It's had mixed reviews but maybe that's because some folks were expecting so much from it. Odet's The Country Girl is, however, a really good play - certainly better than his Awake And Sing! which was at the Almeida last year - and it's hard to imagine a finer production than this. To my mind, Mike Nichols wrings everything out of it and his leads subtly suggest so much. If anything, it's too subtle for Broadway, although the rather crafty scene-changes make up for that. To begin with I wasn't sure about the usually-luminous Frances McDormand, but as you come to know the character, you realise why she's so buttoned-up. It's all very deliberately and carefully played, and makes for the least overtly showy perfomance I've ever seen by a 'star' onstage. And Morgan Freeman is an incredibly winning, endearing presence. The biggest suprise though was Peter Gallagher who is just excellent in it. Nothing you've seen him in prepares you for this. The only shame seems to be that Odet rather rushes a passage in the second act where two of the characters suddenly find some sort of solace together - that stops it being a truly great play, but nonetheless it seems a very good one to me. I'd be intrigued to see Spacey doing it over here as I think it'd suit him hugely and would rein in some of the vampiness he's delivered in recent roles. Definitely worth seeing if you're in NYC.
Page 1 of 1
- You cannot start a new topic
-
This topic is locked
The Country Girl
Rate Topic:
|
|
Promote to Article
