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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Last Edit: Ann 12:26 pm EDT 06/19/22 | |
| Posted by: Ann 12:25 pm EDT 06/19/22 | |
| In reply to: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - TheOtherOne 09:49 am EDT 06/19/22 | |
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| I truly loved both of these shows Off-Broadway. If I lived in New York, I would have seen them again on Broadway, especially with TDF for Girl. As it was, I felt I had seen them in the best environments (I almost always feel smaller is better, and rarely do I want to see an Off-Broadway show I loved after it moves - Natasha, Pierre was an exception, but the staging was more intimate even on Broadway). I guess I'm surprised more by Hangmen not being able to hang on longer (apologies for the intended pun). A true and rare thrillerish suspense to my eye, I thought it would be a play those who don't want to see more talky, conventionally serious plays might flock to. But as it seems most visitors want to see musicals on Broadway, any play has a tough go. Were tourists even aware of it? Both seem doable for regional, and I hope they increase their fan base out of New York. |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 08:50 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 08:48 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - Ann 12:25 pm EDT 06/19/22 | |
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| Though its balcony wasn't used, ultimately, the Belasco seemed the ideal home for Girl from the North Country. Since the show didn't need a pit, and most of the production was downstage center, the piece felt intimate, and its set looked designed to fit that jewel box of a theater. The vintage enhancing, green geometric stage floor was so strikingly complemented by the Belasco's interior, it seemed intentional (and I realize it was not). The era of the story, dark lighting, simple projections all felt framed by that proscenium. And that sound system, using both body mics and floor models for the diagetic "radio" sequences was one of the best. I loved how the acting remained natural and unforced; no one pushed, even with fist fights and tumultuous revelations of off-stage events. It's too bad the show didn't work uptown, because they found a home for its presentation that felt almost perfect. | |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Posted by: Ann 08:58 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - Delvino 08:48 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
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| I can see how it would work well, for a Broadway house. It's probably a personal thing. I see far, far more off Broadway than i see on Broadway and I rarely find such intimacy in bigger theaters. |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Posted by: lowwriter 10:46 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - Ann 08:58 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
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| I found Girl worked better in the Belasco, the emotional effect was stronger. | |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 07:35 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - Ann 12:25 pm EDT 06/19/22 | |
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| I agree with you thoroughly about seeing a play in a smaller theatre. To the credit of everyone involved with both of these shows, no sense of intimacy was lost in their transitions uptown. To some extent, this may be the result of the fact that they were on fairly wide off-Broadway stages when they were first produced. I felt the same way about The Band's Visit when it moved from the Atlantic to the Atkinson. | |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Posted by: seeseveryshow 11:26 pm EDT 06/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - TheOtherOne 07:35 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
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| Close, but BAND’S VISIT played at the Barrymore, across the street from the Atkinson. | |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 11:37 pm EDT 06/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - seeseveryshow 11:26 pm EDT 06/20/22 | |
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| Yes! I realized that after I posted, especially when I walked on 47th today. But my point still holds true. The show lost nothing in its move uptown. | |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Posted by: Ann 07:51 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - TheOtherOne 07:35 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
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| But the intimacy is lost from most of the seating, in my opinion, no matter what they do onstage. | |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 07:53 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - Ann 07:51 am EDT 06/20/22 | |
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| "But the intimacy is lost from most of the seating, in my opinion, no matter what they do onstage." Often true, yes. |
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| I’m not surprised by Hangmens lack of success. | |
| Posted by: dramedy 01:52 pm EDT 06/19/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - Ann 12:25 pm EDT 06/19/22 | |
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| I think the subject matter just wasn’t that interesting compared to other McDonough plays. The bloodbath of Lieutenant comes to a crescendo with the cat strolling in at the end. There just wasn’t that comic relief after a horrific scene in hangmen. I barely remember the plot compared to my vivid memories of beauty queen almost 25 years ago or pillowman. It didn’t help that hangmen takes place 50 years ago in 1965. | |
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| re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country | |
| Posted by: portenopete 12:33 pm EDT 06/19/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Farewell to Hangmen and Girl From The North Country - Ann 12:25 pm EDT 06/19/22 | |
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| I'm with you. Although as you say, sometimes shows transfer well. I didn't see Spring Awakening until Broadway and it felt like it was designed for the Eugene O'Neill, so... I think the English accents were a challenge for a lot of audiences that might have kept people from raving about it and word-of-mouth being more muted. And the subject matter probably led some people to believe it was about capital punishment. I'm always surprised at how conventional a lot of my (very intelligent, professional, urban) friends' tastes are. I find myself in the position of encouraging them to see shows like Hangmen and they almost always enjoy them but they need a push. I have the impetus to want to see things first and be more in touch with the latest trend than the average bear, which is an immature personality trait, but the upside of it is that I see so much without any preconceived notions or expectations, other than the vague "this is good/important/maybe the next big thing" and the wonderful surprises I've had in the theatre are so valuable and cherished. |
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