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The Scene Reviews
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“The Scene” isn’t bad by any means Review by: Tom, Feb 12, 2007 |
This four-hander revolves around an actor named Charlie (played by Tony Shaloub), his wife Stella (Patricia Heaton), Charlie's friend Lewis (Christopher Evan Welch) and a girl they meet at the downtown loft party that opens the play, Clea (Anna Camp). Clea comes across initially as a very dumb blonde, but turns out to have, if not hidden depths, at least hidden width. She seems to be in it for herself, but only in a vapid way -- then turns out ... read more to be in it for herself in a well-considered (if still shallow) way. Without giving too much away, Clea and Charlie are both pathologically narcissistic -- but in opposite ways. Clea feels she deserves everything, Charlie feels he deserves nothing.
The show is still in previews, so changes could be made, but my sense is the first act needs trimming, but act two generally moves well -- thanks in part to its in flagrante delicto opening scene that is quite a grabber visually, then moves quickly to establish that Clea has more going inside.
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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5 stars Review by: ROCCO, Jan 11, 2007 |
Excellent script, directing, casting, and sets.
Not a big money maker so it will probably go unnoticed. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Large Group
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| 3 |
More than a witty comedy, it's a dramedy Review by: www.stagestrucknyc.com, Dec 19, 2006 |
| This is a wicked comedy that combines elements of tragedy, and I really found the plot and characters deeply engaging. Shalhoub and Heaton are great on stage! Theresa Rebeck has turned her personal knowledge of 'the TV scene' into a convincing and moving script. |
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Wicked comedy is also an engaging drama Review by: www.stagestrucknyc.com, Dec 19, 2006 |
The Scene is a modern drawing-room comedy concerning the marriage of Charlie, played by Tony Shahloub as an aging TV actor whose career has waned, leaving him bitter and resentful, and his ever-capable wife and bread-winner Stella (played by Patricia Heaton). I really enjoyed this play, in large part because Rebeck has written such wonderful, credible roles for Shalhoub and Heaton. I was pleasantly surprised that these two ... read more TV stars deliver such capable and compelling stage performances. Christopher Evan Welch delivers an excellent performance as Lewis, Charlie's best friend. The explosive element comes from the fetching young woman Clea (Anna Camp) who arrives in NYC short on self-awareness but long on treachery and sexual wiles.
The play works well on several levels, as a wicked comedy and as a moral inquiry into marriage, friendship, loyalty, and personal responsibility. Thanks to the acting, direction, and Rebeck's writing, the play is completely engaging and engrossing. For the most part, the action and characters are fully credible, though I think that Clea's character is rather two dimensional compared with the greater humanity Rebeck has written into Charlie, Stella, and Lewis's roles. |
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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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