Ended:
June 16, 2002
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Signature Theater Company
Theater Type:
off-Broadway
Theater:
Signature Theater Company at Peter Norton Space
Theater Address:
555 West 42nd St
Phone:
(212) 244-PLAY
Genre:
Drama
Director:
Michael Greif
Review:
I generally love John Guare's writing for both stage and film, but you can't win `em all. A Few Stout Individuals, his new take on a dying, debt-ridden Ulysses S. Grant and the question of who will write his memoirs, starts with a stiff opening with nothing happening and then dives into repetitious banter and haranguing, much by an acerbic Mark Twain, which is painful to watch. Although the acting is professional, with an outstanding Donald Moffat as Grant, and director Michael Greif tries his best, the effect is stultifying, one of the least interesting plays of recent times, and I felt trapped until I could escape at intermission, which I did.
Cast:
Polly Holliday, Tom McGowan, Donald Moffat (Grant), William Sadler, Charles Brown (Harrison), T.J. Kenneally (Fred), Cheryl Evans (Adelina).
Technical:
Set: Allen Moyer; Costumes: Gabriel Berry.
Other Critics:
TOTALTHEATER Jason Clark ?
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
May 2002
