Mark Twain is very much alive; the rumors of his death are premature. His play, Is He Dead?, adapted by David Ives, has opened on Broadway, and it's hilarious. It's a classic melodrama, mustache-twirling villain and all, a real comedy romp, full of wit in the writing, directing by Michael Blakemore, and performance by a team of master farceurs including John McMartin, Michael McGrath, Byron Jennings, David Pittu and the great Norbert Leo Butz, who brings farce to the stratosphere as he plays an artist in mufti and, because of a plot complication (an artist's work is worth more if he's dead) in drag as his own sister. The great cast, Peter J. Davison's tall, tall artist's loft set with lots of classic doors, Martin Pakledinaz's perfect costumes and Peter Kaczorowski's lighting all lift Is he Dead? to comic heights not seen since Lend Me a Tenor. Don't go unless you want to laugh a lot.
Previews:
November 8, 2007
Opened:
December 9, 2007
Ended:
closed
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Bob Boyett, Roger Berlind, Daryl Roth, Jane Bergere, E. Morten/P. Robbins, J. O'Boyle-R. Stevens, Roy Miller, Sonia Friedman Productions/Ambassador Theater Group, Tim Levy.
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
Lyceum Theater
Theater Address:
149 West 45 Street
Genre:
Farce
Director:
Michael Blakemore
Review:
Cast:
Norbert Leo Butz (Millet), John McMartin, Jeremy Bobb, Marylouise Burke, Patricia Connolly, Jenn Gambatese, Byron Jennings, Michael McGrath, David Pittu, Bridget Regan, Tom Alan Robbins.
Technical:
Set: Peter J. Davison; Costumes: Martin Pakledinaz; Lighting: Peter Kaczorowski
Other Critics:
PERFORMING ARTS INSIDER David Lefkowitz 12/07 !
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
December 2007
