The New Group's THE SEAGULL/WOODSTOCK, NY

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 7:25pm

From The New Group website:

"A group of New York theater people retreat to a house in the Hudson Valley hoping to get away from it all. Except they can’t seem to escape the ambitions, rivalries and fragile egos that follow them everywhere.

Chekhov’s sharp satirical eye for hypocrisy and self-absorption among well-meaning people is given fresh, fun emphasis as Thomas Bradshaw returns to The New Group with his contemporary reworking of a classic masterpiece. Directed by The New Group’s Founding Artistic Director Scott Elliott."

The cast includes: David Cale, Ato Essandoh, Patrick Foley, Hari Nef, Daniel Oreskes, Parker Posey, Bill Sage, Aleyse Shannon, Amy Stiller, and Nat Wolff.

Runs February 7 through March 26, and tickets are on sale now.

https://thenewgroup.org/production/the-seagull-woodstock-ny/



 

Updated On: 1/10/23 at 07:25 PM

[LeftofLinus]

Posted: 2/8/23 at 3:41pm

Saw the first benefit performance last night, and...eek. If anyone else sees this, I would love to know their thoughts/if it gets any better.  It seemed like a strong cast, but it felt all over the place.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/8/23 at 4:17pm

LeftofLinus said: "Saw the first benefit performance last night, and...eek. If anyone else sees this, I would love to know their thoughts/if it gets any better. It seemed like a strong cast, but it felt all over the place."

Oh no. I'm seeing it this week. Your "eek" is making me nervous. I can't take another crappy production after Cornelia Street and a few others before that ridiculous disaster. Do you mind posting the running time and whether or not there is an intermission? Thanks. 

[LeftofLinus]

Posted: 2/8/23 at 4:48pm

It was 3 hours with one intermission, about an hour and 30 minutes in. I hope the run time will be cut down, as there were definitely line issues.  We were told during a pre-show speech there was someone in the audience on book in case an actor needed a line - after all, we were at a preview, and "that was what we paid to see", and this person on book was taken advantage of. Even when lines were known, it seemed like they were being searched for - the pacing was off.

Go in with not the highest expectations - I was really hoping for something special and was quite disappointed. I would love to get your thoughts after you see it as well - maybe it just wasn't for me. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/8/23 at 5:00pm

LeftofLinus said: "It was 3 hours with one intermission, about an hour and 30 minutes in. I hope the run time will be cut down, as there were definitely line issues. We were told during a pre-show speech there was someone in the audience on book in case an actor needed a line - after all, we were at a preview, and "that was what we paid to see", and this person on book was taken advantage of. Even when lines were known, it seemed like they were being searched for - the pacing was off.

Go in with not the highest expectations - I was really hoping for something special and was quite disappointed. I would love to get your thoughts after you see it as well - maybe it just wasn't for me."

Oh my God. I'm not sure if I can take 3 hours of The Seagull. I figured Thomas Bradshaw was going to do some sort of abridged thing. Welp, that's what I get for buying something like this before hearing reactions. 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 6:07am

Anyone see this lately who can report on current run time and if things have improved at all? The cast piques my interest, but not if the show is a long slog.

[ooblogway]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 10:00am

We saw this last week and really like it A LOT. Loved the adaptation. Loved, loved Parker Posey. It was definitely less than 3 hours, more like 2 1/2. Felt like Act 4 needed work, but overall we really enjoyed it.

[thasanction22]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 10:11am

parker posey and the rest of the cast are terrific
direction is lacking and the pacing is DREADFUL
30 minutes and about 4 characters could have been cut completely
the first five minutes of the show the cast is doing a physical "warm up" onstage- this is pointless and should be done as the audience settles in. it makes you think you're in for a different kind of show than the one it ends up becoming
there's also a curtain onstage that becomes a "door" in act 2, it's used every few minutes: a stage hand pulls back the curtain so the cast can enter and exit. she's in plain few of about 30% of the audience, gives definite off-broadway vibes. add a door to the set. Updated On: 2/19/23 at 10:11 AM

[Theater3232]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 10:58am

Has anyone tried contacting this theater company? I tried calling them mid-afternoon one day, but it rang and rang and then went to what seemed like a personal cell phone voice mail?  No way to wait on hold like all other theaters.  And they haven't returned my email from a week and a half ago either, but it immediately gave an automated "thank you for your email"?  Quite embarrassing from an off-Broadway theater company.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/19/23 at 2:00pm

It would help in attempting to help you if you provide (1) the number and email you used, (2) the date and approximate time you called, and (3) the general nature of your call.

[LeftofLinus]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 8:00am

thasanction22 said: "parker posey and the rest of the cast are terrific
direction is lacking and the pacing is DREADFUL
30 minutes and about 4 characters could have been cut completely
the first five minutes of the show the cast is doing a physical "warm up" onstage- this is pointless and should be done as the audience settles in. it makes you think you're in for a different kind of show than the one it ends up becoming
there's also a curtain onstage that becomes a "door" in act 2, it's used every few minutes: a stage hand pulls back the curtain so the cast can enter and exit. she's in plain few of about 30% of the audience, gives definite off-broadway vibes. add a door to the set."

100% = I think my issues with the show were majority directorial - as in there didn't seem to be much. 

[raddersons]

Posted: 2/20/23 at 12:48pm

I had fun last night. I agree most of the problems seem to come from a staging / directorial standpoint. Lots of movement on stage seemed nonsensical, and pacing odd at some points. The adaptation is fairly true to the original text as far as the beats and characters go, and considering how much the original text references russian literature / theater of the time, updating it to modern day theater folk is the perfect idea. I actually think it could have gone a bit further in straying from the original by switching up the characters a bit more. I especially struggled with Sasha, wondering what she was adding to the story -- she didn't act as a foil or parallel in any way to the core, she just... wallowed.

Parker Posey is outrageous and I was screaming with laughter last night. So many great zingers. When she hits, she hits. However... she is definitely being fed some of her lines from a wire. There were moments when she would speak, and then there would be a long pause, and then she would speak, and then there would be long pause... this seems to be the source of many of the pacing issues. As it stands it's a fun night out, but she gets up to speed with the rest of the cast it could be really stellar.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/23/23 at 12:24am

Saw this tonight and really loved it. The show was over at 10:15 and that includes a 10-15 minute intermission. The show felt really grounded and seamless. There was a talk back with the cast after the show and they said tonight was the first night the show felt perfectly executed. They owned that previous shows had line and blocking issues. They were all feeling great about the shape of the show. 
 

I felt the cast was exceptional and were really connected to each other. Not a weak link in the bunch. The play drags in spots but overall I found it an engaging night of theatre. 
 

Parker Posey is luminous and does what she does well. No surprises there. She nails laughs and pathos. She is perfect for playing the star because she lights up the stage every time she arrives. 
 

I really love Hari Neff. I enjoyed her in Daddy and I loved her here. She’s just a very interesting actress and her choices are brilliant. She’s also very good at juggling comedy and tragedy. 
 

Loved the whole cast. They just extended so you have a chance to get tickets. I think it’s definitely worth a watch at an affordable price. 
 

Id avoid the first row on the sides. Seems like Lots of blocking issues with furniture pieces.