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Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse

Posted by:	allineedisthegirl 11:40 am EDT 03/19/14

I attended a preview of Threepenny Opera last night. It’s not an outrage like the Robert Wilson production brought to BAM a couple of years ago by the Berliner Ensemble, or a jaw-dropper like Roundabout’s 10 years ago. Rather it reminded me of a straightforward college production, and not a great one either. Laura Osnes sings beautifully as well as bringing a sly knowingness to Polly. She comes out on top of this cast. Mary Beth Piel is also very good as Mrs. Peachum, although the choice to play her as a slattern was the first clue that the director was missing the main point of the play. F. Murray Abraham (Peachum), Michael Park (Macheath) and Rick Holmes (Tiger Brown) seem to be inching toward standard (stock) interpretations of these roles, but all three seem severely tranquilized. Lilli Cooper (Lucy Brown) is worst in this regard, nearly sleepwalking through the play, even in the “Jealousy Duet.” Sally Murphy gives the cliched “angry” Jenny, and has an accent that comes and goes. The ensemble wanders around aimlessly, pulling focus from the scenes and songs; much nudity and simulated sex, just in case you need to be told what goes on in a whorehouse or in an alley, thank you very much. Yes it was a preview, so, who knows? Maybe they’ll give the cast some pep pills, and maybe Jenny will figure out what part of Europe she comes from. What I don’t see them fixing however, is the sound. It’s a small theatre, 250 seats. Nevertheless, the actors wear face mikes and the band is miked and the whole thing sounds like it’s coming out of a boom-box. Just ridiculous. db

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Thread:	re: we've had worse - but barely. interpolated song - NewtonUK 12:09 am EDT 03/20/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - StageDoorEddie 11:49 pm EDT 03/19/14 (1) Brilliant Directorial Touch - Genealley 12:56 am EDT 03/20/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - stan 01:39 pm EDT 03/19/14 (9) Good Person of Szechwan - enoch10 12:16 am EDT 03/20/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - schauspieler 04:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - Michael_Portantiere 03:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - singleticket 02:34 pm EDT 03/19/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 01:58 pm EDT 03/19/14 (4) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - stan 02:08 pm EDT 03/19/14 (3) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 02:16 pm EDT 03/19/14 (2) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - elmore3003 04:43 pm EDT 03/19/14 (1) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 05:17 pm EDT 03/19/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - enoch10 01:03 pm EDT 03/19/14 Agree - there's so much "off" about this production - Genealley 12:03 pm EDT 03/19/14 (3) re: Agree - there's so much "off" about this production - falcon15 03:42 pm EDT 03/19/14 (2) re: Agree - there's so much "off" about this production - elmore3003 04:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 (1) re: Agree - there's so much "off" about this production - ryhog 05:18 pm EDT 03/19/14 Atlantic Quality - Jackson 11:56 am EDT 03/19/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - ryhog 11:56 am EDT 03/19/14 (10) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 12:13 pm EDT 03/19/14 (5) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - ryhog 12:30 pm EDT 03/19/14 (4) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - Circlevet 01:45 pm EDT 03/19/14 (1) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - ryhog 01:57 pm EDT 03/19/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - enoch10 01:10 pm EDT 03/19/14 (1) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - ryhog 01:14 pm EDT 03/19/14 re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - Michael_Portantiere 12:09 pm EDT 03/19/14 (3) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - Billhaven 12:36 pm EDT 03/19/14 (2) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - enoch10 01:11 pm EDT 03/19/14 (1) re: Threepenny Opera at Atlantic -- we've had worse - allineedisthegirl 01:23 pm EDT 03/19/14

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