I don't call this a review as I know, for a fact, I haven't processed nearly enough of what I experienced at The Coast of Utopia marathon at the Vivien Beaumont Theater this past Shabbat. --But it might generally characterize the experiences at Very Special.
The play is so amazingly densely written that I was quite overwhelmed by the torrent of language -- and the duration of it. I arrived at the theater at 10:00a and left the grounds of Lincoln Center @ ~11:00p.
Looking around the lobby, I realized that, whatever the ground zero of Stoppardia might be, tonight and right now it was at the Beaumont.
By the third scene of the first act of the first play, Voyage, one realizes this experience will be Great.
For me, I was also instructed on a key difference between literature and theater: in literature, one may pause, contemplate, and ruminate. In theater, one must just hang on.
I was also impressed by the range of emotions Mr. Stoppard works with. During the first and second play, Shipwreck, I fell in love and had my heart broken into two.
We had impromptu yoga in the hall behind the seats, where the lockers are. I used it a lot between acts and shows.
I only ate two pears, drank three hot teas and three eight-ounce glasses of water.
It was cold but not unbearable. I spent about half my time outside and half in during breaks.
Ethan Hawke has a great role, Bakunin, and he makes the most of it. Billy Crudup was Belinsky and beloved. He carried much of the weight for the required number of Stoppard Self-Referential Sermons (monologues) about Writing and Art. Jennifer Ehle was the love of my life and the fire of my etc. Brian F. O'Byne was brilliant as Herzen.
It's interesting to consider that the American production of the play went through some significant cutting. Reading the play, The Coast of Utopia
I would do it again and whole-heartedly recommend the experience to anyone.
