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The Columnist Reviews
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A Powerful Show...with an equally Powerful Performance Review by: Diract 66, Jul 7, 2012 |
| John Lithgow is simply marvelous to watch. Every manner in walk and talk is precise and to the point of the character, Joseph Alsop. In fact, everyone is excellent in this cast. The play between Lithgow and Boyd Gaines,Stewart Alsop, is a pleasure to watch. Even if you are not familiar with the characters in the play, you should be able to enjoy the story and the times that it is set. The newspaper of the mid century was the internet of today. ... read more Great performances. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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Recommended for:
Seniors, Adults
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Theater the Way It Should Be Review by: Mr. C, Jun 12, 2012 |
John Lithgow should have won a Tony this year for his outstanding performance in this play. The supporting casts were very good. It was a well thought out play that brought back the turbulant times of the 60's.
My only crticism was that the actual journalistic writngs shown to the audience were to abbreviated. Complete sentences should have been utlized for better comprehension. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Seniors, Tourists
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"The Columnist" is a winner. Review by: Tom Bestor, Jun 10, 2012 |
If you're a fan of "Mad Men" there's a better than even chance that you will also enjoy "The Columnist," a new play by David Auburn ("Proof"), currently playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in a Manhattan Theatre Club production helmed by Daniel Sullivan. Like the adventures of Don Draper airing Sunday nights on AMC, "The Columnist" takes place (primarily) in the early 60s and chronicles a world in the midst of a rather epic transition. ... read more (Not unlike another recent favorite of mine, "War Horse.")
The columnist of the title is Joseph Alsop, the mega-powerful Washington insider whose clout is suddenly diminishing as his syndicated column is finding fewer and fewer readers. The world is changing and Alsop is having trouble keeping up. A staunch defender of the war in Vietnam, Alsop finds himself on the wrong side of history and his desperate attempts to claw his way back to the top are the fodder for Auburn's slick drama.
In John Lee Beatty's brilliant sets, we see Alsop at his most vulnerable - pleading on the phone for favors with other Washington power brokers, trying to convince his brother Stewart (also a writer, delicately played by Boyd Gaines) to partner with him and, most important, trying to keep his closet door firmly shut. For, as we learn in the very first scene, in a Moscow hotel room in 1954, Alsop is gay, and the impossibility of his ever coming out - balanced against the very real threat of his being outed, thanks to the existence of some surreptitiously-acquired explicit photos - keeps the tension up throughout the evening.
In addition to Auburn's excellent play and Sullivan's confident direction, "The Columnist" benefits greatly from another bravura performance by John Lithgow, who once again proves why he's one of Broadway's best. If you're used to Lithgow's comedic roles (primarily TV's "Third Rock from the Sun"), you owe it to yourself to see him dig into a great dramatic turn such as this. It would be hard to play Alsop without the level of bristling intelligence Lithgow brings to the role. But it's more than is bravura and brilliance that make Lithgow great, it's also his ability to show vulnerability and doubt - not always easy for a 6'4" man to do. It's the soft center that makes the bristly exterior interesting.
I won't say "The Columnist" is perfect - it does feel "out of tune" from time to time - but thanks to the great team MTC put together for this production, not to mention the fascinating historical tale it weaves, "The Columnist" is a winner.
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| 4 |
Gem of a play Review by: Legs, May 25, 2012 |
| Excellent, all around. John Lithgow is always great and he exceeds his best in this play. Do not miss!! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Perfect for those who love theater Review by: brooklyn lady, May 6, 2012 |
| Fell right into the play. Watch it without pulling it apart or seeing techniques stand out. No weak players. Acting all effortless. Script funny, polished and real. Just a joy of a play. Go see it if you love theater. |
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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, 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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