thoughts on UTOPIA: VOYAGE

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 12:48am

Get your tickets now. Once it wins Best Play this spring, it will be only a thing of the past.

This is a once in a lifetime event. It's not just play - it's three part structure (yes, requiring 3 different tickets) qualifies it for an event.

Stoppard's new play is a masterpiece. It is brilliantly and beautifully written. When you are sitting in the theatre watching this miracle unfold, you will feel like you have literally died and gone to heaven. I experienced pure awe and bliss this afternoon, and it will absolutely go down as one of my favorite theatrical experiences ever.

The entire cast, from top to bottom, is exemplory. Pristine, even. Billy Crudup is brilliant as the well...brilliant, awkward Vissarion Belinsky. He is so strong, so solid, and just plain wonderful. David Manis is clearly still finding his way in the role, after having just replaced Easton a few nights ago. His performance is still undeniably strong - and it's only up from here. Jennifer Ehle, Josh Hamilton, David Harbour, Jason Butler Harner, Amy Irving, and Brian F. O'Byrne are each fantastic. Each of them shine and deliver strong, unwavering performances. It's quite the accomplishment. Martha Plimpton is in her finest form here. She is a miraculous little actress, and delivers a performance of sheer perfection. I was pleasantly surprised by Ethan Hawke. I thought he would come off as the "amateur" of the bunch, and I was entirely wrong. He is absolutely winning as the obnoxious, aloof, bratty Michael Bakunin. He is an excellent stage actor, and I cannot wait to see his work in the next two parts.

The visuals will take your breath away. Brian MacDevitt's lighting is as equally brilliant and stunning as everything else. Bob Crowley and Bob Pask's sets are minimalist, but perhaps the most effective work each of them have done. Mr. Crowley, I forgive you for TARZAN. (Well, the design part.)

Mark Bennett's original score is exciting, beautiful, and triumphant. It is the best original score written for a play I have ever heard - and one can only hope that he will land a nomination this year.

Watching this show is like watching a sweeping, epic film. It plays like a film, it looks like a flim, and it is undeniably cinematic. Jack O'Brien should be awarded the Nobel Prize for this staging and creation - it is THAT strong and THAT brilliant.

There were several moments during the show when I was just overwhelmed with what I was experiencing. I couldn't believe it. I do not have a single complaint or criticism about thie piece.

I had read some background information on the show when it was first announced, and I will admit that I was very intimidated by it. This play, in the wrong hands, could be an unmitigated disaster. O'Brien always brings a friendly touch to his plays that make it all the more accessible - as he did two seasons ago with HENRY IV. He is a master at what he does, and he WILL win the Tony this year.

Perhaps this play is not as strong as I think it is, or perhaps O'Brien's staging isn't as strong as I think it is. It doesn't matter. When the two halves mix to form this one whole, you will be so blinded by the light it emits that you will be hard pressed to find something as utterly terrific as this. It's the first, great Broadway dramatic masterpiece since ANGELS IN AMERICA.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 12:57am

I'm a HUGE Stoppard fan, i'm SO excited!


where were you sitting, munk?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 12:59am

Row A, dead center in the loge.

It's the first time I was up in the loge at the Beaumont, and the first row is infinitely better than anything in the Orchestra.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 1:00am

oh good!!!

I was a little worried about my Row A Loge seats. they're a bit off to the side, but I figured it's a fairly intimate theater, so I should be fine

i'm SO excited!

it's gunna be a great December

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 1:15am

"Billy Crudup is brilliant as the well...brilliant, awkward Vissarion Belinsky. He is so strong, so solid, and just plain wonderful."

"Martha Plimpton is in her finest form here. She is a miraculous little actress, and delivers a performance of sheer perfection."

I totally agree, Munk. Thanks for the review!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 1:21am

I cannot say enough good things about this show.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 1:21am

Sounds great. I wasn't thinking of seeing a straight play when I come to NYC in December, but now I'm contemplating it. It sounds wonderful and a major achievement. It seems like the show works so well because of the cast and the creative team, which makes me want to see this particular production as opposed to seeing just a regional production of it.

Isn't Ethan Hawke in this? Or did I dream that up?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 1:25am

Yes. You obviously didn't read my entire post.

It's well worth seeing. It's tremendous. Hurry up and get your tickets, though. It's selling VERY well.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 1:42am

I read everything put the last little bit in the "cast" section. Dumb me.

It sounds wonderful. After seeing Light in the Piazza, does that vast stage swallow the show?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 1:48am

No!

Most of the action takes place on the "thrust" section which, for this show, is a circular turn table.

The entire stage is used, though. Not swallowed up at all.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 2:05am

Nice. I'll have to add the show to my every growing list of possible shows. Damn Broadway for having a good season and so many good shows. And it's only the Fall!

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 5:33am

Well, since the question was "What are your thoughts," here are mine.

This show made my head hurt.

First of all, I LOVE Stoppard. Also, I'm a bit of a Ruskophile.

I agree, Crudup was amazing. And the first act made me THINK.

The second act, however, lost me. We went back seven years? Why?

As if the whole Pushkin/Hagel philosophy lesson wasn't hard enough, we were forced to live it again?

I'm flummoxed by this play. I'm an intelligent, well-educated person. And I love Stoppard. I think he's a genius.

But the second act of "The Voyage" lost me.

I'm looking forward to the rest of it. I get what he's trying to say. I understand the broad strokes.

But seriously, he pushed me too far as an author. Setting the second act of "The Voyage" back in time, as he did, made the whole thing too difficult to understand. I barely got to know the characters is the first act, and I think pushing ahead in a chronological manner would have benefitted the piece.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 5:53am

Wasn't sure whether I wanted to see Utopia but I have to admit that after reading Munks review, I will be getting my tix today!

Thanks Munk for your great and thoughtful review.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 2:13pm

I certainly understand, VC.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 2:22pm

I had been putting this off, but your rave convinced me to go ahead and get tickets reserved for the entire trilogy. And -- they're already somewhat picked over, so time is of the essence, to anyone else looking to do it.

I remember some discussion of some possible pre-show reading materials (outside of the play itself) that might help with the context. Anyone have any suggestions? I have until December and have a $50 Amazon certificate burning a hole in my pocket.

eta: And forgive me if this has been addressed before, but how will this work come Tony time? Will each part of the trilogy be considered as a separate play? Could the best play category conceivably consist of all three parts? Or will it just be considered as a whole? And what about the acting awards?
Updated On: 10/22/06 at 02:22 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 5:28pm

Here's the thread with the info about some reading materials.

Thanks for the review, Munk.

More Utopia

Updated On: 10/22/06 at 05:28 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 9:20pm

You don't really have to read anythign before hand. Possibly the script. I would buy the script before any of those suggested readings.

I think it will be considered as one whole play. Though, there are 3 different lighting designers- one for each part. I don't know how they'll work that.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 10/22/06 at 10:06pm

No, you don't HAVE to read anything before.

The list of books was simply a recommended reading list for those interested in further information.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 3:37pm

Stoppard is treating each as a separate play. What interests me is how some of the actors will be considered. The Bakunin sisters may not figure as much into Parts II and III. How will they consider Jennifer Ehle eligible for which role she will play?

So far, Voyage is this season's strongest acting ensemble.

More thoughts later.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 4:04pm

So is student rush for this not looking likely?

[mabel]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 4:21pm

I'd say your best bet would be to sign up for LCT StudenTix (they reopned it, right?). That way you can get tix ahead of time and not have to sweat whether or not there'll be anything there the day of.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 4:26pm

I assume that Ehle, Martha Plimpton and a couple of others who play different characters in each of the plays will be considered for Best Featured Actress, much like Kathleen Chalfant was when she played the oldest living Bolshevik, Dr. Henry, Hannah Pitt and Ethel Rosenberg in the first part of ANGEL IN AMERICA.

I'm also guessing that, as a practical matter, the three plays will be considered together for just one slot at the Tonys, even though, in the case of ANGELS, each was considered a separate play and each was awarded the Tony for Best Play, since they debuted in different seasons. Since the three COAST OF UTOPIA plays are all opening in the same season, I imagine that they'll be considered one play, rather than allowing them to be considered separately and potentially take three of the four Best Play slots (though I bet that Lincoln Center will petition the nominating committee for them to be considered separately).

Updated On: 10/23/06 at 04:26 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:40pm

Why would they do that? If they put them all as one, they'd most certainly win, but why pit each of the shows against each other?

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 10:25am

It's just a possibility. Besides, Stoppard himself references them as three separate plays, albeit as a trilogy. It's just the enormous undertaking by both the National Theatre in London and LCT here in NY to present them in repertory. We'll just have to wait to hear what the Tony nominating committee rules on eligibility.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 10:31pm

Kiss, I find this interesting.

If Stoppard is indeed treating these three plays as "separate" things, I feel he is mistaken.

I don't see at all how "The Voyage" worked as an individual piece.

I'm not discounting the power of the entire trilogy, but I am saying, after seeing "The Voyage," that these pieces don't work individually.