While I Yet Live Is Theater

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 4:36pm

My wife and I saw this Saturday and we can really recommend it

We have a problem with Broadway itself for many reasons but a show like this rekindles your love of theater if only for the 2 hours you are there.

It sort of reminded me of August Wilson 's work re the black experience in Pittsburgh. The cast is uniformly excellent. There are 7 in the cast but 3 have to be singled out. The other 4 are good but their parts are minor to the 3 to be mentioned here. My one knock on the show that the other 4 parts are underwritten . Merkerson holds the whole piece together however.

First and foremost is S Epatha Merkerson. You see her on one of the Law & Order series and also does those corricedin commercials. The fact that she is this great of an actress was a revelation.She plays the mother figure in the piece . The role is not only a great part but is physically demanding . If this were on Broadway it would be a Tony caliber performance. Sheria Irving plays the sister of the Porter role and she ages in the part from teenager to young woman. She is fabulous. Kevyn plays the porter part and he also shines

We sat in the first row and the closeness was another great part of experience.

This is theater and not the hype of Mormon or Wicked. Go see it before it ends.

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 4:50pm

I also saw this from the first row and enjoyed it a lot. I think the play needs work, as others have said.

I would be happier if the Billy Porter character had more to do. He leaves the scene at one point and doesn't return for seven years. Meanwhile, the play goes on without him. The mother and sister (who narrates) are the main characters. Instead of having him missing in action, I would prefer having a few scenes showing the Billy Porter-esque character (who is named Calvin, I believe) in New York, struggling to get established in theater. I guess that will be Porter's next play!

He's trying to be August Wilson, or maybe a better way to say that is that he's influenced by August Wilson. But I felt that Between Riverside and Crazy was much more in the Wilson vein.

Also, the play needs to be cut, cut, cut. Too much of the text is repetitive. Plus, the ghosts could be handled better. S. Epatha Merkerson is magnificent, worth the price of admission alone.





Previous thread on While I Yet Live

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 4:52pm

Agree re most of what you said especially re Merkerson.

[After Eight]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:33am

This is a moving evening in the theatre, with fine acting and a great performance by S. Epatha Merkerson.

One of the best plays I've seen this year. It does what theatre is supposed to do.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:42am

Exactly

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 8:30am

Raves from After 8 and Roxy. No wonder I hated it.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:30am

Your ignorance and inflated ego are amazing

You forgot to add mancnyc to your b.s. rant

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 11:00am

I actually agree with macnyc sometimes so I didn't forgot to add him. And in case you need to brush up on your verbiage...

rant (verb)
1. speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 11:08am

Put you on ignore after your post so rant away as you will be only satisfying yourself.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 11:34am

I think Mr. Roxy and After Eight might be the same person.

I liked it okay but there was a lot of work to be done-and it sounds like they didn't do it.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:35pm

Isn't there already a thread for this show?

What sins? I don't understand.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 12:57pm

It's theater? Glad we got that confirmed...