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A Man For All Seasons Reviews
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Entire cast, entire production, phenomenal Review by: sfstagewalker, Dec 12, 2008 |
As I planned my trip to New York, I looked over the list of shows, and knew I would be seeing A Man For All Seasons as soon as I read the listing.
It has been quite some time since a play has literally moved me to tears. The cast in all aspects brought their best game, and Langella in particular was astounding. Granted, it is an exceptional script with brains, heart, humor and pathos. Few pieces of theatrical writing of the ... read more last century can match up to it as far as I'm concerned. Combine that with deft direction, elegant design, and nuanced performances and you have something that reminds you why theatre is still a profound and powerful art form.
In an age where 90% of broadway offerings seem to be little more than an effort to mine popular films for tourist dollars, Man For All Seasons stands as a symbol of artistic integrity.
Given the play's subject matter, that seems quite appropriate. |
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must see!
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AN ELECTRIFING DRAMA Review by: Beth M, Nov 27, 2008 |
“SILENCE EQUALS DEATH:” IN HONOR OF WORLD AIDS DAY, DECEMBER 1ST, AND A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
by Beth Mandelbaum
I just came back from seeing Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons (the November 26th matinee), which I found to be a jawclenchingly exciting play. It is extraordinarily well written and constructed, and filled with strong dramatic power. Suspense, tension and, ultimately, shock value build to their final conclusion. It is ... read more also brilliantly acted, most notably by Frank Langella (though there are also many fine actors in the supporting cast), whose magnificent, larger than life performance as Sir Thomas was one of the most extraordinary that I have seen in a long time. In fact, watching Mr. Langella portray and develop his character is well worth the price of admission. And the play itself will undoubtedly hold its own as one of the triumphs of this year’s Roundabout Theatre Company’s offerings. I have been a subscriber for quite a number of years, and I was so grateful for where they chose to seat me, which was the second row orchestra center. This gave me an extraordinary vantage point from which to watch Mr. Langella as a master actor. But I imagine that his superhuman portrayal of an extraordinary man of conscience and integrity can be fully experienced from every seat in the theater. And I would venture a guess that he will be one of the leading contenders for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.
I would like to share that I saw the original Broadway production in the early 60’ with the great Paul Scofield in the leading role of Sir Thomas More and other fine actors, and have a vague recall of it.
I have to admit that I was a bit reluctant to see this play as an adult because I have to plead total ignorance regarding the complex phase of 16th century English political and church history which is the context for this play (I probably knew more about it when I saw it as a young teenager), and thought that I might be totally lost. I did remember something about King Henry VIII’s desire to have his marriage of 18 years to Catherine of Aragon of Spain dissolved, as she had been unable to give him a son, and therefore, and an heir to the throne of England, making it possible for him to marry Anne Boleyn, sister of his mistress!.
So last night I did a bit of background study on line and learned a bit about the play, its characters, and its multifarious aspects of political and theological intrigue. I began to get a sense of who were the so-called “good guys” and “bad guys,” for want of better words; and who among the initially “good guys” found themselves gradually tempted and enmeshed in the ultimate betrayal of Sir Thomas More on charges of treason, spearheaded by King Henry the VIII and More’s rival, the Machiavellian Thomas Cromwell.
More was perceived as defying the King on a number of highly significant issues, which lead to his brutal and tragic downfall. However, in so many significant ways, More had been extremely loyal to the King. A key theme in A Man for All Seasons is More’s extraordinary capacity to remain silent on these issues relating to the Kind despite his profoundly deep feelings. Even in the face of extraordinary pressure from the government and church officials, More, in supreme acts of bravery, had actually remained silent with extraordinary steadfastness regarding his personal beliefs and all consuming conscience and integrity, the hallmarks of his character. He was unwavering and staunch in this regard to the point where he was willing to make staggering sacrifices.
However, silence can be interpreted in different ways; and here, an increasingly frightening band of government/church administrators appear to be persecuting More, at least in part for their own reasons and personal vendettas. In fact, most of these officials are portrayed as rather evil and maniacal, and are not above corruption, spying, secrecy, conspiracy, desire for power, treachery, and taking law and religion into their own hands. And the program notes state (and I have to say that to me this is very ironic) that: “It should be remembered that A Man for All Seasons deals with ‘an age less fastidious than our own. Imprisonment without trial, and even examination under torture, were common practice.’”
One might be struck by the timeliness of A Man for All Seasons, the first Broadway revival of this play. Though separated by hundreds of years, there appear, at least to me, some significant and less than pleasant parallels between the play and aspects of recent and current world events and politics.
I would recommend to those who plan to see this play to consider doing a bit of advance background research, or at least to be sure to get to the theater early enough to read the detailed page briefly outlining the historical and political events that impact on the play “that deeply affected Sir Thomas More, his family, his friends and his nation.” (from the program notes)
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Make an effort to see
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Tourists, Adults
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| 3 |
Review by: jen, Oct 6, 2008 |
| Fantastic! The entire cast shines. This is a must see show. Broadway at it's best. |
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must see!
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Review by: Misty, Oct 5, 2008 |
| A brilliant production of a fascinating true story. The entire cast was phenomenal, and Frank Langella shines as Sir Thomas Moore. A play that stays with you long after the curtain falls. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Family
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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