THE HANGOVER REPORT – David Harrower’s BLACKBIRD finally lands on Broadway, and it’s devastating

blackbird-broadwayTonight marks the opening night of David Harrower’s devastating two-hander Blackbird on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre. Like many other plays, the Strindberg-esque Blackbird – a play that harrowingly depicts the ramifications of a brief, intense, and unlawful sexual relationship – has had a long, winding road to the Great White Way. The play had its premiere in 2005 at the Edinburgh International Festival and made its West End debut a few months later in February 2006; both productions were directed by Peter Stein. A year after its Olivier-winning run in London, the play premiered Off-Broadway in the spring of 2007 under the auspices of the Manhattan Theatre Club under the direction of the ubiquitous Joe Mantello and starring Jeff Daniels and sensational young actress Alison Pill. It’s Mr. Mantello’s production that, thanks to producer’s Scott Rudin’s keen eye, finds itself opening on Broadway tonight, more than 10 years after its debut in Scotland. As apropos for Broadway, Ms. Pill has been replaced by movie star Michelle Williams.

Mr. Mantello’s direction, like his masterful work in The Humans, is precise, meticulous, and fully in control, which is in no small part due to his expert design team (Scott Pask on sets, Brian MacDevitt on lighting, and Fitz Patton on sound). His decision to have Ms. Williams (whose character, Una, was just 12 years old when she had the affair with Mr. Daniels’ 40-year-old Ray) seemingly over-act in the beginning of the play when these characters meet again for the first time in 15 years later will be divisive. Some may view it simply as bad acting, but that’s exactly the point. Una is, essentially, putting on an act in order to muster the courage to confront Ray. As the play unfolds, Ms. Williams’ gives a bruising, haunting performance as she gradually devolves into the girl she was years ago. Mr. Daniels is superb throughout, in equal measures pathetic and, in his own way, as heroic as Una. This production may very well be this year’s Skylight – another British two-hander that’s also a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.

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BLACKBIRD
Broadway, Play
Belasco Theatre
1 hour, 30 minutes
Through June 11

Categories: Broadway, Theater

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