Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Love-Lies-Bleeding Meets Washington Post Critic at Kennedy Center

Love-Lies-Bleeding Meets Washington Post Critic at Kennedy Center

Noted author Don DeLillo's Love-Lies-Bleeding -- an examination of euthanasia -- has met the critics after opening Sunday evening at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater. Yet, the only review I could find was that by Washington Post critic Peter Marks (a second Post story by Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts notes how veteran stage actor Sam Waterston was in the audience Sunday).

Taking issue with the literary delivery of the play's dialogue, Marks states "That (the) contemplative springboard gives way to a thoughtful if rather clinical evening in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater." While calling the play's present-day scenes "laborious," and deeming Louis Cancelmi's portrayal of Sean, son of stricken artist Alex (John Heard), "oddly robotic," Marks praises the portion of the production that provides the compelling back story on the relationship between Alex and his second wife Toinette (Martha Lavey), as well as Heard's performance and the excellent lighting design by J.R. Lederle.

As previously noted, I've now seen this play both at its original Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre home and then again on Sunday at the Kennedy Center. The only discernable difference I found was Heard's portrayal of Alex after he had suffered a stroke. In Chicago, Heard's Alex had the slurred speech of a paralyzed stroke victim, while at the Kennedy Center, he spoke plainly. I was later told by someone associated with Steppenwolf that Heard's portrayal changes with every performance.

Time is ticking before time runs out on this play's DC run. Performances run through June 25 only.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:
Love-Lies-Bleeding Blooms at Kennedy Center Tonight (June 18, 2006)
DeLillo's Love-Lies-Bleeding Transfers to Kennedy Center (May 25, 2006)
Assassins Loose in Washington for Another Week (May 31, 2006)
Love-Lies-Bleeding (The SOB Review) - Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, IL (May 8, 2006)
Cautious Recommendations for Love-Lies-Bleeding (May 8, 2006)
Love-Lies-Bleeding Opens Tonight in Chicago (May 7, 2006)

Labels: Critics' Capsule, Don DeLillo, John Heard, Kennedy Center, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Martha Lavey, Play, Steppenwolf, Washington DC

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Tuesday, June 20, 2006