Betrayal Previews - Page 3

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 11:32pm

I saw this yesterday and to be honest, wasn't really a fan.  It might be a Pinter thing but I felt like I couldn't really see the intricacies of the interactions that has everyone else raving.  I thought it was fairly straightforward and didn't really grab my interest.  All the actors portray their roles well, but to me it didn't seem like they had to work hard to really capture the essence of their roles so I'm not sure if I'm just missing something.  Some of the staging moments with the turntable were fantastic, but I was a bit confused about the walls, was that just for a lighting effect or to show them in more isolation from the third party or something?  A lot of it seemed kind of arbitrary and I had a few moments when I wasn't sure if they were trying to imply something for the audience to figure out.

We also stage doored afterwards since our seats were close enough to the exit for us to snag a spot on the barricade after leaving the theater.  The measures that TheaterGeek mentioned about sectioning off the walkway and only allowing ticketholders didn't seem to be enforced my night, but it definitely was pretty packed.  None of the actors took selfies and would only sign Playbills (and maybe show related merch, but I couldn't tell), and everyone was fairly respectful (though one girl did tell Tom Hiddleston to smile which seemed a bit rude).  Charlie Cox was the first one and came out about half an hour after the show ended, and Tom Hiddleston was last, coming out about 50 minutes after the show ended.

[Myshmoopsiepoo]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 8:14am

Damiensta said: "Saw this tonite. Count me in the love love column. I was afraid before hand Bc previous experience with Pinther was that dreadful “Old Times” from Roundabout.

the empty set, the acting , direction were exceptional. The 90 min flew by.

The orchestra was full tonite. Wouldn’t be surprised that once reviews come in that it will be hard tix to get.

Also all three actors were equal footing. No one was better than the other.i even enjoyed the small part of waiter.

I know there is separate seating thread , but I will like to point out that even though I was in center orchestra. The action takes center stage. In first act the right side might miss actor standing in the back. But besides that I don’t think even with partial view you miss much. I’m wondering if the reblock after first preview ."

Saw this the other night and have to agree. I thought the show was fabulous! Got my tickets through TDF, mezzanine row D. Great view. Didn’t go to stage door.

[broadway86]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 9:04am

Saw last night's performance. I had read this play, although I was very familiar with the concept and characters, but it was really clever and poignant and witty. All four actors were exceptional, even the waiter got some great moments out of only a few minutes onstage.

[NievesG]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 10:19am

If anyone is interested, before or after attending, a nice write-up:

Tom Hiddleston on ‘Betrayal’ and the Art of Self-Protection (NYT)

[keen on kean]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 11:44am

I saw the first performance last Wednesday. I saw the Daniel Craig version a few years ago, and was incredibly bored but this production drew me in right away. Perhaps because I appreciate Pinter's economy with words, the spare dialogue appeals to me. I thought the entire cast was, perhaps, a little too youthful for what is a middle age regrets/remembrances story.  I see this as a retrospective from the end looking back: the older characters remembering what happened to them but unable to become those younger selves.

I thought Ashton was the weakest, lacking the self-protective guile and flashes of anger. I thought Cox was brilliant: Jerry is central to most of the scenes, and is the one most manipulated by the tensions in the marriage between Emma and Robert. But I found Hiddleston heartbreaking. Craig played Robert very cold, manipulative, edgy. Hiddleston showed you how much of his toughness was an act, and there is one moment in the entire play that I will never forget. No spoilers but it said more about Robert in one wordless image than I ever could have imagined. Robert is, after all, the victim who plays along, trying not to lose the two people he loves just because they love each other more.

[LxGstv]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 2:54pm

Saw this last night and I have mixed feelings about it. The acting is phenomenal all around, and despite a few moments of brilliance, the material and the set left me cold. I honestly think this belongs off-broadway, because it would benefit from being in a smaller, more intimate space to fully take in all of the performances.

I think the whole evening was very subtle, maybe a little too subtle. For a play about betrayal, I feel that it was lacking passion and anger. I kept waiting for a big climax moment that never happened. The tension doesn’t even escalate as it goes along. It felt excruciatingly long at times.

On a side note, this was my second time seeing Charlie Cox on stage and I thought it was funny that the set and movement were very similar to “Incognito”. Bare stage, a couple of chairs and actors going around in circles.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 8/26/19 at 9:52pm

Saw this tonight via the $25 tickets and I really enjoyed it!

(Seating wise: I was first row of the mezz all the way house left. The second and third scenes are the only ones where I missed someone speaking, but other than that it was a great seat. They project the titles “2 years ago” on the front of the stage and the back, so it’s visible to everyone. I think if you were debating, I’d chose house right, so I think you’d miss the least.)

I found all 3 to be terrific. But it is a very somber and subdued piece. I have nothing to compare it to, but it’s very small. But it draws you in! The ending caught me by surprise because it’s such a quick show. Totally recommend it!

[Age_of_Mendacity]

Posted: 8/29/19 at 3:36pm

Anyone know who sings the cover of "Enjoy the Silence" they use (very well, I thought) in the back half of the production?

Anyway, saw this last night and loved it -- all three really seem to be firing on all cylinders. Plenty of empty seats along the sides in the Orchestra for an early Wed. curtain. Didn't stick around to see the madhouse of stagedoor. 

[VirginiaK]

Posted: 9/2/19 at 12:40am

I really liked it a lot and would consider seeing it again. Tom Hiddleston as Robert is a wonderful stage presence and delivered the profound sadness of the story so palpably, which is the feeling that is present but not I believe directly expressed in the text, which I now want to read. Charlie Cox as Jerry was great up against him, just as strong with a wholly different energy, much more forthright. I found Zawe Ashton fine as Emma, she holds her own with two great actors, but I thought there was sometimes-retro read on the character of the woman in the story, I'd like to see it minus the occasional arch or bitter line reading, which diminish her a bit.

(A full house for the Saturday matinee. I got good Row C Mezzanine seats half price at the South Street TKTS where you can buy Sat matinee tickets on Friday afternoon.)

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 7:26am

Any member reviews or comments out there to update us on how things are going with the show and it’s performances? Is this a Don’t Miss This Whatever You Do type of play? And are there merchandise stands in the theatre with window cards, etc.?

Updated On: 9/7/19 at 07:26 AM

[schubox]

Posted: 9/7/19 at 4:24pm

Just got out of the matinee and I thought it was great, extremely well acted.

And the only merch I saw was hats and magnets

[TheaterGeek]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 12:32pm

I am seeing this tonight and am excited! Any new reports on the stage door? Are they still not doing photos with the actors? Still blocking off access to people who didn't see the show?

[Kea4]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 4:09pm

TheaterGeek said: "I am seeing this tonight and am excited! Any new reports on the stage door? Are they still not doing photos with the actors? Still blocking off access to people who didn't see the show?"

I saw this about two weeks ago and they didn't check tickets. We were on the barrier on the right-side - we got out quite late and this side was very empty so we were in the front, while the left was crowded. But they signed on both sides. No selfies but they were very engaged and chatted a bit. Charlie Cox was even like "They won't let us take selfies but you can take a picture of me signing!" and posed (for a man next to me). Great stage door experience! 

[Kitsune]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 4:15pm

I saw Come From Away last Saturday night (very chill stage door, and the cast is always so lovely).

I walked past Betrayal on my way back, and it looked like there were 4 or 5 people deep all the way around the barricade! I really enjoyed Charlie Cox in Daredevil, but even if I *had* gotten to see Betrayal this trip, I don't think I personally could do a stage door that was so busy.

[AllThatJazz2]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 6:34pm

Are they coming out to sign at all for the matinees, or only evening performances?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 6:53pm

Kea4 said: "TheaterGeek said: "I am seeing this tonight and am excited! Any new reports on the stage door? Are they still not doing photos with the actors? Still blocking off access to people who didn't see the show?"

I saw this about two weeks ago and they didn't check tickets. We were on the barrier on the right-side - we got out quite late and this side was very empty so we were in the front,while the left was crowded. But they signed on both sides. No selfiesbut they were very engaged and chatted a bit.Charlie Cox was even like "They won't let us take selfies but you can take a picture of me signing!" and posed (for a man next to me). Great stage door experience!"

 

They don’t check tickets once the show lets out. They only check tickets when people arrive before the show lets out, so as to give priority to people who have actually seen the show (even if it was on a different day). The people who don’t show a ticket or program are told to stand behind a separate barrier behind the other one. If you do show them a ticket or program, they let you have a spot right up front at the main barricade where the actors sign. 

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/22/19 at 8:01am

AllThatJazz2 said: "Are they coming out to sign at all for the matinees, or only evening performances?"

They didn't come out to sign after yesterday's matinee.

[imissthemusic2]

Posted: 9/22/19 at 12:59pm

Won the lotto last night ($40) and ended up in Row B of the Front Mezz, towards the far end of the row. Missed a few things on stage right, but overall it was a solid view. I agree with whatever poster mentioned that the set designer should have adjusted the stage, though -- any further than where I was and your view is certain to be obstructed. Really can't be that hard to cut back the black walls on the sides of the stage, which are the primary issue. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the performances and thought it had some fantastic staging moments (truly one of the most effective uses of a turn-table I've seen on Broadway in a while). I'm a big Marvel fan, so I had somewhat forgotten Hiddleston/Cox's actual acting abilities. It was wonderful to see Hiddleston getting to do something different, and I thought he gave a fantastic performance. To my personal surprise, however, Cox was by far my favorite performance. I especially appreciated him in the first/second scenes. Ashton was very solid but was definitely missing something, though I'm not yet sure what. 

I do agree with those who say the play itself was missing something. It wasn't the language that was too sparse, but maybe the plot itself? Personally I wished there was one more scene following the final one; I wanted to see more of the three characters' dynamics before it was affected by the affair. The ending as it stands, while brilliantly staged (that turn-table moment!), left me unsatisfied in terms of story. 

Regardless, I would highly suggest attending. The 90 minute run-time (which was actually closer to 100), flew by and the entire audience was completely engrossed. The performances alone make the show worth it, and fans of Pinter's work will certainly appreciate it.  

[Wick3]

Posted: 9/23/19 at 9:23am

I saw this play recently as well and after the show talked to friends who have seen the production a few years ago with Daniel Craig/Rachel Weisz and they definitely preferred this production. One friend who saw the production with Liev Schreiber back 19 years ago told me Liev was the best Jerry he had ever seen. 

To me, Charlie Cox and Zawe Ashton were the standouts though all three were amazing. If time permits I hope to watch this play again before it closes as I'm sure the trio's chemistry will be even better!

So I started watching the movie yesterday but somehow just couldn't get into it. Not sure why. I definitely preferred watching this production moreso than the movie (even though I'm a Jeremy Irons fan!)

Updated On: 9/23/19 at 09:23 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/23/19 at 7:46pm

To the person who asked who performed the “Enjoy the Silence” cover, its Susanna and the Magical Orchestra (in the voice of RuPaul) available on iTunes.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/24/19 at 12:10am

Oooh might need to see the movie

[spikethebunny]

Posted: 9/24/19 at 1:07pm

Saw this on Broadway Flea day (so there was no stage door that day). Thoroughly enjoyed it and the time just flew. I loved the bare stage and the direction of always having all three actors on stage. The acting was phenomenal by all three. It’s one of those shows I’m glad I saw, but don’t really need to see again.

Seating wise, I purchased last row of the mezz, last seat on the side at the box office, but was moved up to row d of the mezz (about five seats from the side) when I entered the theatre. I saw them moving some people from the back of the mezz to the front. I guess they wanted to fill the front a bit more. My new view was phenomenal and I missed nothing.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 9/24/19 at 1:26pm

spikethebunny said: "Saw this on Broadway Flea day (so there was no stage door that day). Thoroughly enjoyed it and the time just flew. I loved the bare stage and the direction of always having all three actors on stage. The acting was phenomenal by all three. It’s one of those shows I’m glad I saw, but don’t really need to see again.

Seating wise, I purchased last row of the mezz, last seat on the side at the box office, but was moved up to row d of the mezz (about five seats from the side) when I entered the theatre. I saw them moving some people from the back of the mezz to the front. I guess they wanted to fill the front a bit more. My new view was phenomenal and I missed nothing."

I saw it on Flea Market Day also and was disappointed, but makes sense, they didn't stagedoor.  I was sitting in D7 ($25) and really didn't have obstructed view for the most part.  Do not buy D9.  The girl next to me had a lot of scenes obstructed.  For those who have seen the show, during the second scene, is Tom on stage?  That would have been the only scene I didn't see everybody.  Which it is easily fixable to move him over.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/3/19 at 12:49am

Okay so Tuesday night was my first of two Madonna concerts. Visit my report on the off topic thread for my impressions - I loved it!

Today was a two show day. Matinee of Betrayal followed by evening performance of Oklahoma!

Started day with one of my favorite brunch spots - Philip Marie in the West Village. They have the best omelets and drinks.

Headed over to Jacobs Theatre for Betrayal. I actually had an extreme side mezzanine front row partial view $25 seat, but checked with box office and for $24 was moved to Row M9 left orchestra. Great view. Only at one point when Ashton and Cox were performing a scene was Hiddleston far left and I could only see half of him. Lots of sporadic empty seats in back half of orchestra.

As far as the production itself, all three gave stellar performances. I’d say Hiddleston gave my favorite performance. I just felt like the play itself isn’t maybe as profound as Pinter thought it was or maybe I missed it. Also, I didn’t detect all this crying, snot running others have mentioned. Maybe because I accidentally left binoculars in my hotel room. Still a very good day at the theater. Much humor was mined out of such a dark subject. I will say at one point I discovered a solitary tear angling down my left cheek. They don’t stagedoor matinees which was fine as it’s hard for me to stagedoor after a depressing play. I bought a magnet before the play began and a Hiddle Me This cocktail. Yummy! I did mention to bartender that when the user welcomed me with “Welcome to Betrayal”, it reminded me of something Stefan on SNL would say about some new bar. The bartender said that would now be stuck in his head and I said you’re welcome. Oh and about the audience, besides a little candy wrapper noise in my section, two separate cell phones went off to the spontaneous verbal disgust of people in our section myself included. I swear it’s almost a given that if you see a quiet play cell phones are going to go off no matter how much they warn them.

Went to Joe Allen. I know their menu is limited right now so I can’t judge it based on what it usually is like. It was okay. The beet salad that my server recommended was phenomenal though. That’s saying something since I hate beets. I had a cheeseburger and it was good, and certainly nothing earth shattering but good. I didn’t have room for dessert.

Headed over to CITS. Maybe one of these days I’ll remember that my map always takes me to the wrong place when I get directions to Circle in the Square. Anyway finally found it with some assistance. Before the show I bought the program and then they had a deal where you can get the magnet, mug and keychain all for $20 so I did that. I thought about the window card but held off. I’ve already bought 4 window cards this trip and I’m running out of wall space as it is.

Regarding Oklahoma!, I first have to say I don’t think I’ve ever seen the movie. And I’ve only seen one stage production that was done locally every summer at an outside theater venue outside of Tulsa. And that’s probably been 20 years ago so my memories of it are pretty vague. All of that is to say that I wasn’t overly wedded to what I thought the show has been or should be. I thought it’s a really brave production and I even liked the dream ballet once I understood what it was which was when it was over. I thought everyone gave stellar performances and I was lucky that all the principle cast were in. I was so glad to see Ali Stroker again after seeing her in Spring Awakening. But...

I found both shows really easy to admire immensely, but not easy to necessarily “love” if that makes sense. Oklahoma! was great on so many fronts. It’s hard to believe this was ever considered a feel good musical. The dark themes are there and explored extremely well.

I will admit I’m a little down in the dumps and I’m not sure if it’s because my trip is nearing its end (always hard to say goodbye to NYC) or because I saw two depressing shows today. Either way, that may have affected my enjoyment of both shows a bit. I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I missed the chili and cornbread. As soon as intermission began I ran to the bathroom and I was the second one in there so got in and out quickly. That was one of the advantages of being seated in K110 (which also afforded good views). But the disadvantage was by the time I got back the line for chili was really long and they ran out of chili or they just quit serving before I even got close to getting chilly. I suppose in retrospect I should’ve stood in line for chili and then going to the bathroom but I wanted to make sure that my bladder trip precedence. Not gonna lie. I was pretty bummed even though I wasn’t hungry. I just wanted to have the full experience. There’s a chance I wouldn’t have liked the chili anyway since I’m from Oklahoma which is a place that prides itself on having really good chili although I know people said this chili is good. I also have been operating on three hours asleep after the Madonna concert the night before and so I’m sure that’s affecting my mood as well. I had some trouble staying awake during act one of Oklahoma! Due to being tired and the show being depressing, I did not stagedoor afterwards. Took the subway back to my hotel in Brooklyn and I’m getting ready to pass out here in a minute and try to get a good night’s sleep.

I know it’s been mentioned that some of the people don’t get that the ending of Oklahoma in this production is not joyous and I’m not sure how anybody would not get that but as I looked around I saw older women singing along or mouthing the words in a very joyous manner at the end.

I’m glad I have an opportunity to to see Madonna again tomorrow from the front row and then Tootsie on Friday night which will be a feel good musical to end my trip.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/14/19 at 12:05am

I have never like Harold Pinter plays. I once walked out of the opening night performance of No Man’s Land with Gielgud and Richardson because I was bored out of my mind and had to go to work early the next day. I saw The Homecoming twice, once when I was simply too young (the original Broadway production), once when I was older. I hated both. I am lsure that I saw Rosemary Harris in a production, but in a very rare case for me, I can’t remember what the play was, other than I was bored. And etc.

I saw this yesterday and actually enjoyed it. There are two reasons: It is a pretty straightforward play, with the interesting bit being the reverse order. Were it played in chronological or order, I doubt it would have ever been the least bit acclaimed. Telling it in reverse keeps you more engaged and thinking more. I thought it was tight, extremely well acted, and I did not even notice pauses that were too long. Either they were not overdone or I simply was enjoying it enough not to notice.

The real reason I enjoyed this, though, was Tom Hiddleston’s voice. I simply can’t remember an actor’s speaking voice who I have found as pleasurable since Richard Burton, who I saw in Equus and a Camelot revival, and many movies. It was exciting just listening to it.

Personally, I thought all performances were really good, but these did not register in my mind as great roles, and I don’t see any of these actors being heaped with nominations unless it is a really bad season. I am not sure I would appreciate the difference between a solid performance and a great performances...I just don’t think the roles are special enough. Shoot me.

But Hiddleston’s voice is incredible.