Adam Rapp's Red Light Winter

[iflitifloat]

I saw a preview of Red Light Winter last night at the Barrow Street Theater. It was a play that had caught my eye at Steppenwolf last spring during a trip to Chicago, but we ended up using our one free night to see Malkovich's play, also at Steppenwolf, instead. I am so happy that, in the big picture, I didn't miss seeing this.

I find that, increasingly, I'm am being drawn toward off-Broadway venues where the tickets are a bit more affordable, the houses are smaller, and the resulting experience feels more involving and personal. Red Light Winter is a shining example. It's a play with only three actors, each of whom delves fearlessly and deeply into his/her character. I was drained by the end of the play...and when they came to take their bows, it was apparent just how much of an emotional toll the performance had taken on the actors. I have such admiration for what I saw on the stage last night. It was disturbing, compelling, and had incredibly written conversation/banter that sometimes struck on a couple of different levels simultaneously. And what's more, I can't get the play out of my head...

Just a heads up. This is something to be seen.

[SueleenGay]

I missed this in Chicago, but I hear it was quite good. Adam and Anthony are brother's right? What a talented family.

[dreaminaret]

iflitifloat - I totally agree with you about off-B'way shows. They also seem to be extremely interesting and remarkably different and since there are generally fewer characters they are so well developed. I hope to see Red Light Winter soon though I have to rely on Student Rush so maybe I'll go while it's still in previews and on a weekday night.

and yeah, they're brothers.

[orangeskittles]

dreaminaret, do they have student rush for this? I was wondering about that a few weeks ago. I'd love to be able to see it.

[dreaminaret]

I called Barrow St. Theatre last week and they said that they will have $15 student rush tix an hour before the show depending on availability. Though they said tix were selling well they thought they'd be able to accommodate a few students a night (I'm assuming not weekends though). I'm going to try and go during previews because if it gets a great NYT review like Little Dog Laughed did then everyone will be flocking to it thus making student rush impossible. Also, Broadway Box has $35 seats for all shows but opening night.

[starletta8]

I had the pleasure of seeing this show tonight, from the perfect vantage point (aka right up against the stage). With a show like this, it's so important to clearly see the faces of each character as he/she works through a myriad of emotions.

To put it bluntly, these 3 talented actors took the piece and acted the heck out of it. I was so impressed with everything- from the actors to the set (understated yet had all the right tiny details) to the writing itself. It's certainly a piece that makes you think as you walk away. The theater itself is fabulous- intimate enough for this show. The rotating stage was pretty cool, too.

Just a warning: definately not suitable for under-18s. I had to throw that in there for those not familiar with the play.

[wexy]

I saw it last night. The performances were amazing and iflit is right, the actors were drained. I thought the first act was tighter than the second and Im interested in seeing the reviews after in opens tomorrow. There's a lot of humor and pain in this play and it certainly is something to see.

[NYadgal]

Thanks for your thoughts. I wasn't sure about seeing it, but now will make it a point to do so.

[katygrace84]

I'm glad you NYCers are liking this as much as I did. I've raved about this piece ever since I saw it here in Chicago. All I can say now is that it is still the most moving and memorable experience I've ever had in a theater. This is a must-see.

[MargoChanning]

Add me to the list of those who thoroughly enjoyed this production. The writing was clever and seemlessly naturalistic and the performances were brave and gripping. I'd highly recommend it.

[wexy]

We should mention the actors names; Christopher Denham, Lisa Joyce and Gary Wilmes who were all outstanding (And yes they have appeared on Law and Order)

[iflitifloat]

They were all excellent, but Christopher Denham just blew me away. If there's any justice in the world he should receive official nods for his performance.

[katygrace84]

I wholeheartedly agree, iflit! While I was blown away by the entire cast, Denham was a standout for me. He just completely disappeared into the character of Matt.

[AbbaRabbit]

::jelous::
i haven't seen it, but i finished the book a few days ago... it was wonderful

[luvtheEmcee]

I saw it last night.

I don't think I found it as moving as some other people did -- but rather just short of the kind of thing you can't get out of your head. I certainly did find it highly compelling, as a fascinating exploration of a lot of different inner, personal stigmas and deeply-rooted issues -- the things that comprise our personalities, and how those shape everything else we experience.

I think that what's really fascinating about the exploration is that it shows the way two diametrically opposed characters experience separate but very similar and related events.

Maybe the reason it didn't quite hit that height for me was because the ending was so abrupt -- affective, no doubt, but it just pulled me almost to that point, and then was done. And that aside, Adam writes beautifully. This was my first exposure to his work, and his style has a lot of really wonderful attributes -- it flows so smoothly, and really shapes the nuances of his characters. The dialogue in the play flows without static moments, and without feeling choppy or contrived. Even with something so morbid, humor shines through in a well-done delicate balance.

The actors were all phenomenal, but for me, Denham stole the show.

Go see it!

[katygrace84]

Glad you liked it, Em.

[luvtheEmcee]

I think I remember seeing somewhere that it was based on an actual trip Adam took to Amsterdam. Is that true?

[katygrace84]

It is partially based on a real trip, yes. I'm not sure where you can find the actual story other than in the book version of the play itself.

[luvtheEmcee]

Gracias.

[katygrace84]

De nada.

[Vespertine1228]

Finally saw this tonight. I didn't know anything about it aside from me liking Adam Rapp's previous work Finer Noble Gasses because I purposefully didn't read anything about it. And quite frankly, I need it explained to me.

I thought the play was beyond awful. This was very sad, as the first act had so much promise. I found it to be interesting, surprising, adult, disturbing, and unlike anything I could remember. From the moment the second act started, it was all downhill.

What had started as an interesting love triangle turned into an overwrought, poorly acted melodrama which was trite, overlong, and predictable. A prostitute that falls in love with the most assholeish of her customers? Please.

It hurt me to see so much promise squandered.

I also didn't think the graphic sex was particularly needed. It seemed there to make everything seem edgier and/or more uncomfortable when it didn't really serve much of the play.

Thoughts?

[Thesbijean]

I thought it was convaluted and the characters were all over the place.

Very imbalanced work.

[orangeskittles]

Just wondering, which playwrights do you two like?

[Vespertine1228]

My favorite living playwrights are Horton Foote, Martin McDonough, Rebecca Gilman, Denis Johnson, and Richard Greenberg.

And it's not that I dislike Adam Rapp, because I did like his last play. It's just this play I thought was bad. Shrugs.

[Borstalboy]

I saw this on my trip to NY and I was sort of mixed-to-positive about the experience. What a wonderful trio of actors, and Rapp's writing is a force to be dealt with. But the writing is great only moment-to-moment...the whole had BIG dramaturgical problems that diminished from the impact for me, at least. Tickets were usually available at TKTS, so it's worth checking out. I was way in the back and the seats were still good.