August 25, 2009

Tragic reviews for 'The Bacchae' in Central Park

Maybe the raccoons should have made up the Greek chorus for the new Shakespeare in the Park production of “The Bacchae,” because the critics hated the play and seem transfixed by the unscripted entrances of nature’s wild things.

The staging of the Euripides tragedy features music by Philip Glass and stars Jonathan Groff, who first made it big in Broadway’s “Spring Awakening” and then in the 2008 Shakespeare in the Park production of “Hair.”

“The Bacchae” plays through Aug. 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park map. Tickets are free and can be acquired the day-of show either through the regular line, the online virtual line before 1 p.m., or the stand-by line just before the show. You can also reserve a seat by making a $170 donation to the Public Theater. “The Bacchae” is performed Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. (except for tonight: The show is dark today because last night was opening night.)

A roundup of the the reviews for “The Bacchae”:

New York Times - “I suppose I shouldn’t admit that I kept thinking about those raccoons all through the 90 minutes of JoAnne Akalaitis’s interpretation of “The Bacchae,” which opened last night in a production starring Jonathan Groff and Anthony Mackie, with music by Philip Glass. But, you see, those animals had everything that this show lacks: mystery, grace, charisma and (though they didn’t bare them) teeth.”

Financial Times - “… I felt a tug and beheld a raccoon hopping up and down and nibbling on my right shoe. Was this a plea on the part of all Park mini-mammals to have the band of off-stage musicians cease playing Philip Glass’s original music at once?”

Washington Post - “On the muggy evening I attended, a few members of the park’s raccoon population could be seen scurrying under the bleachers. At one point, one of the critters stopped and looked out at the commotion being made under the hot lights. And then, quite enviably, moved on. “

Daily News - “That fits the overthought but still uninteresting version directed by JoAnne Akalaitis, which comes streaked in red (inexplicably on actors’ faces), dressed in orange (recycled fabric from Christo’s “The Gates”?) and with a female chorus that stops the show (not in a good way).”

Post - “Others in the cast fare ably. Rocco Sisto is an intense Messenger, and his delivery of gruesome news actually received applause the night I saw the show.”

Bloomberg - “This scoring isn’t quite as bad as much of Glass’s usual work, but it is highly erratic.”

Variety - “And while Glass’ abstract music advances Euripides’ poetic tropes, its otherworldliness feels at odds with the high anxiety levels Nicholas Rudall’s new translation brings out in the chorus — led with practiced grace by Karen Kandel, but clad, for some reason known to costumer Kaye Voyce, in harem outfits in an electrifying shade of orange.”

Earlier: ‘Twelfth Night’ in Central Park draws excellent reviews

August 25, 2009 7:18 AM in Broadway, Cheap Stuff, Sightsology, Upper East Side, Upper West Side

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