Life Is Short For A Life In The Theatre
So much for any additional life support for
A Life In The Theatre. Sadly, it's time to write the obit as they're pulling the plug more than a month early.
Today, a
closing notice was posted for the limited run
revival of
David Mamet's slight, 33 year old work presented for the very first time on Broadway this fall. The show will close on November 28.
On paper, it certainly sounded brilliant, particularly with
Neil Pepe directing
Patrick Stewart and
T.R. Knight, both extraordinarily gifted actors in their own right. Yet, it seemed extremely tiny, even in its smallish
Broadway house. It also seemed woefully thin,
not only to me, but also to a
host of critics.
Even worse, the show has been languishing near the bottom of the weekly grosses for the past
couple weeks (and I'm sure this week's box office totals will bear similar results). In fact, with one
notable exception,
A Life In The Theatre was not only the lowest grossing show on Broadway for the week ending October 31 ($218,150), but also at the bottom in attracting capacity crowds at 39.3%.
When the show closes, it will have performed 56 regular performances. As Ben Brantley of
The New York Times has so
eloquently stated, "And now when I see a good production Off Broadway, I shudder to think that it may soon be pushed onto a big, unloving stage where it may well die from exposure." As much as I love Broadway, not every play or musical -- including ones I love -- belongs there.
This is
Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Labels: A Life In The Theatre, Ben Brantley, Broadway, Closing Notices, David Mamet, Neil Pepe, Patrick Stewart, Play, Revival, T.R. Knight
The SOB Poll - Septem-ber Results
At the beginning of Septem-ber, I noted how seven new shows were starting on Broadway that month and
asked you to vote for the show you
most wanted to see.
The results are finally in.
With a plurality of the 149 votes cast,
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jack-son led the pack with 36.9%. The musical went on to receive largely positive views,
present company excluded.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson was followed in a close race for second
place.
A Life In The Theatre (14.8%) narrowly edged critical darling
Brief Encounter (14.1%). They were followed by
La Bête (10.7%),
Lombardi (8.1%) and
The Pitmen Painters (6.7%).
How did your favorite show fare?
Tomorrow, I'll provide the results of your top picks among Broadway shows starting in October.
This is
Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: A Life In The Theatre, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Brief Encounter, Broadway, La Bete, SOB Poll
Theatre Finally Coming To BroadwayI've read it so many times that I was almost beginning to believe it was true: that revivals of
David Mamet works have long since become perennial events on Broadway.
Well, it isn't necessarily so.
Sure there was that Tony Award-winning Best Play Revival of
Glengarry Glen Ross in 2005. But it wasn't really until the very recent 2008 Broadway revival of
Speed-The-Plow that the Mamet machine really swung into gear. And summarily got stuck. Just weeks later, the blink or you'd miss it revival of
American Buffalo largely opened to pans. In 2009, a revival of
Oleanna opened to more receptive acclaim.
Now comes only the fifth Mamet revival of the last decade.
Frequent Mamet collaborator
Neil Pepe is set to direct
A Life in the Theatre with
Patrick Stewart and
T. R. Knight star as Robert and John, respectively -- two stage actors in a power struggle. Stewart is no stranger to the play, having performed as Robert on the West End opposite
Joshua Jackson in 2005.
Although it has seen life in London and Off-Broadway,
A Life In The Theatre has never before been mounted on Broadway. Until now. The official Web site
describes the 33 year old play as follows:
A Life In The Theatre will be making its Broadway premiere. The play made its world premiere at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago in February of 1977 with Mike Nussbaum and Joe Mantegna and was directed by Gregory Mosher. The play opened off-Broadway on October 20, 1977 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and ran for 288 performances. That production was directed by Gerald Gutierrez and starred Peter Evans and Ellis Rabb.
Describing life in the footlights from an actor’s point of view, A Life In The Theatre focuses on the relationship between two thespians: Robert, an older, experienced performer; and John, a relative newcomer. Though Robert’s guidance is welcomed by John at first, as the play progresses Robert falters as an actor and mentor, and John emerges as a mature actor. Mamet was inspired to write A Life In The Theatre by what he had observed backstage as well as by his own experiences in his early career as an actor.
Stewart, of course, is one of the foremost actors on either side of the Atlantic, and his participation alone would be enough to entice me to see
A Life In The Theatre. But having witnessed Knight's impressive acting range on stage as both an amazing Amadeus Mozart in
Amadeus and as Tim in
Noises Off! -- both before he ever became known to television audiences as
Dr. George O'Malley -- I can honestly say that I'm every bit as anxious to see him perform as I am his co-star.
Previews begin at Broadway's
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on September 21, with opening night set for October 12, 2010. The limited run will conclude on January 2, 2011.
This is
Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: A Life In The Theatre, Broadway, David Mamet, First Word On New Show, Neil Pepe, Patrick Stewart, Play, Revival, T.R. Knight
7 New Broadway Shows Begin This Month - Which Do You Most Want To See?This month, Broadway's 2010-11 Theatrical Season begins in earnest as seven new plays and musicals start previews.
They include
Mrs. Warren's Profession (September 3),
Brief Encounter (September 10),
The Pitmen Painters (September 14),
A Life In The Theatre (September 21),
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (September 20),
La Bête (September 23) and
Lombardi (September 23). Which leads me to ask in my latest SOB Poll, "Which of these productions do you
most want to see?"
Please take a moment to vote in this poll, and feel free to provide your comments below as to why.
Thank you for participating!
For the complete list of Broadway shows confirmed for this season, please click
here. For shows that have been announced, but not fully confirmed with venues and/or dates, click
here.
This is
Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: A Life In The Theatre, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Brief Encounter, Broadway, La Bête, Lombardi, Mrs. Warren's Profession, SOB Poll, The Pitmen Painters
