Latino Broadway news, reviews

The Heiress (Broadway Review)

Venezuelan Tony Award nominated playwright and director Moisés Kaufman brings ‘The Heiress’ back for the fourth time after 17 years to Broadway. This dramatic play takes place in 1850, in a New York City’s Washington Square house; it is charming with hints of comedy, romance and innocence. The play written by Ruth Goetz and Augustus Goetz in 1947 was adapted from Henry James’ 1880 novel titled “Washington Square”.  It transports the public to a sophisticated, rich household where we experience the relationships among a couple of individuals that are trying to cope with life, society and their roles and duties in them. The story is captivating and engrossing as it progresses and one easily connects and has sympathy for the characters and their happenings. The two hour and forty-five minute show opened on November 1st and will stick around for 18 weeks (until Feb 10, 2013).

The story rotates around Dr. Austin Sloper (David Strathairn) and his daughter Catherine (Jessica Chastain), after her birth he was left widowed and he raised a daughter he resents and feels like she never amounts to his expectations. Fortunately for him, his sister Lavinia Penniman (Judith Ivey) a recent widow, stays with them to help his daughter be more social. The perfect opportunity presents itself when his other sister Elizabeth Almond (Caitlin O’Connell) brings her daughter Marian (Molly Camp) and her fiancé Arthur Townsend (Kieran Campion), who wisely brings along his well-traveled charming cousin Morris Townsend (Dan Stevens) for a visit. In this scenario shy Catherine must cope with love and the weight her fortune as an heiress brings.   

The entire play takes place on the same setting, the lavish decorated living room of the Sloper household. The drapes around the windows let the public as well as the ladies’ beautiful dresses. Of course once we find out they have a house on Washington Square Park, an expensive location; that says it all, then enters Maria (Virginia Kull) the family’s uniformed maid. Finally, the Walter Kerr Theater itself captivates the elegance needed for this story.

Act one and two complement each other masterfully; in act one we get to meet all the characters with ease and no confusion, they sit around the living room entertaining us with their stories and commentaries on their lives, society, hopes and dreams. It is easy to perceive how Dr. Sloper feels about his daughter as he speaks freely about her and how disappointed he is that she’ll never be who he wants her to be. Catherine on the other hand shows the public her shy side when she interacts with everyone, except with her aunt Lavinia, where she’s more open and even teases her. There’s a contrast and tension on the second act that builds upon the first, changing the atmosphere and the characters themselves in an interesting way. The play explores, mashes and twists the elements of human nature, society, innocence, respect and romance magically.

Every single character contributes to the story: Strathairn playing a doctor automatically not only has a high status in society because of his job and money, but because of the importance his role has in everyone’s lives; although he’s compassionate at the same time we see how distant he’s with his daughter. With his great acting he uses humor and cruel words to expresses himself and entertain the public. Chastain outshines them all, she’s phenomenal! Her character is so profound and has so many layers that every time she leaves us wondering what she’ll say or do next, she’s makes us laugh at her awkward shyness and the audience has the chance to really grow with her. This actress who’s been in movies such as ‘The Help’, ‘Lawless’ and soon ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ has so much talent that it was a pleasure seeing her up on that stage.

Ivey is also a crucial part of the play as she’s the bridge between a daughter and father; she also connects the two lovers once their romance begins. Her charisma really gives the play an appreciated lightness, along with the homey feeling of a caring aunt one can confide in. Everything comes full circle with Stevens and his character that easily captures the audience’s attention and keeps us wondering about his intentions and true nature.

Kull’s Irish accent is a little off putting at times, as it feels very exaggerated and at the begining some of the characters sound like they have English accents with the over pronunciation. A warning that in two instances in the play there’s some cigar smoke that actually reaches the audience from the stage, although there’s a vent it’s a bold action to take in an enclosed space.

My favorite thing about the play is the way it transforms itself with the story in such a smooth and fluid form. I was fully entertained for all of its duration and really enjoyed it in its entirety. It’s very easy to sympathize with the characters, especially with Chastain, as she slowly gets to the audience with her strong performance especially towards the end. She represents the challenges of being a woman that was born with a status she’s expected to earn. This is a coming of age story that surely entertains and some people will be a bit shocked by the honest feelings and actions taken by the characters.

‘The Heiress’ is playing at the Walter Kerr Theater for more info go to:

http://www.ilovenytheater.com/sp/show.php?show=375

http://www.theheiressonbroadway.com/

An Enemy of the People (Broadway Review)

‘An Enemy of the People’ is a very interesting political thriller, which although it was written in 1882 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen it easily resonates with today’s politics and society.  The Manhattan Theatre Club’s production gave it a new spin thanks to Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s new version. The first part of the act was the most entertaining to me, as it developed what the story is about and who the characters are in a very simple but yet captivating way. The second part really deals with the core of the play giving it more dynamism and a lot more for the public to think about. This Broadway show wisely explores corruption in politics, morals, family vs. community and even democracy.

This two hour Broadway show, which had its opening night on September 27, 2012, takes place in a coastal town in southern Norway. Where Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Boyd Gaines) discovers that the biggest income to his community, which is very appealing to tourists is toxic. As an important member of his town he soon tell his brother, Mayor Peter Stockmann (Richard Thomas) who believes the news will make the town go into chaos. The difference of opinion creates a political confrontation of will and personal ethics. 

A rotating stage was used for this play; most of the scenes take place inside the house of Dr. Thomas Stockmann. As the stage rotates we get to go from the Dr.’s living room/dining room to his study, a newspaper printing press and a town hall. Director Doug Hughes Tony Award winner knows how to use the Samuel J. Friedman Theater properly as he even uses the main corridor for one of the scenes, where the public gets to be an interactive part of the play.

The main two actors: Gaines and Thomas are terrific! Gaines has the soul of a fighter and the character of a mad scientist that’s willing to put his job on the line for his ethics and beliefs. Thomas is your typical politician who isn’t afraid to step over anyone’s head as long as he gets his way. Maïté Alina (Petra Stockmann) is given the opportunity to be a strong woman in a world where very few are considered academics but certainly not equals; she gives a solid performance as a daughter and a feminist. Kathleen McNenny (Catherine Stockmann) gives the most balance to the play, since she’s torn between what’s right for her family or her community and she makes the transition quite smoothly.

John Procaccino (Hovstad) plays a very interesting role as a liberal whose ideas are shaky, he represents someone many people might know in their own lives and this is what makes him interesting. Gerry Bamman (Aslaksen) surprisingly brings a lot of comedy to the play, while at the same time representing the majority of the people.

Honestly I enjoyed the first act the most since I was easily submerged into the story and although there’s a moment where you don’t quite know what’s going on, when the act reaches its highest point it’s hard to let go. The second part has a lot more humor in it, while it is also darker and more brutal. The story is able to play with your mind and make you question your own ethics as it raises a lot of questions about what’s best for a community and the principles of democracy. It shows how easily the masses are swayed, especially under the wrong leadership. The struggle between the individual and the multitude are appealing as it is relevant in any period of human history.

I can’t say I agree with some of what is stated by the characters in the play, but I do appreciate the fact that it makes you think, because it dares to push the envelop by speaking directly to the public. It makes you look at the way our society is now, even if this is a play from 1882 written in a Scandinavian nation it fits in perfectly in any political setting in the world.

MTC’s ‘An Enemy of the People‘ is playing in The Samuel J. Fiedman Theater for more info go to:

http://www.ilovenytheater.com/sp/show.php?show=368

http://anenemyofthepeoplebroadway.com/tickets.html