I NEED THAT Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/12/23 at 12:00am

Danny DeVito returns to Broadway in Theresa Rebeck’s new comedy I Need That, which begins previews tomorrow (October 13) at the American Airlines Theatre prior to a November 2 opening night. DeVito stars alongside his daughter Lucy, and Ray Anthony Thomas. I Need That — directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel — plays a limited run through December 23.

“Sam doesn’t get out much. Actually, he doesn’t get out at all, opting instead for the safety of his house in the company of his things — his many, many things. But when a notice from the government arrives alerting Sam that he must clean up his property or face eviction, he’s forced to reckon with what’s trash, what’s treasure, and whether we can ever know the difference between the two.” 

Who’s going?

Updated On: 10/12/23 at 12:00 AM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 10/12/23 at 5:30am

Rebeck is hit or miss for me, so I'm holding off for awhile to hear what others think.

Updated On: 10/14/23 at 05:30 AM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/13/23 at 11:00pm

Any first preview thoughts?

Listed running time is 100 minutes, no intermission. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/14/23 at 6:13pm

Sounds like everyone else on this board has the same interest in this play as I do.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/14/23 at 9:20pm

Seeing it in December. This show seems to be selling quite well and has already been extended by a week. Would be great for Roundabout to finally have a financially successful show.

[ardiem]

Posted: 10/15/23 at 9:36am

Very curious about this too, but hesitant to pull the trigger because I disliked Dig.

[dave1606]

Posted: 10/18/23 at 10:57am

I caught this last night. The show runs 1:45.

If you are considering going I'd wait a week or so, the cast definitely does not have the book under their belt. There's a lot of stumbling over lines from all three actors which makes me wonder if there were last minute changes?

Overall I'd rank it as good, but not great. Theresa Rebeck just isn't the best playwright sadly. The play ambles along and random plot points seem to be introduced at the 11th hour to frustratnig degrees. Clunky is the word I'd describe it. What she is good at is writing some very funny lines and the first half hour or so has the makings of a fun sitcom. 

Even if the cast had some difficulties with lines, they were all excellent. Danny Devito is giving a very Danny Devito performance and the audience eats it up. He's VERY funny and there's a scene of him playing the board game Sorry by himself that for me was worth the price of admission. It's also great to see him acting opposite his daughter and it does bring an added sweetness to this play. I thought Lucy Devito and Ray Anthony Thomas were both excellent. 

The other added star of the show is one of the best sets of the season with some really lovely surprises there. 

Overall I had a good time but unfortunately the great acting and staging can't save a play that just isn't good enough. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 10/18/23 at 11:28am

Sounds about Rebeck.

[meyerd584]

Posted: 10/19/23 at 12:01am

Echoing all of this. Actually I think I disliked the play more than you. 

There's not much here and the 'twists' ruin an otherwise ok slice of life play. 

 

Unfortunately the 8pm tonight saw everyone forgetting their lines but Danny has a great way of recovering built into his character and performance.

 

It was worth the $30 I paid to see him and act alongside his very talented daughter but this was otherwise a waste. 

I enjoyed the board game part but this show only scratches the surface of what it's trying to get across so the way it ends negated the whole thing. 

 

Spoiler below:

 

The big scene change would have an impact if it didn't take 7 minutes of actors stalling. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/19/23 at 11:01pm

Seeing Danny onstage will always be a thrill. I really just wish he would have chosen a better show. For the most part this felt like a total waste of what is in fact a fascinating subject matter and could have made for a great family drama in the hands of...someone else. I don't even have much else to say other than "I saw it and I'll most probably never think about it again".