The Pillowman

[musicalperson17]

I tried searching the boards for a previous post, but to no avail. Did anyone ever see the Broadway production of the Pillowman back in 2004? I just came back from a local production tonight and was blown away. It was by far the best play I have seen in a while. Pitch black comedy combined with horrifying stories and a deep message about the compromise of art all led me to tears. It made me think how powerful it must have been with actors like Jeff Goldblum and Billy Crudup. I'm curious to hear others thoughts on the play.

[Tom-497]

I think if you put "pillowman" in the search text box, you will find many old threads from the time of the Broadway production (at least it worked on my computer just now).

Anyway, I saw the closing performance, and I can still remember a lot about it. It's a wonderful play, in my view, and the whole cast was first rate. I especially liked Jeff Goldblum, who I thought showed great range while still getting just about every laugh possible -- even now, it makes me smile when I think of him sarcastically attempting to demonstrate how "the peripheral vision at the bottom of your eyes" would work.

Because of shows like that, I continue to spend a lot of time and money seeing theater. Unfortunately, it's been years since I've attended anything that was even remotely as good.

[bjh2114]

I'm still bitter that it lost the Tony to Doubt (what I find to be a completely overrated play).

[ken8631]

Saw The Pillowman twice (thought it was great, brought daughter to see it for my second time) and Doubt as well. Both very good plays, although I did like Pillowman a little better (especially with the great cast).....

[mamaleh]

I was mesmerized by PILLOWMAN; blown away by the acting, especially that of Michael Stuhlbarg, whom I'd never seen before, and Jeff Goldblum, who was chilling in a very deceptive way. I remember there were a couple of walkouts, people who likely couldn't take the subject matter. But it was by far my favorite play that season.

[Mister Matt]

I loved every second of it. A fascinating and unique thriller. The performances were stellar and the design and staging were simply ingenious. I loved Doubt as well, but I would have given the Tony to Pillowman.

[indytallguy]

Can't add much to what others have said: loved it. Haunting in many ways.

In my dreams, we'll get a theatre soon that will do all of McDonagh's plays in one season or in repertory as part of a season

[Becky]

Probably my favorite play. Saw it twice (including closing) and was blown away by how I thought about the performances (and play itself) long after leaving the theater. I haven't been grabbed like that by a play since.

[After Eight]

I thoroughly loathed it.

Martin McDonagh seemed very much the flavor of the month at the time. Like jalapeno pepper ice cream, that's one flavor I can do without.

[Jordan Catalano]

Well I'm SHOCKED that you didn't like it.

SHOCKED, I SAY.

[Jane2]

The Pillowman has to be the most outstanding theater experience I've ever had. Yes, the acting (esp. Stuhlbarg), the direction, and the story, but what blew me away was the combo of what I just said and the LIGHTING and SET designs. Oh my god, when they had those scenes happening on the second level, and the actors appearing too large for the rooms they were in - my lord! This was an artistic adventure as well as just a theatrical one. I'll NEVER forget the experience of seeing that play.

[themysteriousgrowl]

I saw THE PILLOWMAN the same day I saw SHOCKEHEADED PETER.
That made for a pretty strange Saturday.

The Broadway production of THE PILLOWMAN really was an extraordinary production of a very good play, probably McDonough’s best. (I regard McDonough as a so-so-to-good playwright.) Jeff Goldblum is an actor to whom strange choices come naturally, which made him an excellent fit for Tupolski. He was very, very funny and played with a weird loose-limbed physicality that often made it look like he was dancing his way through the play. He was also very scary, but nothing compared to Zeljko Ivanek, who played Ariel as something closer to a walking frayed live wire than a real human being. He was genuinely terrifying, and you always had the impression he was going to snap and tear off Katurian’s limbs at any second. He spoke as if he was about to lose his voice. There was something very unnatural about him.

Michael Stuhlbarg completely embodied Michal. The audience rode with him at every twist and turn, and every emotion he elicited was rife with nuance – pain, heartbreak, anger, sympathy, all rolled into one, every time. And I had never thought of Billy Crudup as more than a serviceable film actor before this. But the weight of this play really rises and falls on Katurian, no matter how terrific the other three actors are, and he more than brought the force of emotion down at the end.

And, Jane, you’re absolutely right about the second-level scenes. They were so frightening and weird and stark and visceral. The next time I saw the play done professionally was in a black box a few years later, and I remember my heart sinking when I realized that, no matter how good the production would be, it wouldn’t be able to replicate those moments.

[Jane2]

One anecdote the day I saw the play. An older gentleman came in around 20 minutes late. I was in the mezzanine and even though he was seated in the orchestra, the entire theater could hear him as he yelled out "I CAN'T SEE!!!!" 'THIS ISN'T MY SEAT!" If that wasn't bad enough, a woman near me yelled back at him, "SHUT UP" then, "YOU SHUT UP" When I tell you that these people were much louder than the acting on the stage, you must believe me. This was a quiet scene with Goldblum at his desk. I was certain that he would come downstage and make a comment, but I was hoping he wouldn't. Thankfully, he was professional enough to stay focused and go right on with the scene.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Hmm. So, you say he came in about twenty minutes... after eight?

VERY INTERESTING.

[Becky]

Jane - that sounds as bad as the mezz cell phone that went off as Katurian stood in silence at the edge of the stage (you know, towards the end with the audience in shock). To make it worse, it was the Mexican hat dance ringtone that went on an on....). Crudup held his lines for a bit, and continued. Worst possible moment for some dufus to snap the audience (and actors) out of such an important moment.

[Jane2]

HAHAHA!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

^ L. O. L.

[rosscoe(au)]

Why this has never been turned into a film is beyond me, an amazing play, dark, funny and scary all at the same time. perfect!

[broadwaybaby77]

People have actually made some weird film adaptations of his stories. I'm not sure if these are film projects independent of the play or if they've been used in productions. There are tons of these on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hZcRbw-OTQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q-gYxw5RTQ

[Roscoe]

McDonagh's my favorite contemporary playwright, and I'm kicking myself for having missed THE PILLOWMAN. I've read it a few times, though, and would love to see a good production. I rather wish that McDonagh would film it, too, but he seems to be avoiding straight up adaptations of his works. I thought SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS seemed to be playing with the THE PILLOWMAN's multi-narrative structure.

[WickedOne2]

I saw it and thought it was fantastic. Probably one of the better plays I have seen. Also met Billy Crudup after the show and he was so warm and sweet.

[mpd4165]

Scott Pask has some great photos of the set on his website. Just check under projects/broadway.