It's time to rev up the ole pointe shoes for the fall season. Vroom vroom vroom. Let's poke some holes in those tailpipes to make sure that everybody can hear that the ballet is taking over Lincoln Center once again. However . . .
. . . if anyone is looking to cram a little extra into his or her ballet schedule, Haglund highly recommends a short swim across the Milstein Pond to the Beaumont Theater to experience the brilliance of Robert Downey, Jr. as McNeal in Bartlett Sher's new riveting production. What an evening of innovative, carefully written, intelligent theater! It's hard to believe that last night was Downey's debut in a Broadway theater. He has crafted enormous detail into his characterization of the Nobel winning author whose life crumbles before our eyes. Didn’t want him to walk out of any scene. The production makes extremely clever use of Artificial Intelligence while probing the downside of AI and how it can wreck people’s lives. Incredible use of technology to further the story as opposed to substituting for a weak script as so many other shows do. At the end, the audience gets confused about what is real and what is AI. Andrea Martin is fantastic as McNeal's literary agent. Great chemistry between the two.
McNeal runs through November 24th, but see it right away because you'll want to see it again!
Bravo LCT - the best of Broadway again!
Thank you for posting this, Haglund. I have purchased a ticket to see this thanks to you!
Posted by: EmilyKVal | September 09, 2024 at 03:28 PM
Great! Enjoy!
Posted by: Haglund | September 09, 2024 at 03:30 PM
Haglund, any thoughts on the upcoming NYCB Fall Season? I really like the programming and am excited to see Coppelia!
Posted by: Laura | September 11, 2024 at 11:07 PM
Ha! I have A LOT of tickets, Laura.
I'm looking forward to Coppelia, too, but I'm a little disappointed that Emma Von Enck was not cast as Swanilda. Holding this dancer back for years from roles like Aurora and Swanilda, in which she could conceivably stand at the pinnacle, in favor of some whose interpretations are predictable with twice-baked charm is not the NYCB-way. At least, it hasn't been up until now. But I'm sure the ballet will be enjoyable no matter who is on stage.
Posted by: Haglund | September 12, 2024 at 06:03 AM
I was disappointed too, especially since one slot went to Erica P., who I feel should be taken out of this role, and others, to let newcomers shine. In any event, I believe Emma did learn Coppelia with Peter Walker, so hopefully she'll be up next time! And she most certainly should be cast as Aurora next go around as well.
Posted by: Laura | September 21, 2024 at 12:20 PM