| Straight Line Crazy May 21, 2022 - Bridge Theatre, London | |
| Posted by: PurpleMoney 11:21 am EDT 06/11/22 | |
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| Straight Line Crazy by David Hare Let’s talk about this theatre for a moment. It’s not considered West End but the quality of the shows are. Open since 2017, but who knew. It’s a flexible space developed by former National Theatre Executive Director, Nick Star and former National Theatre Artistic Director, Nicholas Hytner. I made my first trip here in January 2022 for La Belle Sauvage and know I’m hooked. Straight Line Crazy is a history play by David Hare. A playwright that I have admired after attending a matinee on October 28, 1989 of The Secret Rapture at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City. It redeemed my opinion of his work after The Knife in 1987. Then there was Racing Demons, Skylight and on Friday, April 30, 1999 the glorious Judi Dench entertained in Amy’s View. As for Straight Line Crazy it’s been provided a first-class production and quite possibly a better production in values than is needed. Half of the cast of 13 are there to fill out the office space and to move set pieces around. Their one seen, with dialogue, is in act two. There is multiple doubling in the supporting cast and I'd suggest either increasing the cast or eliminating the roles. The main cast of characters are Robert Moses (Ralph Fiennes), Finnuala Connell (Siobhán Cullen), Ariel Porter (Samuel Barnett) and Governor Al Smith (Danny Webb). Jane Jacobs (Helen Schlesinger) starts us off as a narrator in the second scene saying. “Human beings don’t leave very much behind. When we’re gone, what will be left of us? By my reckoning, two things only. Cities and songs.” And that’s the show. Jane appears again in the second part at the Greenwich Village Civic Group press conference in 1961 and it quite good. The script was obviously written for Ralph Fiennes and his return to the Broadway stage. It’s a New York play. Early word from London, that I heard, was mixed too dreadful. I can see why. Who’s in for a history lesson about urban planning in New York City and Long Island. Do you really care that Robert Moses created roadways for the middle-class or that he hated the wealthy families i.e. Vanderbilt, and would plow through their Long Island estates to build a “straight line” highway. Henry Vanderbilt makes an appearance in the first act. Robert Moses was commissioned from 1927-1931 to connect New York City to State Parks on Long Island. Years later his plans destroyed the south Bronx with his roads separating communities, that’s true. Hare also writes about Moses’ keeping the lower-class off the beaches of Long Island by not providing public transportation. Or by building roadway with bridges that are too low for buses to pass under. Trucks can’t pass under them as well. His parkways were built for cars. As a child I don’t recall obstructions on the Robert Moses Causeway on my way to the beaches. There are options to the parkways. Take Sunrise Highway from NYC and that will get you there. Back to Straight Line Crazy. Bob Crowley has a large stage to fill, and he does this with the cluttering of maps; wall maps, table maps/3d models and floor maps. There’s drafting table choreography. Nicholas Hytner works the room well and provides ample opportunities for his actors to excel. As for the script, it needs some work. Think of this as an out-of-town preview. I must also say David Hare’s best creation in Straight Line Crazy is Al Smith. Brilliant performance by Danny Webb. The play would fit well into the Vivian Beaumont. ***1/2 out of 5 |
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