Which Broadway play?
 

Hi,

My Mom and I are going to be in NY for one night on 17 July. We would love to go and see a play while we are there. We prefer a play rather than a show.

When I was there last year I got to see Julia Roberts, so would love to see some 'name' again this year. Any advice?

Thanks, Laura

Only one I can think of is 'Talk Radio', with Liev Schreiber, that dude from CSI Vegas. Tickets go on discount at http://broadwaybox.com/shows/talk_ra...c_tickets.aspx . The discount expires before your trip but it will probably be extended so keep tabs on the link.

Go to NYT.com for listings and READ THE REVIEWS. The critics aren't gods, but you'll get an idea of the content. I would give an arm to see Talk Radio, but it is profane and would not suit everyone.

As for "names" on B'way, David Hyde Pierce is in "Curtains", which is a show, not a play; Vanessa Redgrave is in "The Year of Magical Thinking," based on the Joan Didion book; Kevin Spacey is in "Moon for the Misbegotten"; Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy are in "Inherit the Wind"; to name a few.

Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon" is another. Not exactly in the Julia Roberts category, though.

Barbara Walters just said that Frank Langella was awesome in Frost/ Nixon.

Isn't fall when the big names tend to turn up on B'way?

I've seen Frank Langella and Kevin Spacey during the past couple of weeks. Of those two plays, I would recommend Frost/Nixon, especially if you lived through the Nixon resignation. And actually, the reason to go to Moon for the Misbegotten is British actress Eve Best, who does an incredible job -- Spacey has actually received mixed reviews for his performance (which I liked). The other plays listed have gotten sufficiently mixed reviews as to lead me not to rush to see them -- and I read one playgoer's comment that Liev Schreiber smoked continuously through Talk Radio and it physically bothered them.

Angela Lansbury & Marion Seldes will be opening in Deuce and Vanessa Redgrave is in the Year of Magical Thinking. Journey's End is another highly praised drama. I've also heard Blackbird, off Broadway with Jeff Daniels is excellent too. Also agree with Frost/Nixon and Talk Radio. So you're spoiled for choice.

Some good discussion of good theatre above, but Talk Radio is scheduled to close June 24 and Inherit the Wind on July 8. Doubtful that either would be extended, in my opinion -- at least with the same cast.
Moon for the Misbegotten is on a strictly limited schedule and closing June 10.

Deuce and Frost/Nixon are running until August 19. Those seem to be your best bets.

By the way, I thought it was interesting that you use the term "show" to define musical? In theatre, many of us call all plays and musicals shows.
On the other hand a "show" to my mother or father meant a movie.

Wow, I totally missed the OP's date--thanks for the save, Neo.

Oh catching the date was easy for me. Enjoy New York on MY BIRTHDAY bauradublin!!!

Aw! Lauradublin, you must at least drink a toast in NYC to our resident theater maven!

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies. Got really excited when I saw that Kevin Spacey was an option, but was so disappointed when I saw that the play would be closed by then. Alot of the recommendations seem to be closed by 17 July. Maybe I should wait until nearer the time to book something?

Especially thanks for the advice about the smoking during 'Talk Radio'. I have asthma and that would bother me!

In Ireland, we use the word 'show' for a musical. A 'play' is a play and a movie is a 'film' !

Thanks,
Laura

Laura, I don't know that anything else will be opening b/w now and then. It's not the season. While you did say a play, David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier fame) is in a new musical called Curtains.

Sigourney Weaver is opening in a play called Crazy Mary...look for the reviews when it opens?

Yeah Talk Radio will be done by July but for other people considering the play, want to add my two cents that I thought it was really really good. Also I'm a non-smoker who hates smoke and my husband is asthmatic, we sat 4th row from the stage and couldn't smell the smoke at all.

It's a funny thing about stage smoking. Being in theatre I know that we often remove smoking unless it's pretty important to the play. But whenever we keep it in, we always use herbal cigarettes which are totally non-irritating to either the actor or the audience. Yet still, some people will get up and leave or react horribly to them. The funny part is that most of those people start coughing the second they see the actor pull the cigarette out -- before it's even lit, or certainly the second it is lit, long before any effects could have possibly reached the row they are in. Can you say "psychological effects"?

Just looked up Crazy Mary and wouldn't you know, it closes on June 17th!

Laura

WICKED!! An amazing show. I saw Ana Gestyer (sp??) from Saturday Night Live as the lead, as well as Kristen Chenawa (again, with the spelling) and they were brilliant. I would recommend it even if were all understudies and I have seen probably around 100 shows in my life.

Lauradublin, if it's any consolation there are NO tickets available for any performance of Crazy Mary -- sold out with subscriber base. Although they did tell me to check in a few weeks in case some might be returned.

I'll agree with NicaZ- Wicked is one of the best out there now. I've seen almost 50 shows and this is by far one of the best. The Color Purple is also amazing- I think Fantasia, from American Idol, is in it now. Have fun!! I love Broadway!

I don't think the OP wants a musical, but if you could get tickets, YES! Wicked!

A play with a "star" rather than a musical, and we now suggest Wicked, with a cast of non-stars?

If Lauradublin asked for a good seafood restaurant in Soho, would we recommend an Italian cafe on the Upper East side?

I love Wicked too, but it has nothing to do with the post.

No one's mentioned one of the most promising plays of the season--Radio Golf, the final one in August Wilson's brilliant 10-play project. It's in previews now and opens in May.

Indeed, Neo. I would have suggested other plays, had it not been the OP's perfectly understandable stated desire to see a famous name on the marquee.

True, which is also why I ignored Radio Golf, which I'm personally looking forward to seeing.

Frankly the "name" in the play is one of the least significant reasons I go to see a particular show. Nevertheless I understand the draw factor. My favorite non musical of the past year was probably Little Dog Laughed and I didn't know a single person in it.

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies. As I don't get to NY very often, it is nice to see someone on-stage that I wouldn't see here in Ireland. That being said - I love good theatre, so even if there is no 'name' any good recommendations are appreciated.

Laura
PS - Did get to see Chris Meloni and Frances McDormand here in Ireland and they were both excellent!

Ah yes, I saw Frances McDormand do Blanche in A Streecar Named Desire a few years ago at the Gate. She was excellent, although I must say the Irish slipping through the US Southern accents was a little disconcerting from some of the other actors.

I know this doesn't help the OP because it's closing before she gets to New York, but in case anyone else is interested I really enjoyed Moon for the Misbegotten last week. Kevin Spacey got mixed reviews in my party (I liked his peformance but my husband liked it less, and he has the New York Times on his side). Really liked Eve Best, and it was fun to see Colm Meaney, who was very good and who inspired lots of interesting overheard snippets in the audience about beaming up. We were inspired to get copies of the play and to reread Long Day's Journey at the same time.

And as an aside, we parked near the restaurant Roberto Passon, and after seeing Patrick's many comments about it, I made it a point to go there after the theater for dinner. A great recommendation!