Three Sisters, a play by Anton Chekov at the CSC. Directed by Austin Pendleton, and starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessica Hecht, Juliet Rylance, Marin Ireland, Peter Sarsgaard, Josh Hamilton, Gabe Bettio, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Paul Lazar, Anson Mount, Louis Zorich. The CSC space is unique to our experience. Most small venues have both limited seating and a small stage. The CSC stage, which is ground level is quite large, probably as big as a medium size playhouse, but the audience seating is small, only four rows deep on the sides and hardly more than that in the center. So when all of the floor space is used as it is in this production, it's like you are sitting in the living room along with the cast, watching events unfold. This makes for an amazing theatrical experience when it works, and last night it worked. This fabulous, beautiful and talented cast are heart and soul into this play, they've become their characters. Time and time again, the words came from them as naturally as if they had just thought them, even though the production is still in previews.
The performances are achingly real and searingly sad. Jessica Hecht is a brilliant soulful Olga, Maggie Gyllenhaal is heartbreaking as Masha and Juliet Rylance, is a radiant Irina, the slow erosion of whose hopes is sharply etched on her features. Her speaking voice is gorgeous to hear. Together these three sisters have a bond that is special. In the shrewish part of Natasha, Marin Ireland is outstanding as is Peter Sarsgaard as the weary, bored Vershinin who seems all too happy to get free of Masha at the end. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is memorable as the tragic Baron, and as the silly, but all too aware Kulygin, Paul Lazar arouses our sympathy even as we are repulsed by him. It all unfolds just as if it's happening, the sets (props really) and costumes couldn't be bettered. This one is special, worth any effort to get to it. Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test Grade A+

The Importance of Being Earnest, a play by Oscar Wilde at the Roundabout Theatre Company American Airlines Theatre. Move over Edith Evans, in Brian Bedford you've finally found your match as Lady Bracknell. Playing this touchstone role absolutely straight, while in drag, this great actor fully makes the role his own. Bedford, who also directed, is as funny in repose as he is uttering Wilde's satirical aphorisms. Given great support especially by Paxton Whitehead and Dana Ivey, and with gorgeous scenery by Desmond Heeley, this is a treat to the eyes and the ears. The two and a half hours flew by in delicious contentment. Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test Grade A