Impressionism (The SOB Review) – Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, New York, New York
***1/2 (out of ****)Alright, alright. I know this is much too little too late, but at the risk of being stuck out on a precarious limb, let it be noted that I was absolutely charmed by
Michael Jacobs’s
Impressionism.
Maybe some critics just couldn’t see for forest for the trees. Coincidentally, in this story about the potential for love, its leading characters -- art gallery owner Katharine Keenan (
Joan Allen) and onetime photographer turned Keenan assistant Thomas Buckle (
Jeremy Irons) -- have difficulty seeing the infinite possibilities of a relationship that's right in front of them.
A truly lovely story with a lovely cast (
André De Shields in particular deserves credit for his two scene-stealing roles) and lovingly directed by
Jack O'Brien,
Impressionism is one of those plays that stealthily sneaks up on you and packs an enormous emotional punch.
I guess it’s true that art truly is in the eye of the beholder.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: André De Shields, Broadway, Impressionism, Jack O'Brien, Jeremy Irons, Joan Allen, Michael Jacobs, Play, The SOB Review
Allen, Irons Finally Back In The Broadway FireWow!
After having
repeatedly read that actress
Joan Allen had no interest in returning to the stage, I was resigned to never seeing her live. (Well, that is if you don't count dancing next to her and her daughter at
Steppenwolf's 30th anniversary gala a few years ago -- the elegant thespian certainly knows how to cut a rug).
Although Allen has been a Steppenwolf ensemble member since -- gasp! -- 1977, appearing in 23 of the company's productions, she has not graced a Steppenwolf stage since 1991 (last seen in Anne Tyler's
Earthly Possessions alongside
Kevin Anderson,
Sally Murphy and
Rondi Reed, among others). It's been two years longer since she last appeared on Broadway in her Tony-nominated turn as Heidi Holland in 1989's
The Heidi Chronicles (also starring
Peter Friedman,
Boyd Gaines,
Joanne Camp and
Cynthia Nixon). One year earlier, Allen received the Tony for Best Actress in a Play for her work in
Lanford Wilson's
Burn This opposite fellow Steppenwolf ensemble member
John Malkovich.
With Allen's film career going great guns, sometimes
quite literally, I resigned myself to never having a chance to see her perform live on stage.
So imagine my pleasant surprise to read yesterday in
Variety that she's ready to burn up the boards once again opposite no less than
Jeremy Irons, absent himself from Broadway since his one and only Tony-winning turn as Henry in the original 1985 incarnation of
Tom Stoppard's masterpiece,
The Real Thing.
Together, Allen and Irons are slated to star in the world premiere of
Impressionism by
Michael Jacobs. Directed by
Jack O'Brien and produced by
Ostar Productions, the play should land on the Great White Way sometime next spring -- just in time for Tony consideration.
This officially becomes my first "must-see" show for 2009.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Burn This, First Word On New Show, Impressionism, Jack O'Brien, Jeremy Irons, Joan Allen, Michael Jacobs, Play, Steppenwolf, The Heidi Chronicles, The Real Thing
