Just came from seeing The Pride. Wow. Four incredible performances and a breathtakingly thought-provoking play. But it's going to take me a while to absorb what it all meant. It makes Clybourne Park seem as basic as Sesame Street!

I saw The Miracle Worker on Sat. night. It was the 2nd night of previews. It was very interesting. The acting was somewhat muted, IMO all of the acting could have been more intense. Abigail Breslin was very convincing as an emotionally wrecked blind and deaf child- she certainly shed her usual sweet persona in this one. I think Alison Pill, who played Annie Sullivan, has a lot of potential in this role if she can settle into it.

However, I was very disappointed in Jennifor Morrison as Helen's mother. I like her from House, but in this role in the play she had the same reserved presence that she had as Cameron on House and it does not work. I would have liked a lot more real emotion from her, but i do not know if she has it to give. Mathew Modine played the father, and I thought he was pretty good, but he was hindered because most of his scenes were w/Morrison, the mother. His scenes alone w/Annie Sullivan were very good.

My favorite character was Helen's half brother, James, played by Tobias Segal. He acted his part in a dramatic fashion that I think befits this play. I wish the other actors were as emotive.

A fascinating feature of this play was the round stage, and the stage as part of the play. All the furniture and props descend from the ceiling on wires for each scene and for parts of scenes. Very cool, although it takes some getting used to and might bother some viewers to have the props flying up and down. The actors must have markings on the floor as at times furniture and props would descend right next to them, and if they had been an inch off to one side they would have been hit.

I am interested in what others here think of this play so please post if you see it. I am not sure the critics will like unless it picks up in intensity before it opens and the reviews come out.

Oh, one more thing. Abigail Breslin came out into the lobby after the play and was very available to sign programs and have pictures taken with her. She stayed until the last program was signed and the last picture was taken- no one got turned away. She is a lovely young lady now. But no other actors came out (there is no stage door at this theater, the actors have to leave thru the lobby if they want to greet the fans). I was ticked that none of the others came out. Is that normal during previews?

My last night in NYC and I saved the best for last. A Behanding in Spokane tonight. I don't know if Martin McDonagh wrote this role for Christopher Walken, but he OWNS it. I laughed till I hurt. This is a very dark comedy about a man who has spent 47 years searching for his hand. That's all I'll say.

Some interesting posts here. I loved Pillowman and might have to give a Behanding a try. Last night I saw "Venus in Fur" and it was very different. The acting was terrific, quite intense at times. The play jumps in and out of the dialogue of an audition in dizzying speed. It left lots to contemplate at the end. After the performance, the two actors and playwright came out to take 20 minutes of questions. This was a treat to learn how the play was written and developed, how the real auditions played out, etc. The play's been extended twice and who knows what's next?

Patrick, how was Sam Rockwell in Behanding? I want to see that play, it sounds very funny.

He was very bizarre. He plays the "receptionist" in this flea bag hotel and he has the mid point monologue in front of the curtain.
The language is the most "brutal" of any of his plays, so be forewarned. There are about 100 Mother-f******* in the span of about 2 minutes, but they are very funny. And there is some of the most politically incorrect racial stuff you'll ever see -- again all for the effect of humor.

NP - Do you think some young men in their 20's who liked 'Pillowman' would enjoy it?

Thank you Patrick!! I'm going next week and I can't wait. The language shouldn't bother me too much, I was born and raised in Brooklyn. People use that language ordering breakfast. :)

OH, yea, CPG. I think they'd love it a lot more. It's actually a lot less "thought provoking" and way less deep than Pillowman. It's really kind of a dark but funny piece of "fluff".

Dohlice, speaking of breakfast, did you see the short run musical called Eat Your F*****G Cornflakes?

No, but I just almost lost my lunch laughing!

NP - I just bought tix and am really looking forward to a good, dark laugh when I go with my sons when they're in NY next month. They were both excited to hear it was by the same playwright as 'The Pillowman.'

Tonight I saw "Equivocation," a sort of violent Shakespeare in Love, only this time the Bard is not in love, but forced to write a play about Guy Fawkes et al. The cast was very good, but this play within a play production was too long and at times complicated - at least for my tired brain tonight.

Yes. I saw Equivocation last week. This was a huge hit at Oregon festival this summer, but I just don't think it played that well in this production.

I thought some of the dialogue was really interesting especially the parts about equivocation, but there was just too much all around and at times it was confusing. The king was a hoot.

I recently went to see The Cradle Will Rock - Off Off Broadway - Powerful show that needs to be moved up a notch to Off Broadway - I wrote about it on my blog here:

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...h-14-2010.html

ChgoGal - thanks for the rec for 'Clybourne Park.' I enjoyed it very much - wonderful cast and writing. Do you or NP remember what the blonde lawyer's (in Act 2) connection was to the house? It's flown out of my head already.

wasn't she the daughter of the deaf woman from Act I? Or do I have that wrong?

I can't remember!!!! The other woman was the niece of the housekeeper from Act 1, right?

Yes. and the daughter of the deaf woman was either the blonde lawyer or the pregnant woman buying the house (played by the same actress who played the deaf woman). I wondered if she really was pregnant since she was pregnant as both roles.

The blonde lawyer was definitely related to someone from Act 1. It's funny that you wonder about the pregnant character. My husband wondered about the same thing. My impression was that it was just the part, but who knows?