Archive for April 13th, 2006

DISCLAIMER: I know it’s bad form to review a play while it’s still in previews, but what can you do, I’m crazy like that. If anybody has a problem with it, they can give me an official press ticket and then I’ll obey the rules.

Go buy tickets right now for Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of The Threepenny Opera playing at Studio 54. The play will be ‘officially’ reviewed in a week, and after that it will be impossible to get tickets. There. Now don’t say I never gave you anything.

For those of you who have never heard of the play, let me give you some background. Written in 1928 by Bertolt Brecht, The Threepenny Opera is the story of a young girl who gets involved with a sociopathic murderer. But this is not your typical young ingenue in trouble story, its a social statement about the hypocrisy of conventional morality.

Brecht thought that theatre should provoke the viewer to question their own beliefs, and he didn’t think you could do that if you only connected to the piece on an emotional level. So he tried to make sure the viewer is always thinking, always rational. He does this through use of episodic scenes, harsh realities and no illusions. You are meant to always be aware you are watching a play.

One of the reasons I’m telling you this is because I know a lot of you are not fans of the typical Broadway musical. But this is nothing like a typical Broadway show. In fact, the only reason it’s a musical is because Brecht was mocking the genre and throwing in random songs as part of his ‘alienation technique’ to keep you thinking.

Now let me tell you the REAL reason you should go see this play: Alan Cumming. He plays the role of MacHeath, aka Mack the Knife (yes, like the Bobby Darin song but no, it’s a lot different when they sing it in the play). He is mesmerizing as the ruthless thief, womanizer, man-izer, rapist, arsonist and murderer who seduces poor Polly away from her parents. Cumming masterfully portrays the dichotomy of villain and martyr, and not only does the audience understand why Polly ran off with him, but I think half of them are ready to, as well (myself included).

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