I don't know what's up with me, The New York Times, and plays at the American Airlines Theatre. I saw 2009 Tony non-nominee Hedda Gabler when it was at the theater and felt that it didn't deserve the harshness in Ben Brantley's review. I mean, it wasn't the greatest Hedda Gabler imaginable, but it was all right.
And now I have similar feelings about Sara Krulwich's review of 2009 non-nominee The Philanthropist Hedda Gabler's successor. If you read her review, you'll see that while she had understandable praise for the costuming and the performances of Jonathan Cake, Anna Madeley, and Steven Weber, she ultimately laid into the production for its "sheer dullness" and Matthew Broderick's turn in the title role.
My feelings about the production are similar to the ones I have about Hedda Gabler. I'd agree that Broderick's interpretation is problematic but I still enjoyed the play, including the performances of the aforementioned thespians as well as Jennifer Mudge and Tate Ellington, who round out the cast along with Samantha Soule, who does fine subtle work being reached over by Cake. (See it and you'll see what I mean.) I was intrigued by the play's quirky structure as it unfolded and I enjoyed the surprises and the humor, which includes some clever punning. There were some dull moments, but overall I found it worthwhile. I was also intrigued by similarities between characters in The Philanthropist and Hedda Gabler as well as similarities between The Philanthropist and the 2009 Tony-nominated production The Norman Conquests. Plus I love what the play has to say about...cigarettes!
Source (5:03)
Showing posts with label philanthropist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philanthropist. Show all posts
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
BREAKING: MICHAEL BLOOMBERG TO CONVERT TO CHRISTIAN FAITH
Days after New York City's mayor Michael Bloomberg filed forms to leave the Republican Party, the billionaire shocked the nation again by announcing that he was leaving Judaism to become Episcopalian.
"I have nothing against Judaism," Bloomberg assured reporters from a pulpit in Pasadena, California. "It's just that, after practicing Reform Judaism for my entire life, I have somehow reformed myself...into a Christian!"
Like many other well-known Republicans, Bloomberg has undergone a number of changes in recent years. Well-established as a businessman and life-long Democrat, he switched his political allegiance to the Republican Party around the time that he declared his intention to enter mayoral politics. As a "born-again" Republican and newly elected mayor of New York, Bloomberg showed his enthusiasm for his newly adopted and then-powerful political party through large contributions and mass arrests of peaceful demonstrators and passersby during the 2004 Republican Convention. Now in his second and final term as mayor, Bloomberg attracted national attention yesterday when, rudely interrupted by the press while idly passing time in California, he explained that he was abandoning the now-weakened Republican Party to better reflect his latest political leanings.
Bloomberg, who has stated that he pictures himself living a life of philanthropy after his mayorship ends, is said to have already shown characteristic largess to his new religious faith through seven-figure donations, an invitation for the church to hold its 2007 convention in New York City, and a pledge to arrest and detain hundreds of law-abiding citizens should the church accept his invitation.
There are, however, rumors that Bloomberg is actually considering a run for the Presidency as part of his preparation to become a full-time philanthropist. The whispers persist despite Bloomberg's constant evasions.
"I assure everyone that none of my plans for the future have changed. I'm the same Michael I've always been," said Bloomberg as he left for a lunch of roast beef, mayonnaise, and Wonder Bread sandwiches.
Photo: David Marc Fischer
Days after New York City's mayor Michael Bloomberg filed forms to leave the Republican Party, the billionaire shocked the nation again by announcing that he was leaving Judaism to become Episcopalian."I have nothing against Judaism," Bloomberg assured reporters from a pulpit in Pasadena, California. "It's just that, after practicing Reform Judaism for my entire life, I have somehow reformed myself...into a Christian!"
Like many other well-known Republicans, Bloomberg has undergone a number of changes in recent years. Well-established as a businessman and life-long Democrat, he switched his political allegiance to the Republican Party around the time that he declared his intention to enter mayoral politics. As a "born-again" Republican and newly elected mayor of New York, Bloomberg showed his enthusiasm for his newly adopted and then-powerful political party through large contributions and mass arrests of peaceful demonstrators and passersby during the 2004 Republican Convention. Now in his second and final term as mayor, Bloomberg attracted national attention yesterday when, rudely interrupted by the press while idly passing time in California, he explained that he was abandoning the now-weakened Republican Party to better reflect his latest political leanings.
Bloomberg, who has stated that he pictures himself living a life of philanthropy after his mayorship ends, is said to have already shown characteristic largess to his new religious faith through seven-figure donations, an invitation for the church to hold its 2007 convention in New York City, and a pledge to arrest and detain hundreds of law-abiding citizens should the church accept his invitation.
There are, however, rumors that Bloomberg is actually considering a run for the Presidency as part of his preparation to become a full-time philanthropist. The whispers persist despite Bloomberg's constant evasions.
"I assure everyone that none of my plans for the future have changed. I'm the same Michael I've always been," said Bloomberg as he left for a lunch of roast beef, mayonnaise, and Wonder Bread sandwiches.
Photo: David Marc Fischer
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