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| Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? | |
| Posted by: NJGUY 03:07 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| WOW-if you get the print edition, they devoted about 1.33 pages of text and pics to this play (which includes 6 production pics)-plus it is a Critic's Choice. I guess if I had not seen it, I would be seeing after reading this review. I am not sure others gave it such glowing reviews, yet I found the play just OKAY. Not bad (like seeing how the play was constructed and seeing Blair Brown and Tatiana M), yet totally forgettable and not that deep. Oh well. | |
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| Allocated print edition space aside, a "rave?" | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 05:38 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 05:29 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| In reply to: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? - NJGUY 03:07 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| I've already shared my affection for the play, first read in December 2016, and the production, seen last week. But I didn't find this review anywhere close to "a rave." He basically rejects the most potent (and moving, at least to me) symbolism in the play as corny, and finds several scenes superfluous or seriously wanting. He admires the production but even there feels the direction doesn't camouflage the script's flaws. I'm glad it's a critic's pick, but this is not exactly a full endorsement. For the record, I found some of his analysis odd. I'm not sure I agree with the last paragraph, which characterizes Mary -- rather too reductively -- as a narcissist. An argument can be made, based on a feminist reading of an American woman's life during those eras -- and an understanding of genetically predisposed addiction -- that her story is more complex, based on opportunities/options and societal influences. But Letts' small canvas exploration doesn't in any way preach, so I certainly won't. | |
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| re: Allocated print edition space aside, a "rave?" | |
| Posted by: AC126748 09:00 am EDT 07/14/18 | |
| In reply to: Allocated print edition space aside, a "rave?" - Delvino 05:29 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| Having read Green's review, I would not call it a rave. I thought he was positive, with reservations, about the play and production, while highlighting the strength of several different performances. I don't take length into account when I am judging Times reviews, as I have noticed that most reviews by the chief critics regularly exceed 1000 words. I saw MPM in Chicago two years ago and was not taken with it, but it also received very strong reviews there. Chris Jones of the Trib gave it 4 stars. |
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| re: Allocated print edition space aside, a "rave?" | |
| Posted by: gothamplaygoer 06:26 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| In reply to: Allocated print edition space aside, a "rave?" - Delvino 05:29 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| It looks like Letts has become Teflon Tracy. I was underwhelmed at the preview I attended. Granting that performances probably improved by opening night, some aspects of the play seem inherently problematic. | |
| Link | Mary Page Marlowe |
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| re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? | |
| Posted by: Budinsky 05:27 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| In reply to: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? - NJGUY 03:07 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| It may be a "Critic's Pick" and it certainly has plenty of photos to accompany it, but I'd hardly call the review a RAVE. Green takes up quite a few paragraphs toward the end of his piece to point out several of the play's major flaws. He had plenty of good things to say about MARY PAGE MARLOWE -- particularly about the work of the actors and director -- but his praise for the play is qualified. Personally, I thought THE MAN FROM NEBRASKA was far superior. MARY PAGE MARLOWE felt like a collection of connected short stories or vignettes that ultimately carried no real dramatic weight. When I left the theater I had no idea who Mary Page Marlowe was or what/who she was supposed to represent. Maybe that was Letts' intention, but it was an unsatisfying letdown to me. |
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| re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? | |
| Posted by: Thom915 07:20 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? - Budinsky 05:27 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| Reads like a rave to me. I found one paragraph that expressed reservations about two scenes, the 1965 scene and the final scene. He doesn't seem overly concerned about them. Green goes on in the rest of the article showing how things that might be drawbacks in any other play seem to become virtues in this. Even his final caveat, about the facileness of the plays themes he dismisses as an example of the need of the audience to do some work to uncover what Letts has written. i have not seen this play nor did I have any desire to do so but the positive reviews countered by the absolute pan in the Daily News has piqued my interest. | |
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| re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? | |
| Posted by: Budinsky 08:00 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? - Thom915 07:20 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| I'm no expert, but the folks over at Show-Score (who seem to know their numbers) have given Green's review a rating of 80, which I don't think constitutes a "rave." Other reviews were given even higher ratings (85, 90)--more like rave territory, I'd think. It's a positive review at best, as far as I'm concerned. |
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| re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? | |
| Posted by: Thom915 10:30 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? - Budinsky 08:00 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| Okay. I agree to positive. (I would think it is closer to a show-score 85 than 80 but I am not going to quibble) | |
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| re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? | |
| Last Edit: NewtonUK 03:18 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 03:09 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| In reply to: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? - NJGUY 03:07 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| I was less than enchanted. But Tracy Letts is VERY talented, with a bit of teflon around him ... Meaning he is well liked and given the benefit of the doubt by crix. And this is not totally a negative thing, he is earned our and their respect. And its a little off Broadway show, and it employs 5 more women than this same play would have done if written 10 years ago. Back then, we would have been able to see a talented actress of 35-45, play this woman in all the different ages in a bravura performance. Which frankly would have led - for me - to a much more theatrically exciting evening. Kind of like having one Donna Summer. Or one Cher. M |
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| re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? | |
| Posted by: NJGUY 03:11 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Anyone else surprised about the NY Time's RAVE on Mary Page Marlowe? - NewtonUK 03:09 pm EDT 07/13/18 | |
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| Maybe that is it. | |
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