The Unbearable Banishment: why write jut one play when you are talented enough write a trilogy?

Monday, May 4, 2009

why write jut one play when you are talented enough write a trilogy?

You would think that seven hours of theater would be too much to tolerate but if the reviews are to be believed, it’s not enough.

CB and I saw The Norman Conquests at the Circle in the Square on Broadway. It's an Old Vic comedy from London. It comprises three interlocking plays; Table Manners, Living Together and Round and Round the Garden. They can be seen in any order as a trilogy. Each play is also a self-contained story that can be viewed individually. HOW CLEVER IS THAT?

It’s British author Alan Ayckbourn's take on a contemporary rake (Norman) who tries his damnedest to bed three sisters. It matters not a whit that two are his sisters-in-law. We saw Round and Round the Garden and it was gut-busting funny from start to finish. AGAIN with the British authors! Wha?! Is it in the water? Something to do with the Thames?

I’d love to see the other two parts of the trilogy but there are so many other great shows to see that I’m not sure I’ll get around to it. The 2008-09 theater season in New York has been extraordinary. This is going to be remembered as a golden age for plays. Not musicals. Plays. (Although the revivals of Hair and West Side Story are suppose to be great. CB loved Hair and, unlike me, he has standards, so that’s saying something.)

It’s been one great show opening after another. The writing has never been stronger and you can see big celebs with top-notch acting chops on stage, which is always a treat. Jane Fonda, David Hyde Pierce, Allison Janney, James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, Brian Dennehy, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels, Angela Lansbury, Rupert Everett, Cynthia Nixon and many others are currently tripping the lights. C’mon down!

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6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Damn... quite the rogue's gallery of actors. it must be great to be so close to so many choices of theater. meanwhile, i think i'll wander over to the local high school's theater production...

May 5, 2009 at 5:08 PM  
Blogger Barlinnie said...

James Gandolfini, now why do I feel as though I know one of his more recent characters so well?

Interesting post.

May 5, 2009 at 5:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

love the 'stand alone/trilogy' concept. has to be a master to pull that off... (sigh) gotta get my sorry ass to NYC. soon.

May 5, 2009 at 7:01 PM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

Gnu: Support your local theater! Great to be here except for the noise, dirt, crowds, $$$, etc.

Jimmy: That Gandolfini play, God of Carnage, is a tough ticket. He's suppose to be great in it.

Daisy: Get your sorry ass here and I'll give you a tour.

May 5, 2009 at 9:39 PM  
Blogger Ellie said...

I need to start going to the theatre more.

May 6, 2009 at 7:50 AM  
Blogger Sid said...

The only play I've ever seen was the Full Monty. The acting sucked ass. Their accents kept changing.

May 7, 2009 at 7:23 AM  

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