| Let me begin by saying it's been decades since I've been so impressed with a performance. I saw this over the weekend, making the trip just for this, and the Goodman's other offering "The Notebooks of Leonardo daVinci". I wondered how this might play with a younger audience who might have no memory or knowledge of Levant. Doug Wright put together a play that skillfully tells you about Levant, television at the time, and mental illness. What is extraordinary is that while I was guffawing at some of Levant's quips, my heart was breaking for the suffering he was living through. Quite an accomplishment! Sean Hayes was so superb that I felt he had gotten to the depths of Levant's soul and revealed all the pain and anguish of mental illness on an individual and on those close to him. Ethan Slater was a surprise and a delight in the role of assistant and Emily Bergl was heartbreaking as Levant's suffering wife. I'd be surprised if this doesn't make its way to New York--it's just what we need to remind of of how truly glorious theatre can, and should be. No reimagining here! (The other impressive show was TRU with Robert Morse.) |
