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Deuce Reviews
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| 1 |
Joyous! Review by: Marla, Aug 1, 2007 |
| This is a FANTASTIC night in the theatre. I loved everything about it: the story, the acting, the set. I never wanted it to end...I was so invested in the lives of these two women. This is genuinely one of the loveliest evenings I've ever had in the theatre and certainly the most thoughtful night I've had in a long time. I laughed until there was a lump in my throat. I will never forget these actresses or this show. I know the reviews were ... read more not good. This play was great. The critics were seriously off the mark with this one. Don't miss it. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Tourists, Adults
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| 2 |
a treasure to watch Review by: loves the theater, Jul 30, 2007 |
| if you know zero about tennis you will still love this show..what a treat after all these years to see angella in person |
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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:
The Entire Family, Tourists, Anyone
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| 3 |
Great lives lived with all the ups and downs Review by: Theatergoer since childhood, Jul 30, 2007 |
| "Deuce" is a very good play and the performances were excellent. This one is not about production or musical numbers. It's about life. If there aren't at least ten things that are said that touch you because they've happened to you, you've been living in a bubble. One caveat, you have to pay attention. It's all about the dialogue and the dialogue is wonderful. What a lesson about living life to the fullest and about how aging isn't about ... read more getting dependent or being any less of a person. Maybe this play isn't for anyone under 30. By 30 we all have a few regrets, questions about choices we made and 20-20 hindsight. A great play that deserves an intelligent, thoughtful audience. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Seniors, Adults
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| 4 |
Deuce - Go See Something Else Review by: lee, Jul 30, 2007 |
| SAVE YOUR MONEY and go see something else. This was the most boring show I have seen in many years. How awful that Angela Landsbury (possibly her last show) took on such an awful terribly boring and waste of time show. She is too good to reduce herself to this junk. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 5 |
Review by: RT, Jul 28, 2007 |
| Although Deuce is not the best play out there, it certainly does not deserve to be playing to 40% capacity. Lansbury and Seldes are magnificent and seeing them on stage is thrilling. This play is not for people who just want to sit back and not pay attention. It is actually pretty good, you just have to be present. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Business Associate
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Business Assoc., Seniors
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| 6 |
A FAILURE Review by: Anna, Jul 22, 2007 |
What a dissapointment! Mc Nally has written a very bad
play this time! And the actresses waste their talent!!
And WE waste our MONEY!!
A pity. Do not spend your time. Do not spend your
money. Go somewhere else if you are looking for
a good play.
Age shows. Forget Mc Nally. Racism, self-hatred,
everything is there. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Family
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| 7 |
A Joy! Review by: Mackie, Jun 24, 2007 |
| DEUCE is gorgeous. A funny, touching, subtle exploration of relationships, aging and the pursuit of excellence. This play is not for lazy audience members. It IS for people willing to think and listen carefully to the musings of two strong women. A wonderfully entertaining show about sexism, age-ism and the autumn of one's life, I would recommend this show to anyone and everyone who enjoys strong character studies and thoughtful writing. ... read more And OH the acting...it doesn't get any better than these two grand dames of the theatre. Marian Seldes and Angela Lansbury are worthy of the word LEGENDS. They make it seem effortless. I had a glorious evening in the theatre with my partner. We didn't want it to end and spent the entire evening talking about the show. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Seniors, Tourists
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| 8 |
Deuce is a don't! Review by: kimz11, Jun 21, 2007 |
| It was a thrill when the cutain opened and there seated in front of me was the legendary Angela Landsbury in person. Unfortunately, it's down hill from there. The story line is weak at best. THere are a few good laughs, but they are few and far between. With no intermission, I found it difficult to get through the 90 minutes without yawning and constantly checking my watch. With such an uninspiring script, not even ... read more theses two great actresses could save it. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
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| 9 |
Great actresses, bad story Review by: emmgal, Jun 18, 2007 |
| To me “Deuce” is a perfect example when two great and wonderful actresses could not save the show, because of the bad script. There is no conflict in the play. The dialogs are long and honestly for all the show you wait that maybe something happened. My opinions, if you would like to pay a tribute and enjoy the play of great actresses, go to Music Box Theatre. If you expect to see a good story, you’d better stay at home |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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Anyone
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| 10 |
Gentle, Not Explosive Broadway! Review by: AuntieF, Jun 5, 2007 |
| Deuce was aces with me. The 2 legends on stage made the afternoon well worth the effort. The play itself was a little thin, but the gist of the story -- 2 people who have not been together in 25 years and are now thrown together artificially -- can ring true for anyone, be it old friends, family, schoolmates etc. I felt these women both conveyed the real emotions 2 people might have felt if they were brought together by outside forces (such ... read more as getting an award) and not because they chose to have a reunion. Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes are superb actors. The Music Box Theater is a perfect setting for a play as small as Deuce. I sat in the next to the last orchestra row and still felt as if I could have shaken the hands of these 2 elegant women. If you want a gentle, enjoyable experience, see Deuce for the right to brag that you've seen the legends of Broadway practically within arms reach! |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Adults
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| 11 |
Horrid Review by: Jerry, May 30, 2007 |
| I went to this play to see Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes on stage. While I'm glad I got that chance, I wish I had seen them in a better play. I've seen several of Terrence McNally's brilliant plays and it's hard to believe he could write such drivel. There was no character development, no conflict and poorly written supporting characters. I would pay money to watch either of these living legends read the phone book, but this was far less ... read more interesting. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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| 12 |
DEUCE Serves Aces Review by: kindly, May 19, 2007 |
| I've now seen the show twice--once in early previews and again last night. The difference is astonishing. After seeing it the first time I had my doubts but no more: DEUCE is a marvelous evening in the theatre; a thoughtful, meditative piece on aging, the nature of collaboration, the lengths we'll go to and sacrifices we make in order to achieve success, the ways in which we accept(or don't) life's regrets and our ability to accept(or not!... read more!)the changes around us. DEUCE is funny, thoughtful and deeply moving. Most of all, DEUCE is a glorious opportunity to watch two legends strut their stuff...and strut they do! These are two beautifully calibrated performances in roles that seem tailor-suited to the women playing them. It is easily my favorite evening in the theatre in the 2006-2007 season and an experience I'll treasure forever. Do not miss this show. I can't wait to see it again. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| Acting: |
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Tourists, Adults
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| 13 |
Don't miss it Review by: , May 10, 2007 |
| Saw the show May 9 and we were quite leary after reading the reviews...what a great afternoon. We were just blown away by both performances. Sold out performance, standing "o" just fabulous!!! |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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| Acting: |
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| Production: |
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| Story: |
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Seniors
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| 14 |
Wonderful, Complex and Reflective -- Its no Spamalot Review by: suebdo, May 8, 2007 |
| Well it isn't Spamalot ... but it is an incredibly rich, complex and interesting exploration of friendship, aging, competition, self-actualization and other deep themes. Its difficult for Lansbury and Seldes to completely disappear into their roles -- they are icons after all -- and yet, Deuce could be their story as much as its the story of two aging tennis greats. This is the type of show you chew on for a few days afterwards as the characters ... read more and their narratives seep into your bones. I thought it was a wonderful show, well worth seeing -- even if it is lacking in pyrotechnics. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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| Acting: |
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| Music: |
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| Production: |
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| Story: |
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Seniors, Tourists
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| 15 |
There was only a single moment that felt true to me Review by: Tom B, May 6, 2007 |
"Deuce" is stage icon Angela Lansbury's first role on Broadway in more than 25 years. Given the quality of what is taking place nightly at the Music Box Theater, she might have been wise to hold off a bit longer. Although allowances must be made for the fact that I saw only the second preview, I still don't see enough in the text from which to construct a Broadway hit. I'm willing to forgive the fact that Lansbury and her co-star Marian Seldes ... read more had to be prompted on at least half a dozen occasions. I can forgive a script that lags from time to time -- cuts can be made as the show develops. I can even forgive the use of a pair of broadcast blowhards commenting from the TV booth overlooking center court. (The show concerns Lansbury and Seldes as a pair of tennis doubles legends who are sitting in box seats at the US Open, where they are to be honored after the match.) That they can cut. What I can't forgive is the fact that there was only a single moment that felt true to me. (It was the moment near the play's end when the two women were bathing in the applause of the crowd in the stadium -- the two characters appeared to be genuinely touched by the ovation, even though it was pre-recorded.)
I think both women are tremendous performers, and even at this early stage of production they look comfortable on stage, even though neither knows her lines. (Thank goodness there is minimal blocking -- they are in their seats for almost the entire show.) But neither acts remotely like a former world-class athlete. I don't think that's their fault, but rather the fault of playwright Terrence McNally. The dialogue is not just overly stage-y, it has no ring of truth at all. How hard could it have been for McNally to watch a few tennis matches on TV, and maybe a few interviews with players? Or listened to what today's tennis broadcasters really sound like? Because the commnetators in the booth were simply ridiculous caricatures, unlike anything one hears during the broadcast of a Grand Slam tennis event. Then there's the fact that I never once cared about these characters as people. I never understood why there was tension between them, or if, in fact, what I was seeing was supposed to BE tension.
What a mess. Too bad, too, because the story of how women's professional tennis achieved its currently level of popularity, through the bravery and tenacity of women who spent their entire careers earning what many of today's pros get for wearing a pair of shoes for a single season. It was a dramatic time, and though "Deuce" touches on it, it's not even close to a central theme. In fact, I'm not sure I could FIND a central theme.
"Deuce" is filled with dozen of unforced errors, double faults, bad line calls -- and just that one winner. It goes down in the first round, 0-6, 1-6.
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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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