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Awake and Sing Reviews
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Review by: online bill pay, Sep 12, 2006 |
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Review by: Porn, Sep 11, 2006 |
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Review by: Teen Porn, Sep 1, 2006 |
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Great Acting and Great Writing from the Glory Days Review by: theatrefool, Jun 24, 2006 |
| This is a very moving production of a brilliant play written by a great American playwright in 1935. The acting has a rarely seen, heart-on-your sleeve, All-American intensity that reminds us that it is passion and feeling that has made this country great. The 1935 idealism that leads some of the characters (and clearly the playwright) to embrace communism and the "new" Russian model seems quaint in the post-Stalin decades. Communism, ... read more of course, proved to be even less humanizing than the capitalism that seemed so flawed in 1935. But the passion, the American idealism, the desire to dream and to work and to improve seem as fresh today as ever, and as much in need. The production left me with eyes full of tears and unable to speak. The cast and direction are extraordinary, to a person. The ones you know and the ones you don't are all equally outstanding. For 2006 attention spans and by current literary standards, this great play and production will be taxing for those who don't really care about great theatre. But for those who do care, it should not be missed. I'm so glad I saw this show. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Business Associate
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Adults
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| 5 |
Boring Review by: britinnj, Jun 6, 2006 |
| Er, I guess I didn't get it. It seemed dated, stilted and tedious. Acting was OK but nothing outstanding. Once again proves that people will go and see anything the NYT raves about. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Spouse/Partner
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Well produced and meaningful Review by: Annie, May 28, 2006 |
| Loved show/play. The direction and production and acting was tops. A moving story with lots of meaning and emotion. I reccomend it highly. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Alone
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Recommended for:
Business Assoc., Seniors, Tourists
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| 7 |
Themtaic and emotional resonance Review by: tom@tombestor.com, May 28, 2006 |
This is a Clifford Odets classic from 1935, a bit of a polemic about the workers’ need to rise up and shed their chains, told through the struggles of a working-class Jewish family in the Bronx. The cast, which included Ben Gazzara, Mark Ruffalo and Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under”), was excellent (especially Gazzara and Ruffalo) and the staging and direction first-rate. What I found perhaps most fascinating about this revival is that it was ... read more staged in the same theater in which the show had its premiere, the Belasco. Though I had never before been inside the space, it may now be my favorite Broadway theater, with its beautifully detailed interior, featuring murals by Everett Shinn and lighting by Tiffany.
The thematic and emotional resonance of this play from 1935 to now may be found in the character of the grandfather, who rails most against the establishment, and inspires his grandson to “Wake up, boychick!” In the original, he was likely the heart of the play, but in this restaging, his character comes off as a metaphor for an ideal that has failed history’s test.
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Good show you may never have a chance to see again Review by: , Apr 26, 2006 |
We saw this play Sunday afternoon with a mostly older crowd that included Joan Rivers. There are some fine performances in this play and I found the direction to be subtle and effective. Memorable performances included Ben Gazarra, Ms Wannamaker and Mark Ruffalo with the supporting actors all very fine as well. I was concerned about Gazarra's delivery after reading some of the comments about it. It was perfect for the role sounding tired and a ... read more yet defiant at the same time.
I did feel a disconnect among the actors at times. Most especially between Lauren Ambrose and Mark Ruffalo. Both actors had strong chops but I felt they needed more time to establish their relationship together, specifically their affection for one another. There were a few times when I felt like the silence between them should burn with tension and desire. I didn't see that, maybe it was a directorial choice or maybe they're still feeling each other out. Speaking of choices, I wanted to see more building tension/exasperation in Ms. Wannamaker's character especially in the third act. I wanted more fight in her, more lioness-perhaps that's not to be found in the script.
The set was simple and effective. Much has been said about it in the 3rd act. I found no distraction. It seemed to be underlining the drama amongst the family members. In fact, the only thing I found distracting about the set was the kitchen door which seemed to swing just a little too much. Such a small thing...
I was glad to have seen this play and the performances in it which were all quite good. I did have some problems, I think, with the writing. For example: I'm not sure that Lauren Ambrose's character would really make the decision she does at the end of the third act and likewise I would have liked to see less certainty in Pablo Schreiber's character at the end of the show. Less certainty that everything will work out. In those two instances are where I see the problem with the play. Odett's spends the entire play setting everything up to fall apart and then when it does he picks up all, or most, of the pieces and puts them back together again. Things often don't go the way we want or hope. I would have liked to see more of that possibility in the ending of this show. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
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| 9 |
Review by: , Apr 17, 2006 |
I really enjoyed this play. It is a bit of a heavy drama and not for everyone, but the acting was excellent. I would reccomend this play for someone who likes a good drama.
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Adults
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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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