The Motherf**ker with the Hat
May. 30th, 2011 07:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jmc_bksTMwtH was funny and smart. The sets were good, the dialog was excellent, and some of the performances were sublime. Bobby Cannavale, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Yul Vasquez were excellent. Annabella Sciorra was pretty good, if subdued, although that may have been a function of her character.
The real draw back for me, surprisingly, was Chris Rock. I like his comedy usually. But TMwtH isn't a one-man show or a stand up routine. Rock never became Ralph D: he never stopped being Chris Rock -- his body language on stage was no different from the body language of a stand up show, his diction and delivery, all screamed stand up routine to me. If the key to a good theater performance is inhabiting the role, he failed.
I understand that Broadway likes to cast big name Hollywood stars in order to guarantee box office success (hello, Dan Radcliffe), and I don't begrudge that. It's a little unfortunate that the heart of this play is so outshone by other characters.
The real draw back for me, surprisingly, was Chris Rock. I like his comedy usually. But TMwtH isn't a one-man show or a stand up routine. Rock never became Ralph D: he never stopped being Chris Rock -- his body language on stage was no different from the body language of a stand up show, his diction and delivery, all screamed stand up routine to me. If the key to a good theater performance is inhabiting the role, he failed.
I understand that Broadway likes to cast big name Hollywood stars in order to guarantee box office success (hello, Dan Radcliffe), and I don't begrudge that. It's a little unfortunate that the heart of this play is so outshone by other characters.
Content wise, I appreciated the commentary on the struggle of a recovering addict who relapses despite the best intentions, especially in comparison to the seeming success of his sponsor.
