TIME STANDS STILL
Laura Linney was mesmerizing as Sarah, a photojournalist recovering from injuries sustained "on the job" from a roadside bombing and the impact that follows on her personal life. Her partner is Jamie, a freelance writer (Brian d'Arcy James) who also sustained injuries of his own, although not physical ones. Rounding out the cast is Eric Bogosian as Sarah's editor (and previous lover) and Alicia Silverstone, as the editor's newest and much younger girlfriend.

They are all excellent as the play reveals worries and desires and what each character wants or needs (not necessarily the same thing) out of life. All excellent but Linney about 6 cuts above them all. The acting was better than the play, and the play was quite good.

ERNEST IN LOVE
A musical version of one of my all time favorite plays, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST. Being musicalized did not add anything to the play, but happily it also did not dilute all that is delightful about the play. And having a musical gave the audience the chance to see Noah Racey dance a bit (it's a pretty small stage).

But best of all was a chance to see Beth Fowler as Lady Augusta Bracknell. Ellen spotted her as we were waiting in the lobby for the doors to open. she looked lovely, very trim. Ellen told her we were "regulars" from the Imperial during the 2003-2004 season, and Ms. Fowler smiled and commented about her "going to Rio" nightly.

Margie

I'm glad you were able to enjoy a double header of theater on your birthday, Margie--and that I could share the theater-filled day with you. Linney was fantastic, wasn't she? Every nuance, expression and line reading conveyed lots of meaning beyond the dialogue and greatly added to the experience. For those curious: d'Arcy James' eyebrows are still the 9th wonder of the world, LOL.

ERNEST was indeed cute and frothy. As Margie said, it was a treat to be within a foot or two--literally--of Noah Racey's light-as-air flying feet. His dance with a coatrack was an outright steal from Fred Astaire's classic bit in ROYAL WEDDING, but it was so charming, who cares? Fun to chat for a few seconds with Beth Fowler. I loved her response because as she spoke her face lit up, and you could tell she was reliving and treasuring the memory of that "great year" when she "went to Rio every night." Well, look whom she traveled with.

Ellen

I'd love to see both of these - the non-musical Ernest is an all time fave of mine.

...but Margie - you went on the *wrong* night.

quote:

Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman attended the February 4 performance of the Irish Repertory Theatre's acclaimed revival of the musical Ernest in Love.

Yep, a miss for both Ellen and me.

Ah well, at least this way I actually watched the play, LOL.

Nice to know Hugh went to visit his TBFO mum.

Margie

I'll bet they had a nice post-show chat. She was always very fond of him. I'll never forget one stage door conversation I had with her relatively early on in the run of TBFO. She said something like, "Hugh, oh, my....I love being on stage with Hugh...but I have to be his MOTHER?!"

I knew what she meant, LOL.

Ellen