April 24, 2009

'Norman Conquests' Broadway reviews smashing, baby

In an already strong Broadway season, “Norman Conquests” just climbed to the top of the heap.

The Old Vic’s revival of the Alan Ayckbourn’s ’70s-era comedies opened on Broadway Thursday night, greeted with excellent reviews from all quarters. “The Norman Conquests” is made up of three distinct comedies — “Table Manners,” “Living Together” and “Round and Round the Garden” — which stand up on their own individually. However, many of the reviewers recommend the all-day Saturday marathons when you can see all three in one go. The plays are all set in the same English country house over the course of a weekend, cast with the same characters throughout.

“The Norman Conquests” plays through July 25 at the Circle In The Square Theatre, located at 1633 Broadway, map. The price to see all three plays in one day is $255. Individually, the cost is $107 or $112; premium seats are $152 and $177. Student rush tickets are available at the box office for $27.

The plays are recommended for ages 12 and up.

Excerpts from the “Noman Conquests” reviews:
Wall Street Journal - “This 1973 triptych of plays about the travails of a suburban family is one of the 20th century’s comic masterpieces, and the Old Vic’s production is as good a staging as you’re likely to see in your lifetime.”

New York Times - “For in its impeccably natural portrayal of tales of ordinary misery, “Conquests” suggests nothing so much as Chekhov pumped full of nitrous oxide. Like “The Seagull” it is built on one of the wonderful paradoxes of theater: deeply unhappy people can generate profound happiness in audiences allowed to eavesdrop on their lives.”

Hollywood Reporter - “Shifting effortlessly from broad farce to Chekhovian poignancy, the plays feature not only an endless series of hilarious one-liners but also some of the most brilliant physical clowning to be seen on Broadway. But despite all the hilarity, we’re constantly reminded of the humanity of the characters — even Norman, who remains wonderfully endearing despite his utterly amoral behavior.”

Bloomberg - “The six actors — Amelia Bullmore, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miles, Paul Ritter and Amanda Root — could not be better, and Matthew Warchus (of “Boeing-Boeing” and “God of Carnage” fame) conclusively establishes himself as one of our era’s supreme farce directors. Production values are up to snuff, notably Rob Howell’s costumes and David Howe’s lighting, and the writing is consistently superb”

Variety - “There’s no such lack of audience fulfillment in the richly rewarding revival transferring from London’s Old Vic, its structural ingenuity matched by an exceptional cast and by the supple modulations of Matthew Warchus’ direction.”

Post - “A merry British sprite has been sprinkling magic dust all over Broad way. No, it’s not Mary Poppins: It’s Matthew Warchus. After last season’s “Boeing-Boeing” and, more recently, “God of Carnage,” the director’s just spun comic gold out of another good-not-great play.”

NY1 - “Seldom has a comedy crossed our shores that produced the kind of gut splitting laughter heard in Alan Ayckbourn’s masterful “The Norman Conquests.” I’d have to go back to the original “Noises Off” on Broadway to recall such a comically consummate production. It’s three separate plays that can stand alone or be seen back to back. But I recommend seeing all three because it’s the only way to appreciate the ingeniousness of the thing and it’s three times the fun.”

Daily News - “‘Table Manners’ is the best, most essential, of the bunch.”

New York magazine - “Over peanut M&M’s, my new date explains that he feels a bit left out; much of the audience keeps laughing for seemingly no reason as jokes initially made three hours earlier unexpectedly pay off. He likes the play just fine, he just feels like he’s missing the best bits.”

Associated Press - “Ayckbourn’s dialogue crackles with the wit of fine British drawing-room comedy, often stinging but anchored in the sharp observations of a playwright who has a generous, forgiving heart for human frailty. Well, at least for everyone except Norman. And, not unexpectedly, a feeling of Chekhovian sadness, floats over the proceedings, too, a realization that life most often doesn’t turn out the way you want it to.”

amNewYork - “Matthew Warchus, who also directed “God of Carnage” and “Boeing-Boeing,” is truly a master when it comes to staging comedy. And in this absolutely hysterical in-the-round production with an impeccable cast, “The Norman Conquests” turns out to be one of the most rewarding theatrical experiences in an already overstuffed spring season on Broadway.”

Hartford Courant - “‘The Norman Conquests’ draws laughter throughout, but there is also an underlying sadness about the relationships between the men and women.”

Time - “The Norman Conquests is so damned funny (though grounded, as Ayckbourn’s comedy always is, in real human emotion) that it may simply perpetuate the misconception of Ayckbourn as a skilled boulevard entertainer. Which would leave American audiences still largely ignorant of the astonishing body of work by — controversial-pronouncement alert! — the greatest living English-language playwright.”

April 24, 2009 9:43 AM in Broadway

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