Here we have six very talented actors, and some interesting ideas, - all in search of a play.
While the show held my interest, there was too little dramatic tension to make it a fully satisfying evening. I'm generally a big fan of McNally, but this felt a little undercooked. There was nothing in this show that I couldn't glean from Diaghilev's Wikipedia page.
I love seeing Marsha Mason and John Glover on stage - in anything. They're very good, but I can't say enough about Marin Mazzie. She looks FANTASTIC in this show and makes the most of a supporting character. I just love her work. So good to have her back on stage.
I felt a bit mixed about Douglas Hodge's portrayal of Diaghilev. Hodge can be very good, but I couldn't help picturing Nathan Lane in the role. Lane would have mined both the humor and the pathos at a deeper level, in my opinion. I feel that McNally writes so perfectly for Lane's voice and skills.
Similarly, I would have preferred to see Jay Armstrong Johnson as Nijinsky and James Cusati Moyer as Leo, rather than the other way around as cast in this production.
But that's just my two cents. |
