LEOPOLDSTADT Reviews- Page 4

[mufish]

Posted: 1/13/23 at 6:56pm

FYI the show is being filmed this evening. Looks like the NYPL setup. 

[theaterdarling]

Posted: 1/20/23 at 1:04pm

VirginiaK said: "Another review, from a writer I like, George Blecher. I plan to see this anyhow but I found this review engaging. https://www.nycitywoman.com/tom-stoppards-leopoldstadt-on-broadway-a-review/
 

Thanks for this link. I saw it two weeks ago and have been trying to figure out why it didn't land for me, and this review best articulates my thoughts. Put me on the side of the disappointed.

I also liked SisterGeorge's comment: "Exquisitely staged and acted, but a bit of a disappointment as the themes and story felt quite familiar, and that's something I've never been able to say about any other Stoppard play.  The final scene is unquestionably devastating but bringing in a (SPOILER ALERT "woman in gold" plot device) seemed quite derivative at this point."  I would just add that I found the final scene compelling but not devastating. 

If "Leopoldstadt" will be viewed as Thus Spake Stoppard on the Holocaust, a lifetime in the making, (or at least from 1993 when he found he was 100% Jewish) I thought he would have so much more interesting things to spake (and to show). In addition to the themes and story feeling familiar as SisterGeorge noted, stylistically, at varying points, it felt like a bit of a pastiche of vintage Stoppard: some farce; the use of math/science principles (in this case the cat's cradle and I'm sure one or two others that I have forgotten) to make a larger point; name checking a few prominent intellectuals of the era, to describe a few, all contributing to the sense that I have seen this all before.

And, Sir Tom, the tropes, the tropes - an evil Nazi humiliating a woman in a wheelchair. Really? Do I need that easy reminder of what evil sadistic scum they were? I remember thinking in some scene that the sound of glass breaking cueing Kristallnacht was not far behind and sure enough.........(I'm Jewish by the way, so am not belittling the horror of Kristallnacht -just the predictability of the aural cue and it being symbolic of other obviousness).

"Leopoldstadt" seemed more like one of Stoppard's more conventional and accessible big budget period screenplays--but with an extended apologia tacked on to the end to remind us it is a play of ideas. I do agree with another poster who suggested the reckoning in the final scene might have been a better starting point and would have resulted in a much more personal rendering of Stoppard coming to terms with his Jewish identity or lack thereof.

Since it is Stoppard, I do note that the words spoken on stage were very fine ones, forming beautifully constructed sentences, not unworthy of hearing, but so not in the service, for me, of anything truly memorable. I so badly wanted "Lepoldstadt" to be more.

Physical production was beautiful.  A terrific cast on paper (assembled and moved around beautifully by Marber), but I thought some of the acting was a little too shouty, lest we miss the point. I know projection and articulation are very, very important to Stoppard, but still.

 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/20/23 at 1:53pm

Got tickets far side orchestra row M through Broadway Week. How are the views from there? I've been fine with side mezzanine there, but partner likes orchestra.

[Huss417]

Posted: 1/20/23 at 2:11pm

This is a view from Row M 14. Not sure what side you were on.

https://aviewfrommyseat.com/photo/110422/Longacre+Theatre/section-Orchestra+L/row-M/seat-14/

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:27pm

I just saw on David Krumholtz's instagram that he is departing LEOPOLDSTADT on March 12th. I thought he did great job as Hermann Merz in this play and wish him well.

[pethian]

Posted: 1/27/23 at 7:21pm

Beautiful piece about the play on NBC Nightly New tonight, including comments by Stoppard.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 2:03pm

WEST WING fans! Josh Malina will join the cast, replacing David Krumholtz who exits on March 12.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Joshua-Malina-to-Join-the-Cast-of-LEOPOLDSTADT-in-March-David-Krumholtz-Caissie-Levy-More-to-Depart-20230202

 

 

Beginning Tuesday, March 14, Joshua Malina ("The West Wing," "Sports Night" will take over the role of Hermann. Dave Register (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) also joins the company in the role of Fritz, and Cody Braverman joins in the role of Young Leo.

Leopoldstadt will also welcome current company members Jesse Aaronson in the role of Leo, in addition to his current role as Aaron; Charlotte Graham in the role of Nellie; and Sarah Killough in the role of Eva.

Ali Rose Dachis (Fish in the Dark, Usual Girls) also joins the company as an understudy.

Arty Froushan, David Krumholtz, Caissie Levy, and Tedra Millan will play their final performances on Sunday, March 12.

[kwoc91]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 2:52pm

FYI - Brandon Uranowitz tested positive for COVID. He posted it on his Instagram.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 5:36pm

Does anyone where the lottery seats are? I saw the play via rush the first time, wondering if lottery seats are any better.  Thanks

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 6:09pm

I was way up in the balcony. Balcony Row E on House Right to be exact. 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 6:37pm

jkcohen626 said: "I was way up in the balcony. Balcony Row E on House Right to be exact."

Wow, ok. Thanks. Eeek,  $47 for the balcony...

[dan94]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 7:16pm

My lottery seat was in the front row. Albeit this was right after opening so they might have changed where they are offering.

[yyys]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 7:28pm

I went in mid-January for a saturday evening show and got 2nd row center.

[alexidarling15]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 9:45pm

I won the lotto for Wed's performance and got Orchestra Row B seat 2, I was thrilled; the stage is pretty low. The row in front of me was empty, as was most of the front row center. I loved the play but remain confused about how all of the characters were related to each other -- I can't imagine trying to figure it out from the balcony.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 2/2/23 at 10:29pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "WEST WING fans!Josh Malina will join the cast, replacing David Krumholtz who exits on March 12."

This play left me cold, but Malina is great and I'd consider giving this another shot. Good news.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/5/23 at 12:19am

kwoc91 said: "FYI - Brandon Uranowitz tested positive for COVID. He posted it on his Instagram."

Saw the show tonight, didn't know Uranowitz was going to be out and was initially really upset, he was a big reason I was seeing it. That said, I thought his understudy. Dylan S Wallach was excellent in those roles,  The rest of the cast was uniformly excellent, so impressed that with so many actors, there was no weak links, especially with those that played such different roles from scene to scene. Didn't matter I lost track of how people were related, you felt the essence of the relationships throughout.

I was Orchestra M19-21 (thanks, Broadway Week) and really didn't fee like I missed that much, aside from the Shabbat (?) scene were we missed half the table.

 

[Meyerschultz]

Posted: 2/9/23 at 2:25pm

Do we know when Uranowitz is out til? Really want to see him!

[The Other One]

Posted: 2/12/23 at 10:28pm

He was back on the 10th.

[shocowo]

Posted: 2/13/23 at 8:30am

gibsons2 said: "Does anyone where the lottery seats are? I saw the play via rush the first time, wondering if lottery seats are any better. Thanks"

I had Orchestra row AA, seat 105 and others in the row were also lottery winners. 

Edited to add: This was on 2/12/23

 

Updated On: 2/13/23 at 08:30 AM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 2/13/23 at 5:30pm

Am currently in London for work and was thrilled to be able to rent the National Theatre video of their production for 8 pounds for three days, saving me a heck of a lot of $ trying to see it in NYC.  My VPN in the US couldn't fool the NT so glad I was able to do this during the trip.  What a bargain.

[kwoc91]

Posted: 2/14/23 at 11:36am

gibsons2 said: "Does anyone where the lottery seats are? I saw the play via rush the first time, wondering if lottery seats are any better. Thanks"

I won the lottery (again) for tomorrow night's show - seats are orchestra row B, dead center.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 2/23/23 at 10:34am

Rushed on Tuesday night , first in line got B 2 and 3 perfect seats

The play was extraordinary, brilliantly acted , funny in places, heartbreaking in others. A stunning night of theatre. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 3/8/23 at 10:31pm

Rushed this morning, got there about 9:45 and got an excellent Rush seat in the orchestra

wow, 2 hours and 25 minutes and I never felt a minute, what a brilliant and absolutely devastating piece of theater, horrifying and unfortunately timely, I was sobbing from the middle to the end

Brandon Uranowitz is doing career-best work, the last scene was just harrowing to watch him swing emotionally all over, Patrick Marber is certainly in my first position for Best Director of A Play, was a treat to watch David Krumholtz and I would recommend people catch him before he leaves on Sunday

see this play 

[sm33]

Posted: 3/15/23 at 12:24am

Saw this tonight and thought it was excellent, as did my husband. We'd both love to see it again now that we know what's going on, but there is too much else to see right now so we'll have to see if it's still running next time we're here. .

 I just read through the thread and find it interesting that so many people didn't care for the last part, as it was a big part of what made it work so well for me. I do think it could have been longer because it's so epic in scale, but it's extremely well-crafted for its length with how many characters are involved. 

I never would have known it was Josh Malina's first night in the show from his performance. he seemed like a great fit for Hermann. Brandon Uranowitz was probably the highlight for me - not only great in musicals, I guess!! And I was pleasantly surprised to see Seth Numrich was in this. I saw him in Power of Sail at the Geffen Playhouse in LA last year, and was really impressed by him in that.. To be perfectly honest, I didn't initially realize he played two characters in this play because they looked and acted so differently - I only placed him as Percy before looking at the Playbill.

We sat in the front row of the left mezz all the way at the end because those were some of the cheapest seats and I have a bunch more shows coming up during this trip that I've already splurged on. While the seats were fine (too narrow, imo, but well-padded and with great sightlines), I wish we had gotten seats a little closer and in the orchestra so we could more easily track some of the characters. I definitely want to read the play - we missed a bit of the dialogue up top due to some chatty audience members. Thankfully they settled down.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 6/6/23 at 12:19pm

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