Threaded Order Chronological Order
| Waverly, Choir Boy, Ferryman and a question | |
| Posted by: MikeP (ACL15@aol.com) 04:05 pm EST 01/03/19 | |
|
|
|
| Great to see a healthy season of quality drama on Broadway. New plays, not just revivals or limited/star driven vehicles. Choir Boy-while I don't think it covers new ground on the topic of homophobia, this is an excellent play. Beautiful structure and superb acting. This is especially true of J. Quinton Johnson and a Tony worthy performance by Jeremy Pope. The Waverly Gallery is heartbreaking, funny and truthful (especially if you have ever dealt with Alzheimer's or Dementia) play. I had some issues with the direction and design. The "interlude" scene changes too frequent and too long. The projections did nothing to move the action along. The scenes at the kitchen table and not well staged. Too much face time is lost! Also, the lighting was frequently too dark. The acting is a world class lesson to be savored. Lucas Hedges is great and a natural on stage. You actually feel the affection he has for his grandmother. Joan Allen is the quintessential example of understatement and naturalism. Elaine May is perfection. She lives this character. She doesn't miss an opportunity to make you laugh or cry and she does both. She is funny, real and heartbreaking. This is a must see for the acting alone. The Ferryman is a gorgeous, funny, brilliant, beautiful, riveting theatrical experience. Every actor is perfect. This is THE play to see. Don't miss it. My question is, with 30 actors how does this show make money or even break even ?!?! |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Waverly, Choir Boy, Ferryman and a question | |
| Posted by: kess0078 08:28 pm EST 01/03/19 | |
| In reply to: Waverly, Choir Boy, Ferryman and a question - MikeP 04:05 pm EST 01/03/19 | |
|
|
|
| Re: Choir Boy - saw it last night and agree it is excellent with beautiful performances. And we shouldn’t let the heart-wrenching music, and gorgeous movement by Camille A. Brown go unmentioned! I think it DOES cover new topics, though - the specificities of a young black man’s experience coming of age and coming to terms with his sexuality - in a specifically black environment - haven’t been seen on Broadway before. (I can’t think of any other examples but I will happily stand corrected.) There are specific manifestations of homophobia/ hyper masculinity within African American culture that were poignant and sad to see portrayed so accurately and with such fine writing. My partner, a black man & a dancer who came out of the closet while still in high school, left the theater saying it was so refreshing to see a play, on Broadway no less, that told a story he could relate to so closely. We had a great discussion on the train home. I hope “Choir Boy” opens to raves - I feel like this one will slip by on many folks’ radar in this mid-winter stretch, so I am happy to share my accolades and encourage you all to see this one. |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Waverly, Choir Boy, Ferryman and a question | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 08:43 pm EST 01/03/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Waverly, Choir Boy, Ferryman and a question - kess0078 08:28 pm EST 01/03/19 | |
|
|
|
| "I think it DOES cover new topics, though - the specificities of a young black man’s experience coming of age and coming to terms with his sexuality - in a specifically black environment - haven’t been seen on Broadway before. (I can’t think of any other examples but I will happily stand corrected.) There are specific manifestations of homophobia/ hyper masculinity within African American culture that were poignant and sad to see portrayed so accurately and with such fine writing." I completely agree, based on the Off-Broadway production, and I'm very surprised to hear (or read) anyone say otherwise. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.011413 seconds.