I got completely caught up in it. Go figure. Winger seemed to me to have been directed to be something of a blank, a wall — in character, and not unusual for Mamet, although not necessarily the best way to make your Broadway debut. Definitely would work better in a more intimate venue. Very disappointed in the crap rear mezzanine seats the box office gave TDF purchasers, since the mid-mezzanine was empty. Luckily the Royal mezz ushers are so inept that anyone with any moxie moved down to wherever they wanted. Theatre interior looks like a Shriners hall now instead of a school auditorium, which I guess is an improvement. Would definitely revisit this one later in its run.
While I felt Winger was still getting into her groove, I think she was good playing a projective object for LuPone. It's not a cat and mouse story, it's a slow burn as Winger lets LuPone spin her tale.
IMO Winger wasn't blank, she just wasn't reacting and LuPone keeps trying to get her claws into her.
I think we are used to seeing a character get roped into the killer's scheme. This was a little different. I really found it compelling.
As I said, I enjoyed it and wished I could see it again.
Mamet was really cool-he said he is very proud of Debra and Patti and that they are still working on things.
Since the show is in its first week of previews it may be too early to tell if the show is "good" or not. I've only seen one show in previews and it was about 25 previews in and the show was fantastic with a great cast, it was MTC's Enemy of the People back in September. By opening night, this show will have been polished and made perfect!
...Not really. Most productions are in pretty much in ready-to-go shape when previews start. It's fairly rare that major, major changes are made anymore. For every Women on the Verge, there are scores of other shows that have completely uneventful preview performances with at most a handful of minor changes.
Considering many people are finding major fault with the script, only drastic changes could be made to fix it. And I'm not sure they'll happen with this.
I have to disagree that most productions are in "ready-to-go shape" when they start previews.
I recall seeing SEESAW in previews and it was changing at such a brisk rate that that the songs and scenes listed in the Playbill had nothing to do with what I was seeing on stage.
TITANIC also underwent a drastic overhaul during previews. I saw one of its very first performances and it was a ghastly bore. It was honed and shaped into something that was quite touching by the time it opened.
Need I discuss what SPIDERMAN went through in its preview period?
Considering many people are finding major fault with the script, only drastic changes could be made to fix it. And I'm not sure they'll happen with this.
I'm sure I'm being a little too optimistic, but even though I thought the major problem WAS the script, I don't know if I necessarily think there are major problems WITH the script. But I have no idea how their preview period will transpire, obviously.
No, I do think it has problems, but I'm not sure I'd consider them major problems. As in, I think the problems it has (the biggest problem to me is that it's just too slight) could reasonably be fixed during the preview process.
If anyone thinks the purchase of a preview ticket equals the right to criticize a show, one might put off that purchase until the regular run for a more realistic expectation- unless one's vulturistic impulse demands a chance to feast.
Oh, please. A preview is not a workshop. It's not a reading. It's not a proof-of-concept, hoping to move forward into something more.
It's a public performance, charging full price. By the time your production is in a Broadway house and opens its doors to patrons, it is up for critique. Some shows take advantage of this preview grace period more than others.
Critiquing a show one has paid to see does not make one a vulture. In fact, I don't see how that's an unrealistic expectation at all.
Q: Is it true that by the end of the show you will not care one bit about either character? A: That is correct.
Q: Are the costumes and staging as drab and dreary as the set? A: Yes
Q: Will you root for Patti's er I mean Cathy's release by the end? A: If you think that you should root for Patti's release then it may be perceived that way.
Q: Answer the question A: That is correct.
Q: Would you prefer to have cavities filled? A: That is correct.
First of all, they should be honest and not advertise it @at 90 minutes. I believe it was under 70. The people in the audience were asking what the hell happened to the rest of the play.
The set is indeed ugly. Patti is good with what is a thankless role. Winger looks like an old maid and does not fair much better. The amplification was a problem and it was hard to hear what they were saying. This is basically a one act play and to advertise it as anything else is basically being dishonest with the audience. Saw it on TDF and even at that price was not worth it.For a Mamet show to have no F bombs dropped is unheard of
Liked Race much better than this. To me it was monotonous and was like watching paint dry.
Mr Roxy--Sad to say we had the same experience. Just awful. I wasn't a fan of RACE but I did think it was ready for prime time. This seems to have been churned out for the sake of volume with little to no purpose more than getting it up on a stage. Huge disappointment.
"Who in their right mind would want this play to be any longer?"
Funny you should say that, Mac. This thread was beginning to remind me of that old joke about the two ladies at a Catskill resort. One says "the food here is just awful." The other lady says "Yes.... and such small portions."
Mrs R told me last night on the way out she was going down to the bathroom. On one staircase was fresh vomit all over that was not cleaned up despite management being told . One man looked at it and remarked to her "It wasn't that bad". Yes it was sir.
I've got tix for Saturday. Being as how this will likely be my only trip to NYC for the rest of the year, beginning to sound like I should make this a donation to the producers and find something else to go to. Fabulous. But that's what I love about this board, I learn stuff that helps avoid those "OMG why am I using what little time I have watching this drivel" moments.
grumps. rethink that one. first of all, one of the strong points made in this thread is that the play runs 70-75 minutes! Plus, you get to see a very unique pairing of actors. Perhaps this not exactly LuPone's finest hour (and 15 minutes) and it certainly sounds like a highly unfortunate way for Debra Winger to make her New York stage debut, but if I were holding a ticket, I wouldn't hesitate to see it.
Thanx Egg. Prolly won't decide until after flying cross country tomorrow, settling into my hotel for all of 30min before getting ready for dinner and Annie, and post-theatre libations. Which is a long way of saying, I'll probably forget to think about an alternative and see it by default :)
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Posted: 11/19/12 at 01:55pm