Tracy Letts' play about a dysfunctional family in Oklahoma. (Catch the national tour — or the rumored movie — because a drama with 13 roles isn't going to be widely produced by professional theaters.)
Other finalists were “Yellow Face” by David Henry Hwang and “Dying City” by Christopher Shinn.
Hwang's play is reprinted in this month's *American Theatre* magazine. It has a rounded shape, with the Chinese "big song" allusions. After the Jonathan Pryce in *Miss Saigon* casting fiasco, Hwang "accidentally" (?) cast a Caucasian actor in an Asian role in one of his own plays.
He's willing to make fun of himself. Great scene near the end with a hostile N.Y. Times reporter; the vengeance of the creative artist.
I was two years ahead of Hwang at Stanford, but I'm pretty sure that he has caught up and passed me now. Ya think?
I'd like to see *Dying City* in performance — a virtuoso piece for the actor who gets to play twin brothers — I didn't think it read very well.
On Feb. 22, Tracy Letts' father Dennis — who originated the patriarch role of Beverly Weston both in Chicago and on Broadway, and who was playing the role on Broadway at the time — died of lung cancer. He was 73. Until near the end, he'd been doing eight shows a week.
ReplyDeleteIt's a roller coaster of an evening. At 3 and 1/2 hours with two intermissions it's definitely the longest night I've ever spent in the theatre.
ReplyDeleteBut it doesn't feel that long. It moves so quickly and at times so surprisingly you can't help but be completely involved.
Definitely worth seeing both Amy Morton and Deana Dunagan if you can. I'm sure they won't be offered the rumored movie but they are both superb.