Voyage

If you are just dying to see something breathtakingly beautiful and auspiciously obtuse, Voyage at Lincoln Center (Part One of the Coast of Utopia trilogy) is just the show for you!  Of course, I've heard it's sold out already, so good luck. 

Mostly I'm kidding about the obtuse part, (kind of) but if you aren't feeling up to speed on Russian History and the theoretical philosophies of Kant and Hegel, you might want to arrive early to read the lengthy program insert so you can actually figure out what the heck the characters are talking about.  I meant to get there early and read everything I could to prepare, I really did ~ but first there was an awesome make-up sale nearby and then I ran into an old friend before I knew it the ushers were herding me into the house.

Regardless of my lack of preparation, the show was phenomenal.  Two hours and forty-odd minutes flew by, if you can believe it (philosophical references and all) and I am already eagerly anticipating the next two segments of this Tom Stoppard trilogy (hey, Steph, follow that link back there and check out the next trilogy Stoppard's tackling, this time on film).   

The amazing scenery and dramatic lighting of this play deserve extra-special credit for spellbinding the audience from the get-go.  Act I's beginning sequence, a powerful assult of light and sea and motion and people, blew me away.  The dangling ice castle greeting us in Act II received it's very own round of applause.  Sure, I have a history of entanglement with theatrical scenery and lighting so you might just assume I noticed it more than most.  Trust me ~ everyone appreciated it.  The production was artistically stunning.

Of course, a cast boasting Ethan Hawke, Martha Plimpton, Amy Irving and Billy Crudup guarantees a full house, even if the show were a dissertation on the redeeming qualities of cat poop.  Luckily for us all, Stoppard's jaunty script provoked far more interest and humor and kept the audience closer to the edge of their seats than any litterbox chatter I've encountered recently. 

My only hesitation about this production is that I fear some unprepared attendees might be left behind by the content of certain passages of dialog, studded as it is with historical references and constant name dropping (I found myself on the cusp of confusion several times, I will admit), but the clarity of the the delivery and remarkable acting, on the whole, are enough to keep us engaged in the storyline.   I'd love to attend again to revisit some of the scenes ~ I'm sure I missed a lot.

Following the time-line of the tale poses yet another challenge.  Act II repeats a similar time-line to Act I, but is set in a different location.  Events and births and deaths overlap, but you can follow along well enough if you pay close attention to the lovely calligraphy passing over scrims on stage that update you as to the passage of time.

Luckily, I was able to attend on Richard Easton's first night back after recovering from the heart attack he suffered on stage during the first preview!  His performance betrayed nothing of his absence or illness and during the curtain call, many audience members cheered and tossed flowers to the stage in recognition of his return.

Ethan Hawke's voice grated and graveled more than usual (which was actually kind of sexy), possibly due to the demands of eight performances a week in addition to a grueling rehearsal schedule.  Either that or he needs to cut back on the smoking.

Martha Plimpton, along with much of the ensemble (not Ethan Hawke, alas), ventured out to dish with the Young Patrons at a reception after the performance.  She was very friendly, laughed a lot and is SO TINY! 

Damn, I need a new camera.

Find tickets if you can.  If you can't, go see Parts Two and Three anyway.

Comments

[gleek]

wahoo! thanks for the link katie! god, i can't wait to see that movie :)

your reviews are so much fun to read.. even for someone who almost never gets out to plays!

[mary lou]

Thanks for your kind comments on my blankies. And I wish I could see the play at Lincoln Center. I LOVE Tom Stoppard. I do miss being in NY (I'm living in MN) for many things. Lucky for me, there is fantastic theater here.

And I hope you are well after your incident in Times Square. Sorry to say that it happens everywhere. I had a baseball bat wielding drunk smash my windows out one night. Very midwestern apple pie, huh? But as Jane says, there will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere...

[MeBeth]

Hmmm, I think I might be feeling a little too sleepy to handle auspiciously obtuse today. Perhaps after a good night's sleep and a bit of trolling through the old philosophy notes from college I'll be up for it.