The Inheritance - Previews

[Lot666]

clever2 said: "MrsSallyAdams said: "I'd type more thoughts in a spoiler tag but i don't know how on my phone. I may try when I'm back at a computer tomorrow.
"

Honestly have no idea how people are doing that lol"

When you're composing a response, just click the little square icon with a "+" sign in it (immediately to the right of the smiley face emoji icon) and then type the spoiler content in the provided gray box.

[Lot666]

LuminousBeing said: "JPeterman said: "...Anyway, that's the reaction of this straight poster. I'm happy to answer follow-ups if anyone has any."

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[clever2]

Lot666 said: “When you're composing a response, just click the little square icon with a "+" sign in it (immediately to the right of the smiley face emoji icon) and then type the spoiler content in the provided gray box."

Hey, thanks, Lot666! I’ve only been engaging from my phone, and 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

didn’t realize they’d made this feature available for girls on the go. I appreciate your help!

 

[BWAY Baby2]

Okay-  I just saw Parts 1 and 2 Sunday- and it was quite a day in the theater. I feel enriched by it- for 7 hours witnessing incredible actors telling a sprawling story- sometimes very engrossing, sometimes a bit meandering- almost like reading a long novel- but, finally- and I mean this for anyone interested in drama, acting- who loves theater and seeing plays- this is one NOT to be missed. I just took it all in- very interesting characters- gay-themed of course- and very entertaining and touching in parts. Period. I was definitely touched by it- and highly recommend it to those who love theater. If you miss it- will it be the end of the world? No- but is it a show that will stay with me- and the experience of spending so much time with these characters was very special to me. I say SEE IT and judge for yourself. I highly recommend it.

[bearhorn]

I also saw Parts One & Two last Sunday.  While maybe not as amazing as "Angels In America", I thought it was an excellent play.  Smart, funny, sad, thought-provoking.  The staging was simple, but effective.  I probably enjoyed Part One a bit more than Part Two (and had a few quibbles here and there), but I was never bored.  Cast was terrific!  A great finale to our theatre weekend (which also included "Hadestown", "Moulin Rouge!", and "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical".  I hope the reviews are great!

[haterobics]

Well, I'm locked in to see this on the 30th, so we'll see where I land! I actually got better about seeing this when I realized it wasn't as polarizing as I thought, but the people who seemed negative had positive things to say; and the people who were positive had some negative quibbles, I guess that's what a seven-hour run time affords you, a unified polarized audience?!

[hork]

I was also there on Sunday and thought it was incredible. If I could change anything about it, I would cut every use of the word “inheritance” from the script (yes, we get it, the title has multiple meanings, you don’t need to spell it out for us), but that’s a minor quibble in an otherwise entrancing experience. Six and a half hours and I was never bored (maybe a little fidgety during a couple scenes in the second part). This is the kind of ambitious and passionate work that is the reason I go to the theater, and I found it utterly inspiring and profoundly moving.

[LuminousBeing]

Lot666 said: "LuminousBeing said: "JPeterman said: "...Anyway, that's the reaction of this straight poster. I'm happy to answer follow-ups if anyone has any."

Thanks for sharing your thoughts."

Thank you for reading them.

[Rhoda4]

My partner and I seeing it on the 30th also.  Very excited... in spite of all the difference of opinions.

[Chowd95]

I saw this play last week and it blew me away. I loved the interesting way it was structured.. with the guys in the periphery basically making it up as it goes, and when one of the characters disagreed the others were like "f you, this is what happens whether you like it or not". I thought the simple design was brilliant. Having just one huge table with only a chair or a few props to represent change in location made me use my imagination to fill in the blanks, and with the strength of the writing that wasn't hard to do. The way the back wall opened up at key moments (usually heightened by the sparse score) was extremely effective as well. The acting from everyone involved was just incredible. It's going to be interesting to see who wins best actor/supporting actor because I feel like Kyle Soller, Andrew Burnap, Samuel H. Levine, John Benjamin Hickey and Paul Hilton will all be nominated. I was completely invested in all of their characters, whether I liked them or not. I spent seven hours at The Barrymore glued to my seat in total awe and if I'm able to make it back while this is still playing I would love to see it again.

[SS3]

How does one find one’s place in the world?

Do we as gay men have a shared history, what makes us a community – are there cultural markers?  Do we go to the same church?  Are we all of the same skin color or ethnicity?  Or is the only thing we share is how we have sex?  What does it mean to be gay?

So given all that, how do we find our place in society?  This is what the play explores.  The play is not just about the AIDS crisis and what was robbed, but explores the larger inter-generational question going all way back to people like Forster or Whitman.  What recently brought us together was the fight for gay rights or AIDS, but with gay marriage and PrEP, do we have anything left in common?  What is modern gay culture in 2016?

In addition, it’s also about the art of writing and what it means to be an artist. And how through art we can pass down a shared history that helps us find our place.

Is it melodramatic? It is a bit longer than needs be? Yes, but it’s still a great evening at the theater.  I saw this in London last year and the production, performances and direction were all first rate.

[TheQuibbler]

This may have been answered earlier, but in regards to the ending of Part 1...

 

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Does anyone know who those extra actors are? Are they actually members of the company or are they from a program? Very curious about this as it seems a lot of extra people to pay on a weekly basis.

 

[James2]

I'm seeing Part One tonight and Part Two Sunday night.

I recall people saying the text has had at least some revisions for Broadway. Were they anything substantial? I ask in the event I like the play and want to buy the script, which makes me question whether a revised version will be published later on.

[Bill Snibson]

It seems that half of them are understudies for the show and the additional men are contracted under a rarely used Equity “extra” contract. I believe they make about half of a broadway production minimum salary. So roughly about $1100 a week. I’m sure they don’t need to sign in until some point during Part I. An insert is handed out after the performance listing the “extras”.

[broadway86]

Saw Part 1 this past Friday. I’d already purchased tickets for both parts and as I sat down, it hit me, I hope I enjoy this because it’s 7 hours and 2 evenings worth of material ?

But I absolutely loved this first half. LOVED it. I had heard some folks here calling for soapy and whatnot, and while I can understand that criticism, I was absolutely blown away by the cast, the inventive staging, the humor, the energy, the jaw-dropping monologue work, the dialogue, and the cumulative effect that hit me by the end. After seeing the plodding and unfocused The Rose Tattoo, it was refreshing to see a production so confident and intentional. 

Very excited to see Part 2 in a few days, but what I can already say is that, if you love theatre, even if you don’t ultimately care for this piece, you should see it.

[broadway86]

Saw Part 2 this evening. Not too much to add to my thoughts on Part 1, I think this production is amazing. The play itself is a bit unwieldy, a bit long-winded, but I can’t say I was ever bored or not engaged. And for a seven hour play, that is saying something.

Top-notch direction by Daldry, the pace never flags and the performances he has elicited from this cast... my god. Kyle Soller and Paul Hilton are particularly great, but Andrew Burnap takes a character who could be insufferable in lesser hands, and makes him charismatic, layered, hilarious, and tragic. Tony worthy, absolutely.

I am so glad I saw this, I will not soon forget it.

[Lot666]

broadway86 said: "I can’t say I was ever bored or not engaged. And for a seven hour play, that is saying something."

Same here.

 

[haterobics]

I think people are overlooking how good it even is that we HAVE a 7 hour gay play on Broadway to be dissecting...

But yeah, was a lovely 7 hours in the theater... 

[ModernMillie3]

Right? What a wonderful time to be alive. I also enjoyed no lines in the women's bathroom. DOPE. 

[haterobics]

ModernMillie3 said: "Right? What a wonderful time to be alive. I also enjoyed no lines in the women's bathroom. DOPE."

You lucked out. The day I was there, it became two men's rooms.

[Susanswerphone]

Both parts now available on TDF for 12/26. Finally!

[dmrockon092]

Does anyone recommend where to sit for each part? Buying tickets for a gift, and I'm thinking of splurging.

[haterobics]

Probably recommend 3-4 rows back, since the table/set thing is a bit built up on the stage, and some people sit/interact toward the back of it. Otherwise, everything is pretty well centered and such, so not really a big concern for this show...

[Lot666]

dmrockon092 said: "Does anyone recommend where to sit for each part? Buying tickets for a gift, and I'm thinking of splurging."

We were in center orchestra row L, seats 107-108, for both parts. These seats were great, although I wouldn't have minded being a bit closer to the action. I recommend staying in center orchestra without going any further back than this, if possible. The production design is not broad or panoramic, so there isn't really anything be gained from going upstairs or sitting further back in the orchestra.

[Wick3]

If you’re splurging, sit in left orchestra aisle 4-5 rows back closer to center orchestra. Great view and no heads in front of you with better legroom. Bring a seat cushion to make it more comfortable.