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Not Crazy About Riverside

Posted by: Jfs414 09:46 pm EDT 05/10/15

Is anyone else surprised by the amount of praise and awards this show is receiving? I didn't not like it and I thought Stephen McKinley Henderson was wonderful, but I found the script and the rest of the production to be just so-so. I thought Father Comes Home deserved the Pulitzer.

Anyone else confused by this show's huge success? Or perhaps can explain to me what I'm missing...


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re: Not Crazy About Riverside

Posted by: OJaffee 10:33 pm EDT 05/10/15
In reply to: Not Crazy About Riverside - Jfs414 09:46 pm EDT 05/10/15

Not sure how much of Guirgis' works you have seen or read, but surreal elements and sharp turns leaving one thinking "I didn't see that coming" is part of his charm. I was reminded of that in seeing BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY at Second Stage. But I think the heart of the play and real basis of its recognition and awards is the raw and real relationships among unlikely friends who are ethnically diverse. These are real friendships with surreal aspects. I found something very attractive about the depth of the friendships (nee love) depicted here. Just some reflections about the play. I was not wild about it in all ways either. My reservations had more to do with the bits of stage combat that did not ring true for me. I had the same reservation about DISGRACED, another Pulitzer winner.


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re: Not Crazy About Riverside

Posted by: Budinsky 10:23 pm EDT 05/10/15
In reply to: Not Crazy About Riverside - Jfs414 09:46 pm EDT 05/10/15

I don't get it either. Sitting through the first act at the Atlantic Theater Company's production last year, I thought that I was watching a mediocre television show. A scene toward the end of the act struck me as particularly implausible and I decided I'd seen enough. I didn't stick around for the second act.

Has the show been a huge success? It's had limited engagements at two not-for-profit off-Broadway theaters in New York. The Pulitzer may add esteem but that's not synonymous with success.


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re: Not Crazy About Riverside

Posted by: TheOtherOne 11:48 pm EDT 05/10/15
In reply to: re: Not Crazy About Riverside - Budinsky 10:23 pm EDT 05/10/15

I liked it very much, but I agree that "Father Comes Home From The Wars" was more deserving of the Pulitzer.


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