The play is a bit dated, but remains powerful. The struggle between the old warriors and the new young fighters is a constant. Leaving the theatre I overheard a young woman ask "couldn't they have made at least one of the characters a woman?" My first reaction was no - this was a man's world. My second reaction is still no, but if they had changed one character to a woman, they would also have had to change the industry, the time and essentially rewrite the play. I t could work with investment bakners today!
Grear cast all around. Albert Schulz was born to play the part of Richard Roma and he matched Eric Peterson as Shelley Levene perfectly. Peter Donaldson was superbly slimey as Dave Moss. Kevin Bundy was apologetically terrified and Jordan Pettle was superb as John Williamson - only at the end did you see how nasty he really was.
The last time we saw this play it was a Steppenwolf production and the lead part was played by a substitute who literally read his part, but acted it all the same. Both excellent versions, but I think I give Soul Pepper the edge.
Soulpepper is definitely better this season. That flat feeling on leaving the play that "I think that was a good play, well directed and acted, why don't I feel more?" seems to be gone.
ReplyDeleteThe cast was excellent. It was particularly good to see Shultz performing well, in the last few seasons he appeared to be phoning in his performances.
I don't find the play dated. The particular situation maybe but the dynamics could play out in all kind of times and places; the author just found one where the behaviour is particularly raw - no one bothers to smile when they slip in the knife, except perhaps the Pettle Character.