Some Americans Abroad, a play by Richard Nelson at the Second Stage Theatre starring Tom Cavanagh, Anthony Rapp, Emily Bergl and Enid Graham, directed by Gordon Edelstein.
The Marriage of Bette and Boo by Christopher Durang at the Laura Pels Theatre starring Victoria Clark and Julie Haggerty, directed by Walter Bobbie.
On a hot and sultry day, we went in for a double theater dip, going to a matinee of "Some Americans Abroad" and "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" in the evening. Both plays are in previews, but each already has an enviable track record: "Some Americans Abroad" was produced in the UK and at Lincoln Center in 1990 to critical acclaim and award nominations, while "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" announced a singular talent in Christopher Durang when it was produced in 1985 with a remarkable cast headed by Joan Allen. We had figured that we would enjoy "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" the most since we had loved Durang's recent "Miss Witherspoon". Instead it was "Some Americans Abroad" that really connected with us.
In only its 3rd preview, the cast, led by a terrific Tom Cavanagh, who twitches and winces as the not so admirable Department Chair, Joe Taylor, has their academic characters nailed in "Some Americans Abroad", a very entertaining play showing supposedly smart Americans acting very badly in England. The direction by Gordon Edelstein is superb, every scene change leads to the props of the previous scene deposited in the back of the stage, gathering up like shameful detritus. The play is a moral tale and even a bit of a mystery. The talk back with the director was highly enjoyable and insightful. 30% of the audience that stayed for the talk didn't get "Some Americans Abroad", but the happy majority, including us, was enthusiastic. "Some Americans Abroad" can only improve as the cast settles in, but if it opened tomorrow, we are confident it would be a big hit with the summer theater crowd.
"The Marriage of Bette and Boo" was a huge disappointment for us. It's a play that must have been considered daringly original and quirky in 1985, but having seen so much better absurdest plays in the interim, including the brilliant work of Sarah Ruhl and even Durang's far superior "Miss Witherspoon", we found "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" tedious, boring, and insultingly stupid. The various references to great and classic literature by the wry stand in for Durang "Matt" (Charles Socrarides) sounded like the student work it originally was. We fled at the intermission. Some Americans Abroad B+ The Marriage of Bette and Boo. F
The Marriage of Bette and Boo by Christopher Durang at the Laura Pels Theatre starring Victoria Clark and Julie Haggerty, directed by Walter Bobbie.
On a hot and sultry day, we went in for a double theater dip, going to a matinee of "Some Americans Abroad" and "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" in the evening. Both plays are in previews, but each already has an enviable track record: "Some Americans Abroad" was produced in the UK and at Lincoln Center in 1990 to critical acclaim and award nominations, while "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" announced a singular talent in Christopher Durang when it was produced in 1985 with a remarkable cast headed by Joan Allen. We had figured that we would enjoy "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" the most since we had loved Durang's recent "Miss Witherspoon". Instead it was "Some Americans Abroad" that really connected with us.
In only its 3rd preview, the cast, led by a terrific Tom Cavanagh, who twitches and winces as the not so admirable Department Chair, Joe Taylor, has their academic characters nailed in "Some Americans Abroad", a very entertaining play showing supposedly smart Americans acting very badly in England. The direction by Gordon Edelstein is superb, every scene change leads to the props of the previous scene deposited in the back of the stage, gathering up like shameful detritus. The play is a moral tale and even a bit of a mystery. The talk back with the director was highly enjoyable and insightful. 30% of the audience that stayed for the talk didn't get "Some Americans Abroad", but the happy majority, including us, was enthusiastic. "Some Americans Abroad" can only improve as the cast settles in, but if it opened tomorrow, we are confident it would be a big hit with the summer theater crowd.
"The Marriage of Bette and Boo" was a huge disappointment for us. It's a play that must have been considered daringly original and quirky in 1985, but having seen so much better absurdest plays in the interim, including the brilliant work of Sarah Ruhl and even Durang's far superior "Miss Witherspoon", we found "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" tedious, boring, and insultingly stupid. The various references to great and classic literature by the wry stand in for Durang "Matt" (Charles Socrarides) sounded like the student work it originally was. We fled at the intermission. Some Americans Abroad B+ The Marriage of Bette and Boo. F
posted by James Camner | 8:13 PM
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