful. John Doyle's direction, however, doesn't totally work for me. I usually really love his work, but his direction here and in Carmen Jones were both very muddled. Once again, this show has no set. I guess that's what CSC is doing now. The last show I saw there with any real set was Pacific Overtures. I'm a tad bit bored of seeing the same set every time I see a show here. Also, I understand the reason behind the lack of the Playbill, but PLEASE BRING BACK THE PLAYBILLS. It feels cheap without it and I can't imagine that that's allowed by equity.

As for the show Lara Pulver was wonderful as the prostitute. Tony Yazbeck will definitely grow into the part as will Sally Ann Tripplett, who I loved in Sweeney, but I felt was held back by a poor costume design here, which I'll talk about in a bit. I've already mentioned Rema who just has a killer voice. She's great. I think Doyle has chosen to have this production seem like union workers putting on a show. It kind of works, but he's chosen to dress everyone in steel worker uniforms without even a suggestion of character, which makes it rather confusing to watch. The Cradle Will Rock is also such a minimalist show anyways, that I really would've liked for Doyle to have just done it straight, but he somehow actually over complicated the staging, making it so that it was really very confusing as to what was happening. I did enjoy it however and I think it's a chance to see a great musical. It's just that, for the first time ever, I would like for Doyle to go even simpler.

[GavestonPS]

^^^What a shame about the production!

Although I find Blitztein's scores an acquired taste, the one time I got to see a full production of CRADLE (at the Theatricum Botanicum outside LA) I found it thrilling!

[BenElliott]

Well, it's certainly very enjoyable and would probably be better enjoyed if you already knew the show. It was the very first performance and I'm sure it will grow and change. The production wasn't bad by any means, I just think Doyle's direction could've been clearer.

[#1Elphie]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Do you remember what the running time was? I'm seeing it this weekend. (And I also wish CSC would bring back the Playbills!)

[BenElliott]

It was exactly an hour and a half. Show started at 7 and I was out at 8:30.

[CATSNYrevival]

As far as I understand the original presentation was also without a set, just Marc Blitzstein on the piano, with the actors performing in the house.

Can anyone describe the set such as it is in a bit more detail? Is it just tables and chairs? Also is there a band or just one piano?

[#1Elphie]

The audience is on three sides of the stage. On the fourth side, red, yellow, and black salvage drums are stacked up. They sometimes bring salvage drums onto the stage to use (the smaller yellow ones are often used as chairs, and a few larger ones are on wheels and are brought out occasionally). There is a piano in front of the salvage drums, facing away from the audience. There's no band, just the piano (played by a few different actors). There is a telephone pole amongst the drums, and telephone wires travel above the stage from the pole. 

[JBroadway]

Saw it yesterday. Typical Doyle drek. The OP sums it up well.

[VintageSnarker]

I'm thinking about seeing this through TDF but not if I can't follow it. There's a Blank Theatre Company album on Spotify and the wikipedia page is pretty basic. Any other way of researching the show before seeing it? Without a playbill it'll be harder to track characters by just associating them with the actors. 

The clips of Lara Pulver in Gypsy are... not my favorite but I feel like John Doyle usually does right by the lead actresses in his shows so maybe I'll like her in this. 

[GavestonPS]

CATSNYrevival said: "As far as I understand the original presentation was also without a set,just Marc Blitzsteinon the piano, with the actors performing in the house...."

That's right. The producers or theater owners (bowing to political pressure) locked the company out of the theater in which CRADLE was schedule to open. Somebody found another theater that was dark, so director Orson Welles marched with the company and the audience to the other house.

The actors were barred by Actors' Equity from appearing on the stage, which is why they performed from their seats in the house while Blitzstein played alone at the onstage piano.

This is documented quite well in Tim Robbins' film, also called THE CRADLE WILL ROCK, which came out in the 1990s.

[JBroadway]

VintageSnarker said: "I'm thinking about seeing this through TDF but not if I can't follow it. There's a Blank Theatre Company album on Spotify and the wikipedia page is pretty basic. Any other way of researching the show before seeing it? Without a playbill it'll be harder to track characters by just associating them with the actors.

The clips of Lara Pulver in Gypsy are... not my favorite but I feel like John Doyle usually does right by the lead actresses in his shows so maybe I'll like her in this."

 

FYI, Lara Pulver isn’t much a lead in this show. She has her big-ish moments toward the beginning then kind of disappears into the ensemble. 

And regarding keeping track of characters: unfortunately Doyle has made it even harder by barely delineating between characters in the direction at all, 

I think your best bet is listening through one of the albums beforehand. 

 

[LarryD2]

VintageSnarker said: "I'm thinking about seeing this through TDF but not if I can't follow it. There's a Blank Theatre Company album on Spotify and the wikipedia page is pretty basic. Any other way of researching the show before seeing it? Without a playbill it'll be harder to track characters by just associating them with the actors.

The clips of Lara Pulver in Gypsy are... not my favorite but I feel like John Doyle usually does right by the lead actresses in his shows so maybe I'll like her in this."

I don't think it's hard to follow -- either as a piece itself or in this production. Although it's a small cast playing multiple roles here, it's staged in such a way that the action is always pretty clear. 

As others said, Pulver really isn't the star of the show. I liked her, and she has a solid voice, but if she's not your cup of tea, it's not like she's the center of attention all night. The performances by David Garrison and Tony Yazbeck are both really top-notch. I would say it's worth seeing it for them alone. And it was nice to hear a musical performed without amplification in an intimate setting.

[givesmevoice]

LarryD2 said: "VintageSnarker said: "I'm thinking about seeing this through TDF but not if I can't follow it. There's a Blank Theatre Company album on Spotify and the wikipedia page is pretty basic. Any other way of researching the show before seeing it? Without a playbill it'll be harder to track characters by just associating them with the actors.

The clips of Lara Pulver in Gypsy are... not my favorite but I feel like John Doyle usually does right by the lead actresses in his shows so maybe I'll like her in this."

I don't think it's hard to follow -- either as a piece itself or in this production. Although it's a small cast playing multiple roles here, it's staged in such a way that the action is always pretty clear.

As others said, Pulver really isn't the star of the show. I liked her, and she has a solid voice, but if she's not your cup of tea, it's not like she's the center of attention all night. The performances by David Garrison and Tony Yazbeck are both really top-notch. I would say it's worth seeing it for them alone. And it was nice to hear a musical performed without amplification in an intimate setting."

Sally Ann Triplett also have a fantastic performance, but Mrs. Mister is a great role that welcomes going big. 

[nealb1]

I have tickets for this next month.  Any excuse to see Tony Y is fine with me.  

[VintageSnarker]

I didn't have time to prep but it wasn't difficult to follow at all. If anything, it was very obvious, but I wonder how much of that was due to the staging. I didn't hate it or find it offensive and so for that I wish it was selling better because an undersold house is always a bit demoralizing for the actors and the audience. I agree that the unamplified singing in an intimate space was a nice change but I can't say this show really worked for me. It was fine and I liked the music more than I'd expected to but the show was just little too cynical and blunt for me. I felt a little bludgeoned by the message. I'm glad I've finally seen a production but I think I prefer the earnest sentimentality of Newsies. I think this show wanted its ending to be inspiring but it wasn't after the relentless cynicism and bitterness of everything but the final scene.