Oscar E Moore

I don’t think that this review will sell many tickets.  But with Adam Driver as its star attraction – live and in person, close up and personal – does it matter?  I think not.  The run is almost sold out!

Now, I was anxious to see Mr. Driver once again on stage.  Even Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre where he is now performing a revival of this mundane muted semi-amusing affair written by Kenneth Lonergan.

I did my research.  I reviewed Adam Driver on four separate occasions.  All favorably.  On Broadway.

Mrs. Warren’s Profession 10/4/2010 – Adam Driver, “who is by far the best male member of the cast.  He has a wonderful, reserved humor and honesty about him.”

Man and Boy 10/17/11 – “a fine Adam Driver” as the son of Gregor Antonescu – Frank Langella.

Look Back in Anger 2/11/12 – “Cliff, their boarder – a brutish and sexy Adam Driver lolls around the floor reading the Sunday papers, checking for lice and openly flirting with Alison – the wife – a ravishing Sarah Goldberg.

Burn This – 4/23/19

There is something overpowering about him.  His size.  His charisma.  His talent.  His look.  His way with words.  At first off-putting and then as the relationship between he and Anna develops – despite Pale being a married guy with kids and a cocaine habit, things unexpectedly get out of hand we see a softer and more mature person emerge.  It’s quite a performance.  Especially his first shot out of a canon entrance.  And no one wears a mini silk Kimono as does Adam Driver.

And now, HOLD ON TO ME DARLING.  A case of be careful what you wish for.  Strings McCrane, Country western singer and movie star is rich and famous.  Dressed in black with large hat he looks very much like Richard Boone in Have Gun – Will Travel an old TV series.

Strings has all that he has wished for.  Except peace of mind.  Mama has unexpectedly passed over.  And he is bereft.  Looking for…well he does keep looking for over three hours in this Neil Pepe directed opus.  That’s about a hundred bucks an hour if you pay top price for a ticket to see Adam Driver and company.

In the process we meet his always efficient assistant Jimmy (an excellent Keith Nobbs) his brother Duke (CJ Wilson) who runs a General Store and likes his brew.

And a couple of gals.  Nancy, a massage therapist with a determined twang who allows us to view her at work with Adam Driver down to his black undies and socks – revealing a chiseled, muscular over six feet of body and his once or was it twice removed Kissing Cousin Essie (Adelaide Clemens) a softer version of Nancy who reunite in the funeral home while visiting mama in her open coffin.

Oh, who to choose?  Oh what to do?  While his film company tries to sue him for a no-show.

Frankly, my dear I did not give a damn – looking forward to meeting the mysterious Mitch (Frank Wood) who finally appears in the last fifteen minutes of this overlong quasi-drama.  Too bad he immediately reminded me of Art Carney.

How I wished it was the ghost of Mama who returned to have a face-to-face long overdue conversation with her son Strings.  Now that would have made the long and lazy afternoon worthwhile.

After all this is theater and an after-life visit could happen and liven up the proceedings.

The elaborate turntable set that almost overpowers the actors (all but Adam) is the fine work of Walt Spangler.  Slow but moving.

ONLY THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2024

PHOTO:  Julieta Cervantes

Tags: No Comments