BY DAVID A. ROSENBERG

Hour Theater Reviewer

Two men. Two tragedies. Two Broadway revivals: Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” is an astounding production that guts the soul, while Robert Bolt’s “A Man for All Seasons” is a dutiful one.

Director Simon McBurney’s production abstracts Miller’s work without forgoing its humanity. Filled with pity and terror, you look away lest you be scorched by its intensity. (It has severely divided viewers and reviewers into defenders and detractors.)

McBurney takes what could be an evening of implausible coincidences and turns it into a masterpiece of staging, treating the play as Greek tragedy by stripping away its scenic trappings. Actors are in full view in the wings and not truly “on” until they enter the playing space. Projections enlarge and comment on the action, sound and music are constant presences, though perhaps sometimes too blatantly.

Like Sophocles’ “Oediupus,” Miller’s play also deals with the classic conflict between fathers and sons. It’s a comparison the author himself once made.

In this case, Joe Keller’s factory allowed cracked cylinder heads to be shipped to the Air Force, resulting in the deaths of 21 pilots. Joe, saying he knew nothing, was exonerated while his partner remains in jail. Now, the partner’s daughter and son, Ann and George, have come to discover the truth, to the consternation of Joe’s wife, Kate, and the reality check awakening of their son, Chris.

As Joe, John Lithgow is a towering figure brought to heel, while Dianne Wiest’s Kate is a woman on the verge who substitutes domesticity for the storm that she fears will eventually engulf the family. As Ann, Katie Holmes (yes, that one) holds her own, while Christian Camargo is an electrifying George.

But this production emphasizes son Chris, and Patrick Wilson seizes the reins in his strongest-ever performance. Starting as the “good son,” he becomes an avenging though never less than sorrowful fury. He’s a Christ figure, for sure, taking on the sins of the world, and he sets the evening on fire.

Martyred on a larger scale, with greater political consequences, is Sir Thomas More, the man who quietly defied Henry VIII’s seeking to dissolve his marriage to Catherine of Aragon in order to wed Anne Boleyn. More’s acceding to Henry’s wishes would mean going against the Pope and the Church. That he cannot do, for it would mean going against his core beliefs.

“Seasons” won the 1962 Best Play Tony and the 1966 Best Picture Oscar. And it should be still timely today when even decent men have trouble flouting conformity. Yet director Doug Hughes’ production, while never less than intelligent and well acted, lacks blood.

It also lacks the Common Man, a character seen in the original play, but not the film. He spoke directly to the audience, moved furniture and props and became the playwright’s man of irony, a doorway between play and spectators. “It isn’t difficult to keep alive,” he says. “Just don’t make trouble.”

He is missed. Without him, the play is too much a pageant. Indeed one of the two best scenes is with More and his jailer, one of the roles taken by the Common Man. Here as elsewhere, the figure is a stand-in for those who are loath to take risks.

The other outstanding scene is between More and the king. Patrick Page’s monarch is smarmy and charming, patting More on the back one minute, sneering at his stubbornness the next.

Then there’s More himself, played by one of America’s greatest actors, Frank Langella. Saintly but human, he is as loving towards his family as he is sadly bitter towards his betrayers. Langella, with his towering physical presence and his stentorian voice, never forgets that here is a human being who brings destruction on himself and his loved ones just by following his conscience.

“Conscience does make cowards of us all,” said Shakespeare. But not of men like Chris Keller in “Sons” or Thomas More in “Seasons” who pay the price for not being merely pragmatic. We can admire More but, at least in McBurney’s production, we’re devastated by Chris.

“All My Sons: is at the Schoenfeld Theater, 236 W. 45th St., N.Y. Call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200.

“A Man for All Seasons” is at the American Airlines Theater, 227 W 42nd St., N.Y. Call (212) 719-1300.

source: thehour.com

The curtain officially went up on Katie Holmes’ Broadway debut Thursday as the revival of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” made its much anticipated premiere.

After a month of previews, opening night was somewhat muted on a blustery New York evening.

A gaggle of reporters lined the red carpet while about 100 stargazers watched from the sidewalk, which was patrolled by at least 30 police officers.

As it did on the first night of previews, the group Anonymous again protested against Scientology, because Holmes is wed to its biggest icon, Tom Cruise. About 35 protesters carried signs reading “Run, Katie, Run” and chanted “Scientology kills” from a cordoned-off area down the block from the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater.

Joni Vitale and husband George drove up from Pomona, N.J., for three reasons: “Tom, Tom and Tom.” But they were disappointed as there was no sign of Cruise, who attended the first preview and cheerfully called the production “extraordinary.”

Among the celebrities strolling the red carpet: Patricia Clarkson (who played Holmes’ mother in the 2003 film “Pieces of April”), Barbara Walters, Dennis Farina and Isabella Rossellini.

Rebecca Miller, the playwright’s daughter, came to see the latest version of her father’s play, which was first performed on Broadway in 1947.

“The thing about Katie Homes is that she’s so right for the part,” said Miller, a filmmaker and wife of Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis.

Hollywood stars such as Julia Roberts and Sean Combs have in recent years tried their talents on the New York stage and brought huge buzz to their productions. Holmes’ Broadway entree was no different; “All My Sons” was the highest-grossing play on Broadway in its first full week of previews, taking in $684,002.

Still, Holmes simply is a supporting player in the drama. “All My Sons” is about businessman Joe Keller, played by John Lithgow, whose factor supplied defective cylinder parts to the military, resulting in the deaths of 21 pilots during the Second World War. Diane Wiest plays Keller’s wife; Patrick Wilson his idealistic son; and Holmes the son’s fiancee and daughter of Keller’s disgraced partner.

For theatregoer Marra Gad, the play was the thing — and a performer besides Holmes.

“I realize that people are really excited about Katie Holmes making her debut and obviously the stargazing that’s going on, but Patrick Wilson is a remarkable actor and I’m thrilled to see him on stage again,” said Gad. “I love theatre, so I’m excited to see a show like `All My Sons’ brought back to Broadway.”

Producer Eric Falkenstein said the play is “ultra-relevant” considering the Iraq War, and praised Holmes and the cast.

“She was never difficult, always interested,” said Falkenstein.

Referring to the media attention brought on by her celebrity, he added, “She handles it so well. The other cast members handle it so well.”

Of course, the protesters had a different perspective. The mostly young demonstrators, many wearing masks like those in the film “V for Vendetta,” said they wanted to save Holmes from Scientology. Anonymous is a group connected by the Web that uses humour to protest monthly outside Scientology buildings.

“We’re here to just protest Scientology in general,” said 22-year-old Alex Vanino. “But our main focus right now is getting Katie out of Scientology. There’s been news going around the tabloids saying she would like to get out. It’s unverified, but it would be nice to encourage that.”

Vanino said they wouldn’t likely return to the theatre for further protests.

 source: rtvmagazine.com 

Spike TV has announced that it will honor film star Anthony Hopkins with the first-ever Legend award during “SCREAM 2008.” Presented to a distinguished and legendary artist whose body of work includes outstanding performances in fantasy, horror and/or science fiction films, the Legend award will mark the third discretionary honor of the evening, as fellow industry giants Tim Burton and Wes Craven will also receive recognition. The third annual televised event tapes Saturday, October 18 at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA and premieres Tuesday, October 21 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on Spike TV.

Additionally, Spike TV has announced fresh talent added to this year’s star-studded roster. Appearing at “SCREAM 2008″ will be Malin Akerman, Selma Blair, Jon Favreau, Michael C. Hall and the cast of “Dexter,” Milla Jovovich, Jaime King, Frank Miller and Paz Vega, along with previously announced talent Kristen Bell, Julie Benz, Darren Lynn Bousman, Thomas Dekker, Guillermo Del Toro, Summer Glau, Samuel L. Jackson, Doug Jones, Kerli, Stan Lee, The Osbournes, Jared Padelecki, Ron Perlman, Amanda Righetti, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Kevin Smith, Liv Tyler, Gerard Way and Rob Zombie. Many more to be announced shortly.

The Grammy Award-winning rock band Smashing Pumpkins will perform their new hit “G.L.O.W..” Currently the #1 most added song at Modern Rock Radio, “G.L.O.W.,” has already received ninety-four adds since its release two weeks ago and has logged over 850 spins in its first week alone. Their performance on the show precedes the October 31 launch of their North American “20th Anniversary Tour.”

Also taking the stage is Island Records pop sensation Kerli, performing her highly successful single “Walking On Air.” The song, from her debut album “Love Is Dead,” is the most downloaded single in history on iTunes. Kerli is featured as XBOX 360′s Emerging Artist of the Month for November and she also wrote and performed the title track for Activision’s upcoming 007 Bond video game, released simultaneously with the new 007 movie starring Daniel Craig.

“SCREAM 2008″ will feature exclusive world premiere footage from two of Warner Brothers’ most highly anticipated releases of the coming year – “Watchmen” and “Friday The 13th.” Based on the graphic novel by DC Comics, “Watchmen” is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society and the “Doomsday Clock” – which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union – is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. Directed by Zack Snyder the complex, multi-layered mystery adventure stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman. “Watchmen” hits theaters March 6.

“Friday The 13th” comes to “SCREAM” this year as Spike TV will premiere footage of the updated cult classic in theaters Friday, February 13. Directed by Marcus Nispel (“Pathfinder”) and starring television star Jared Padalecki (“Supernatural”), Jason will once again haunt the cursed campgrounds of Crystal Lake, but this time, hockey-masked Jason is the real killer.

Fan voting for this year’s awards began Friday, September 12 and remains open until Friday, October 17. To vote or to view exclusive red carpet and backstage coverage, visit scream.spike.com.

The official sponsors of Spike TV’s “SCREAM 2008″ are Captain Morgan, Subaru, Taco Bell and Lee Jeans.

Michael Levitt, Casey Patterson and Cindy Levitt serve as executive producers for “SCREAM 2008.” Greg Sills is supervising producer, Gary Tellalian and Austin Reading are producers and Ryan Polito will direct.

Spike TV is available in 97.3 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.

source: spiketv.com