December 09, 2005

Gabriel Byrne draws raves in 'Touch of the Poet'

Actor Gabriel Byrne today elicts nearly unanimous raves for his opening night performance in the revival of Eugene O'Neill's "A Touch of the Poet." The play is scheduled to run through Jan. 29.

From the reviews:

Hollywood Reporter - "Again stepping into the theatrical shoes of the late Jason Robards, Gabriel Byrne delivers a sterling performance in this Roundabout Theater Company revival of Eugene O'Neill's masterpiece, unseen on Broadway for nearly 30 years."

New York Times - "Con the poseur has become the part he plays; so has Mr. Byrne the actor. And the audience has been allowed a rare glimpse of a thrilling process: an actor's taking hold of the reins of a runaway role and riding it for all it's worth. From that point on, Mr. Byrne remains in full gallop. Unfortunately, since no one else in this undercast, underdirected production begins to match his pace, the last line of the aforementioned verse from Byron takes on an unintended appropriateness: "This is to be alone - This, this is solitude!"

New York Post - "From his first posturing and preening, all given the shrewd distancing of an alcoholic glaze, through to his final, bloody and vainglorious defeat, Byrne never puts a note in the wrong place, or casts a glance in the wrong direction. This is superb acting that represents Broadway at its rarely exalted best."

Variety - "While it feels initially as stodgy as the rhetoric-spouting, alcoholic windbag driving the action, this distinguished production builds into a commandingly theatrical experience as director Doug Hughes and his cast patiently uncover the play's majestic mournfulness."

Newsday - "But the drama -- completed in 1942 but not staged until five years after the great playwright's death in 1953 -- is less a discovery than a long day's journey in a long hairshirt of a script."

Daily News - "Director Doug Hughes has led a splendid cast, headed by Gabriel Byrne, in a revival that makes the seldom-revived "Poet" seem one of O'Neill's richest and most satisfying plays."

USA Today - "As played by Gabriel Byrne in the Roundabout Theatre Company's bracing new production of Poet, which opened Thursday at Studio 54, he may tickle your funny bone, but he'll ultimately break your heart."

"Touch of the Poet" plays at Studio 54, located at 254 W. 54th St., map.

December 9, 2005 10:57 AM in Broadway

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