(no subject)

[snugs45.livejournal.com]

Thanks to Amy for all her hard work.
Here's another review (had to make a separate post kept getting spam message).

http://www.vulture.com/2016/02/theater-review-prodigal-son.html

There is this interesting bit at near the bottom:

Robert Sean Leonard as Hoffman does as much as possible with a character who doesn’t make much sense to us because Shanley, still seeing his teacher through a teenager’s eyes, cannot make sense of him either. That being the case, and knowing from the play that Hoffman, before he died, specifically asked Shanley not to write about him, I wonder whether this material was ill served, not just theatrically but morally, by its fully autobiographical treatment

I find it frustrating that the writer makes a statement and then leaves it hanging for us to contemplate any possible reasons. I wonder if those who've seen the play have any thoughts on this?

Posting this here as edit can't seem to add to list so will also add any other I find here. Please discofunction add to your original list

Have now deleted reviews that have been added to discofunction original list.
Will post any new ones I find any here.

Comments

[sassyjumper.livejournal.com]

I've only read the NY Times review, but it said basically the same thing -- that RSL did "his best" with a contradictory character. So there's probably something to this writer's view.

I'm really on the fence about seeing this now. A play centered on a 15-year-old boy doesn't hold much interest for me in the first place. Add to that the (seeming) self-indulgence of the playwright and ... Eh.

[snugs45.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the play but I would probably want to see it and judge for myself. Generally RSL has received very good reviews and I do think it's a part that suits his character. I wonder if John Shanley shared more than we know with him about Hoffman? Let us know if you decide to go and see it.

[discofunction.livejournal.com]

I expected RSL to get good reviews. Not because he's amazing... (he is!) but because it seems a character he could do in his sleep. It doesn't seem a very exciting roll for him to play. (Especially after playing Atticus, Henry Higgins, King Arthur, Hamlet in recent times!)

[discofunction.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I feel the same as you about the play. It was my initial feeling when I read the press release and from what I've read in the reviews, I don't feel any more excited about it.

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

Many of the reviews seem lukewarm. Frankly it sounds like Shanley could have used a beta reader. Chalamet may be a great budding actor but just from the descriptions I dislike his character. I doubt I'd see this one if I had the chance.

[discofunction.livejournal.com]

Hmmm this interesting. I don't really know what to make of it as we don't really know the bigger picture...

I haven't had chance to properly read the reviews as the kids are home and keeping me busy. But scanning briefly, they seem a bit luke warm. I didn't see anything negative but it doesn't look like it wowed either. The critics do seem to find RSL very capable though.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

Having seen the play, I agree completely. RSL's character is vague, and it's left for him to fill it out. He does, but as I wrote earlier, he didn't seem comfortable. There's a moment he sort-of-in-a-really-vague-maybe moment makes an inappropriate gesture toward the student, who freaks out. Then somehow he has to leave the school at the end. Does he try to have sex with students? It's so off the side of the desk it didn't register. And it was badly staged. RSL leaned forward from one side of the desk and tried to reach across the entire desk to touch the boy's cheek with his finger.

Watch the online previews instead. I'm glad I got to see him in person (yummy) but only go if you NEED to.

[discofunction.livejournal.com]

This is really interesting. Thank you for your insights! (Always prefer fans insights over critics reviews!)
It makes me wonder if RSL's discomfort stemmed from the material -as you say there is a hint to his character being inappropriate with students. Or whether he was just uncomfortable because of the clumsy direction?

[discofunction.livejournal.com]

snugs45 and cuddyclothes, I thought you may be interested in this review (http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/news/story.asp?ID=-L3RKI1).

Somewhat more intriguing is Alan Hoffman, the literature professor, who is Jim's main benefactor, tolerating his sometimes insufferable behavior for the sake of his "extraordinary mind." Without explicitly saying so, we are made to understand that Alan inhabits the closet, and may have played a role in the attempted suicide of another student. It's easy to see that he is smitten with Jim -- but Shanley leaves this potentially explosive situation to so late that, when it finally erupts, it fizzles. The character is so underwritten, and occupies so little of the play's short 90-minute running time, that one might legitimately wonder why an actor of Robert Sean Leonard's stature was drawn to it

They reviewer also seems frustrated by the vagueness of his character. It seems this story would be better placed in a lengthy novel than a 90 minute play! Like the reviewer, I do wonder what RSL's attraction to the part was. Maybe just being back at MTC was enough of a draw!

[snugs45.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. It's difficult to make a more informed comment here because I haven't seen the play and the written text is not available yet so there is no way I can come to any real understanding of what is going on, as apparently is the case for the reviewer here. It sits a little uneasily with me though that the person represented in the play is actually real, not just a fictional character. I would have thought that there would be people, even relatives, still alive who knew him or of him and yet Shanley appears to have opened a can of worms, without fully explaining any further. It lends a distinct feeling of unease and frustration to the play.

I agree that he would want to be back at MTC and it's not such a long run. Richard 11 an exciting prospect for later.

[discofunction.livejournal.com]

Posting this here as edit can't seem to add to list so will also add any other I find here. Please DISCOFUNCTION add to your original list

Thanks for all your help snugs45!!! -searching for all these reviews is so time consuming! It worked out well for me as I was unwell on opening night and couldn't sleep, so I got up early and thought I'd just round-up the reviews/pics before I had to deal with the kids! :-)

[snugs45.livejournal.com]

Your welcome. Hope you feel better now. It's that time of the year for picking up all sorts of bugs!!
If I come across any more I will add here.

Eta. Ha ha just read that again I mean reviews not bugs🐞

[discofunction.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I haven't got any bugs ;-) - I've had some ongoing problems with my ears/nose/throat and when it flares up, it causes horrible headaches. Not good for sleeping, but searching for RSL stuff online is wonderful distraction!

I will add the reviews you found to the list x