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| Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? | |
| Posted by: portenopete 07:35 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| Saw a preview of THE VISIT at the NT last night and liked it a lot. It's a bit overlong (3.5 hours) and some of the cast aren't quite up to speed with Kushner's dense and rapid-fire dialogue. But most importantly Lesley Manville and Hugo Weaving are magnificent. It struck me mid-way through that given her appearance in his adaptation of MOTHER COURAGE- not to mention the HBO ANGELS IN AMERICA- it might be a great vehicle for Meryl Streep to bring to Broadway? Then a little later I thought Glenn Close might be even better. No doubt there might be talk of a transfer already happening. Just wondered if anyone had seen it yet and had an opinion? |
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| I saw it over the weekend and had an opposite reaction. | |
| Posted by: Amiens 03:47 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? - portenopete 07:35 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| The self-indulgent length and sluggish pacing at 3 & 1/2 hours with two intermissions killed any momentum of danger. Cutting an hour could only help. I especially thought the lugubrious jazz underscoring also defeated the imminent sense of violence and tragedy, a very curious and inappropriate choice of music at odds with switching the action to a small rural town in upstate New York. And the new American setting didn't really seem authentic, at least in the hands of this British director and cast. Most importantly, the balance of black comedy with dark tragedy was clumsy and ineffectual. Though she's clearly a great stage actress, I was disappointed in Lesley Manville's performance. I felt she was miscast. Her slight physical stature and bird-like delicacy was too soft and never scary enough. She seemed too young; I couldn't quite imagine her living the long checkered history of the character. I, too, imagined what either Meryl or (better yet) Glenn might do as I watched Manville onstage (Are they actually much older than her? I don't know). Hugo Weaving fared much better, though he seemed more European than American. Letts is a great idea for the role of Ill, who actually has far more stage time in this version than Claire. If this comes to NY, I think the Public or BAM would be better venues than commercial Broadway. I would also hope that an entirely new creative team and cast be assembled. |
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| re: I saw it over the weekend and had an opposite reaction. | |
| Posted by: lonlad 07:18 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: I saw it over the weekend and had an opposite reaction. - Amiens 03:47 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
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| Tracy Letts is a great idea for Ill but, having seen the play tonight, this doesn't have a hope in hell of surviving in NYC in this iteration at least -- sluggish, overwritten, deeply attenuated, and tonally uncertain. Manville is hugely watchable but forced by the writing to play a one-note sardonicism throughout and the result is an unrewarding, tendentious slog that ain't goin' anywhere. Ben Brantley was in the house tonight, apparently. |
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| re: I saw it over the weekend and had an opposite reaction. | |
| Posted by: winters 06:35 am EST 02/13/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I saw it over the weekend and had an opposite reaction. - lonlad 07:18 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
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| Well. You’ve gotten me working my dictionary app bright and early this morning. | |
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| re: I saw it over the weekend and had an opposite reaction. | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 08:32 am EST 02/13/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I saw it over the weekend and had an opposite reaction. - winters 06:35 am EST 02/13/20 | |
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| It's never hard to tell the writers from the performers on All That Chat. | |
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| I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Last Edit: MockingbirdGirl 07:51 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| Posted by: MockingbirdGirl 07:50 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? - portenopete 07:35 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| ... that Meryl Streep has a desire to return to Broadway. She has shown absolutely no inclination in the past, what, four decades? Film is easier, better paid, and she has her absolute pick of scripts. I can't say I blame her. |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 12:54 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: I don't know why people keep thinking... - MockingbirdGirl 07:50 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| I don't think she truly has her pick of scripts in film... and she has that MUCH MUCH more in theater, she has her pick of any new script with a lead older woman or one willing to rewrite it for her, and literally every single play ever written with a character she wants to play. And she has plenty of money. I don't think the decision is based on money. But even if it were, getting the kind of salaries that Bette, Nathan Lane, Denzel get on Broadway... that is nothing to shake a stick at. I assume she just doesn't feel compelled to do it 8 times a week for at least 12 weeks. |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: portenopete 07:59 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: I don't know why people keep thinking... - MockingbirdGirl 07:50 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| Her appearances in MOTHER COURAGE and THE SEAGULL makes me think she has a desire to play great stage roles while she is still at the height of her game. Claire Zachannassian is one of the best roles in 20th century drama for a woman of a certain age. It needs a star because Claire herself is one. This NT production would be difficult to reproduce so it might be that a new director and designer could join the team and it might be done off-Broadway. I don't see it as Park show but maybe at The Public? |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: Jackson 11:55 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't know why people keep thinking... - portenopete 07:59 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| The Public would be a great choice. Kushner and Eustis are good friends. The Public may be able to bring over Manville and Weaving—certainly a coup for Public Supporters! J |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: FinalPerformance 12:11 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't know why people keep thinking... - Jackson 11:55 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| You have a point. | |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: AC126748 08:40 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't know why people keep thinking... - portenopete 07:59 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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Her appearances in MOTHER COURAGE and THE SEAGULL makes me think she has a desire to play great stage roles while she is still at the height of her game. Those two productions are now, respectively, fourteen and nineteen years ago. Has there been the serious suggestion of a stage return since MOTHER COURAGE ended in 2006? |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 09:41 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't know why people keep thinking... - AC126748 08:40 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| And those were both limited runs- a month, 5 weeks? | |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: AC126748 12:43 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't know why people keep thinking... - Billhaven 09:41 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| Yup. And no matinees. | |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: mikem 08:24 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't know why people keep thinking... - portenopete 07:59 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| For many years, Streep said she wouldn't return to the theater until her kids were older and out of the house. But her youngest child is 28, so that reason hasn’t been true for quite a while. Sadly, I tend to agree that if Streep wanted to do a Broadway show, it probably would have happened by now. | |
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| re: I don't know why people keep thinking... | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 07:45 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: I don't know why people keep thinking... - mikem 08:24 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| I'm not saying that Streep will come back, but Paul Newman came back to Broadway in 2002 at 77, with his last Broadway appearance before that having been in 1964. Jane Fonda came back in 2009 at 71, with her last Broadway appearance before that having been in 1963. Neither had done a stage run of any length since those Broadway appearances. Newman had played a three-week run of Our Town at Westport a few months before. He and Joanne Woodward had done Love Letters for a week or two here and there and also a benefit performance or two. I think Fonda was part of a one-night reading of The Vagina Monologues, but that was about it, before her Broadway return. I was skeptical that Streep would actually do The Seagull back when it was being said that she might do it. She'd been rumored for a few other things that she didn't end up doing. Anyway, I think it's possible she'll come come back again at some point. It seems less unlikely, at least, than the returns of Newman and Fonda. |
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| re: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? | |
| Posted by: AC126748 07:46 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? - portenopete 07:35 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| Given the length and subject matter, Broadway seems like a tough sell unless they can enlist an A-list star like those you mentioned. Manville and Weaving are fabulous actors, but they don't carry much box office draw on this side of the Atlantic. I could imagine this going to BAM, or maybe a run at the Public. |
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| re: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? | |
| Posted by: Pokernight 12:15 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? - AC126748 07:46 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| A possible box office duo that could attract a Broadway theater would be HELEN MIRREN and PATRICK STEWART. | |
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| re: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? | |
| Posted by: portenopete 07:56 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? - AC126748 07:46 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| I agree. Given its design it would have to be rethought for any theatre other than the Olivier (with its famous drum). And does AEA have the same provision for supernumeraries (extras) that British Equity has? I think there are at least a dozen in this, plus the children. Plus a speaking cast of around 25-30. But I think if Meryl Streep were headlining it would guarantee big sales. Tracy Letts came to mind as a good Ill. |
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| this could be great for GLENN CLOSE if Leslie doesn't do it | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 12:59 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? - portenopete 07:56 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| I don't know why people are so quick to think they can do it without Manville unless she declines to do it... but if they do it without her (regardless of why), I think Glenn is a much more likely person to actually commit to it than Meryl. | |
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| Jessica Lange? | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 09:00 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 08:59 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Tony Kushner's National Theatre adaptation of THE VISIT; could it be Broadway-bound? - portenopete 07:56 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| Claire might prove quite a good fit. | |
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| re: Jessica Lange? | |
| Posted by: Pokernight 10:04 am EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: Jessica Lange? - Delvino 08:59 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| Unfortunately, I can never erase from my mind John Simon's appraisal of Jessica Lange in STREETCAR: her performance is so small it could fit in a flea circus. | |
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| re: Jessica Lange? | |
| Posted by: lonlad 07:20 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Jessica Lange? - Pokernight 10:04 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| What does that even mean? Typical of John Simon: bitchy but not especially funny. Noel Coward or Kenneth Tynan he wasn't. Lange is actually a great idea for this part but not without a major overhaul of the play. |
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| re: Jessica Lange? | |
| Posted by: Guillaume 05:12 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Jessica Lange? - Pokernight 10:04 am EST 02/12/20 | |
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| That's a very funny line. | |
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| re: Jessica Lange? | |
| Posted by: dczoo 05:26 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Jessica Lange? - Guillaume 05:12 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
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| And absolutely true about that performance. But she's gotten so much better. | |
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| re: Jessica Lange? | |
| Posted by: winters 06:45 am EST 02/13/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Jessica Lange? - dczoo 05:26 pm EST 02/12/20 | |
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| I was disappointed with her Amanda Wingfield. She really didn’t ‘fill’ the stage. | |
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