I'm anxiously awaiting the second preview performance of A Behanding in Spokane on my final night in NYC. Dohlice, given the choice between the two (and not having seen either), I'm sure I'd choose Behanding as well.

Has anyone seen 'Venus in Fur' yet? I heard it's very good and quite hot!

Well my take on Mr. and Mrs. Fitch was quite different. Like the previous plays by the same playwright, As Bees in Honey Drwon, and The Little Dog Laughed, I thought it was delightfully witty. No, it's not a lot of importance being discussed, and the characters are quite shallow. To me it's not unlike a modern Noel Coward play, very witty conversation between a couple of shallow and theatrical characters, but certainly no problems of the world are going to be solved.

Neo - I was told that the play is full of literary references. If one hasn't read all the referenced material, does it impact the enjoyment of the play?

So are you saying you liked it, NP? And could you understand what they were saying?

Sure I could understand it. It was filled with lots of pretentious drivel -- very quick battle of wits between them as to who could come up with the cleverest allusions -- mostly literary, some theatrical. I don't consider myself very literary, but most of those were pretty classic, so while I suppose a few went over my head, they still were clearly pretty funny. I may have picked up a few more of the theatrical ones than some, as I did find myself letting out a rather singular laugh a couple times, but for the most part the whole audience was roaring at them.
I'd love to sit down with a script and find some of them that simply went too quick to catch, though. But even when the references escaped me -- the humor of their battle of wits was still very clear and funny.

I really did think it was very much like watching a modern version of Noel Coward or Oscar Wilde -- a battle of wits between pretentious people -- but at least here there weren't many vague dated ones.

And I think things like his starting the novel with "a" and saying, "good. An article". Then her saying "no, darling, a novel -- not an article". Then he says, "It's like working with a retarted person. No. Darling -- an article, those tiny words one uses like a and the". Really pretty funny stuff especially with both their excellent delivery and reaction.

And political -- like the line something like "Silly people to the forefront -- at least that's the word from Alaska" met with a huge roar from the crowd.

A lot of funny stuff.

<< I'd love to sit down with a script and find some of them that simply went too quick to catch, though. >>

I know exactly what you mean. That's the joy of reading a great book and rereading and savoring the language.

Hi theater-loving Fodorites!
Wanted to plug the show I saw this weekend -- "Clybourne Park" at Playwright's Horizon. A wonderful experience -- great actors, amazing characters and dialogue, and really uncomfortable and (somewhat shaming) humor. I loved this play, and I hope one of you gets to go and tell me what you think! There's a discount below -- don't know if it really works since I didn't take advantage -- but it looks legit.

Clybourne Park, a 21st century spin on Lorraine Hansberry’s classic A Raisin in the Sun by Bruce Norris. Order by Feb. 21 with the code CPGR to get tickets for performances on Jan. 29-Feb. 14 for $40 (reg. $65) or $50 (reg. $65) for Feb. 16-March 7. To order visit at www.playwrightshorizons.org. or call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily)

Wish I could've spent more time in NY this past weekend to catch more!

ChgoGal - thanks for the review. I'm going to try to catch it.

ChgoGal. Thanks. I had read about this and then it slipped off my list. I just used your code and got a $40 seat (well $45 since it was warmer to do it online than to trek down to the theatre in the cold to get one without the service charge) for this Saturday.
But for those going in pairs, you can enter the code HOUSE and get half price tickets -- $32.50 each -- or two for $65!

I think it's interesting that much of the production team including the director are from Steppenwolf in Chicago, but they are premiering the show in NYC and NOT at Steppenwolf in Chicago. I'd love to know the story behind that.

Lots of Off Broadway tix are half price (including single tix) at http://www.nycgo.com/?event=view.onthehouse&cid=oth_obl

Just got tix for 'Clyburne Park' and 'Venus in Fur.'

Great, Centralparkgirl and NeoPatrick! Can't wait to hear what you think. (Yikes... now I feel a little responsible for you both having a good time.)

Actually, this summer, Steppenwolf is producing the world-premiere of ANOTHER Bruce Norris play called, "A Parallelogram." The guy's been busy.

No pressure, ChgoGal. I was considering it anyway and your post decided it for me. And for the price, why not? We're in row A btw; I hope they won't be spitting in my face!

Good -- thanks for letting me off the hook. Row A should be very comfortable. No nudity so you won't have to worry about too much flesh jiggling in your face. There's lots of uncomfortable humor, though, so you may or may not feel self-conscious about laughing (or not) in front of all the folks behind you who may be ashamed or offended or annoyed. Oh well, right?

ChgoGal, your "jiggling" comment reminded me about sitting in the front row of Naked Boys Singing. Talk about "jiggling"!!!

'A View from the Bridge' - thoroughly enjoyed it. Liev Schreiber and Jessica Hecht gave wonderful performances. The entire cast was strong.

NeoPatrick - You are one intrepid theater-goer! I wonder if front-row at "Naked Boys" is "good-naked" or "bad-naked"?

ChgoGal, thanks for the Clybourne Park recommendation. I saw it yesterday and it is a very interesting and well done play. I'd love to know the point, however of the soldier son subplot. Any attempts to make that symbolic of the other "change" referred to in the play and pointed out by the mother in the final lines, just escape me. And since the play ends on that theme, I was really just at a bit of a loss there.

ChgoGal - if there's any twist or revelation at the end, don't reveal it here. I haven't seen it yet!

No real spoilers here -- I promise.
Yes, NeoPatrick. I felt the same way. I think I would have been satisfied with the play ending before that scene. But then, I always think I can end plays better than the playwright.
Weren't the actors just great?! And his characters are amazing! I was cringing as I recognized a little of myself and my friends in the second act.
Well... hope to hear of any upcoming shows you (and anyone else sees) in the next month or two. Plan to be back in NYC in March.