13 replies to this topic

[Suzanne F]

In the immortal words of splinky:

You're not the boss of me.

[Sneakeater]

I think David Ives's work is, on the whole, terrific.

[Lippy]

My impression: Impressive performances in a play with a complex and interesting structure, but more interesting for what it says about the nature of theater than it does about the nature of male-female relationships...of a certain kind.

[Suzanne F]

I think David Ives's work is, on the whole, terrific.

We used to, too (did you see New Jerusalem?) but we have to qualify that now to "mostly terrific."


Lippy is absolutely right. As a play about the theater, it works brilliantly. As a play with a story, feh.

But I disagree with what Ranitidine said to us: I think the whole thing is the ultimate hetero male fantasty/nightmare. And Paul agreed with that.

[Rail Paul]

My impression: Impressive performances in a play with a complex and interesting structure, but more interesting for what it says about the nature of theater than it does about the nature of male-female relationships...of a certain kind.

Exceptionally impressive acting. Nina Arianda's leaps from comic to claws extended were jaw dropping for me. I liked the play. It made a lot of difficult transitions, and some were visible only in retrospect.

At the Samuel J. Friedman theater, discounts available.

[Rail Paul]

The NY Times liked it...

NY Times

[bloviatrix]

My impression: Impressive performances in a play with a complex and interesting structure, but more interesting for what it says about the nature of theater than it does about the nature of male-female relationships...of a certain kind.

Exceptionally impressive acting. Nina Arianda's leaps from comic to claws extended were jaw dropping for me. I liked the play. It made a lot of difficult transitions, and some were visible only in retrospect.

At the Samuel J. Friedman theater, discounts available.

There was a good profile about Arianda in The New Yorker earlier this month.

[Rail Paul]

Playbill notes that this play will be staged at the Lyceum Theater through early June. This presentation will be in a for-profit context.

Venus in Fur, David Ives' dark comedy about a director auditioning a mysterious actress for a stage adaptation of an erotic novel, begins a commercial run at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre Feb. 7 following its Manhattan Theatre Company-produced not-for-profit Broadway debut in fall 2011. That limited run ended Dec. 18. Its stars — Nina Arianda and Hugh Dancy — have now reunited.

Begins February 7

[Sneakeater]

I agree with Rantidine and Paul.

[Sneakeater]

I saw it a second time. The first time, I couldn't figure out what Hilton Als referred to as the "lame subplots" about who Vanda is actually supposed to be. Charles Isherwood said in his Times review:

I’m not sure Mr. Ives himself has settled firmly on a resolution to the play’s central mystery — the motives and identity of the elusive Vanda — but who cares?

This second time through, though, it seemed absolutely clear to me that Vanda is supposed to be the actual goddess Aphrodite, come to punish Thomas for his misogyny and repression.

Did anyone else notice this?

[nuxvomica]

ah, i'm dying to see it but there is so much going on and when there isn't, i'm recovering from the craziness. hopefully i'll get there by July

[Sneakeater]

I think it's closing in June.

[nuxvomica]

I think it's closing in June.

thanks. June 17. sigh

[Rail Paul]

I think it's closing in June.

thanks. June 17. sigh

Unfortunately, the show might not make it that far. grosses under 50% are rarely a good indicator of a long run on or off Broadway