Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone.
I had a blast. There were about 50 or so "jury members" on stage. Mixed among us were members of the cast. It was great fun to get a bird's eye view of things backstage. There was no curtain, and during intermission we all got to walk around the stage. It was interesting to see the audience from the stage. The seats seemed to rise to the heavens.
It was so much fun. Yes, in the beginning, when the Bible thumping orator came to town, a huge "READ YOUR BIBLE DAILY" banner blocked our view. And when the towns folk marched, waving their large placards, I couldn't see through "THIS IS A MONKEY TRIAL!" But those were only momentary issues.
I did see mostly the back of Christopher Plummer's head, but he was far closer to me than he would have been had I been in the audience. In fact, I suspect he has loose dentures, what with so much spittle flying with every sentence. It was backlit from my perspective and so very noticible. Plummer is 78 years old, after all. Brian Dennehy looked OLD, surprising old, older than his 69 years. I recognized several of the town folk as familiar journeymen character actors, but I don't know their names.
While the play itself is excellent, the acting of the junior characters was stiff. Plummer was terrific, but Dennehy was merely OK. He didn't bring the fire and brimstone to the role that I expected. His character undergoes a transition that was not clearly delineated and felt sort of unexpectedly sprung on the audience.
The set design was minimal, mostly we, the jury, were the set. I expect if I were in the audience, I'd have been disappointed by the lighting and set design. But from my vantage point, it was fine.
I did jump out of my seat at play's end and gave a standing ovation. But I really was clapping joyously for my own experience of the show rather than the performers' work. But what the heck, I'm sure the actors enjoyed receiving a standation ovation, regardless of why.
I'd have to say that, overall, the show was good but not excellent, though I bet the play and the players will receive Tony nominations for best revival.
This post was last modified: 04-03-2007, 01:46 AM by Maggers.
Reading is freedom.
The mind soars, no earthly cares,
no limitations.
A Maggers Haiku, 2005
Years ago my mother used to say to me... "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
Well, for years I was smart.
I recommend pleasant.
You may quote me.
Elwood P. Dowd