The Unknown

"The Unknown" at Studio Seaview for the most part is a big disappointment. Sure, Sean Hayes is a very good stage actor (Good Night, Oscar), but he seems to be going through the motions throughout the show.

The story is uneven and Leigh Silverman's direction doesn't help it much either. Where David Cole tries to make this play edgy, Hayes is not the right actor for this plot. Hayes at times is funny, but funny alone doesn't cut it during the 70 minute intermission-less play. When the play gets dark he never delivers the goods.

Cole would have been better bringing forth what he is trying to say. Was Elliott deranged? Does he really have writers block? Is everything he has told us for 70 minutes real? Or is it in his mind.? The show never fully unfolds this for the audience. Silverman's direction too makes the show uninteresting. The play never catches its stride, it wavers from good at times to bad at others. The pace varies in and out for much of the show leaving many audience members dozing off.

Why "The Unknown" is fair at best comes down to Elliott's relationships. He has lost touch with most of the people he knows except two, a married couple who seem to know him better than he knows himself. Cole only dabbles and makes little words and innuendos about Elliott past and present. We never get to fully understand him. At the cabin, was he imagining hearing things? Was the cabin even real? The writing never explores his behavior or where his mind is. It would have been more worthwhile if it was more psychological and thrilling.

While the sound is the best thing about this one man show, the lighting at most times when Hayes is straight on to the audience with a simple white light on him is horrific. The halo around Hayes made it difficult to see his face; a problem that has plagued Broadway over the last few years. It seems that the lighting is over powering the stage and the actors. The audience cannot get a good look at the actor because the lighting is to direct. When Hayes was faded in and out however, the lighting was good, provocative even.

With a full compliment of shows this spring season, "The Unknown" is one that you can miss!

Next up is Death of A Salesman at the Winter Garden Theatre. Nathan Lane returns in a serious role. Lane, who usually does comedic roles is here in a serious role. Nathan Lane is one of the great stage actors of our time. Laurie Metcalf too is in this classic Miller play. This show could be the leader for the Tony's when the awards come about in June.

Two years ago Death of A Salesman played with an all black cast and the reviews, the audience did not like it. The play was slow and slipshod. I think this "Death" will be a winner and I look forward to seeing it next week.

Dog Day Afternoon as well as Giant will be up next after Death of A Salesman. John Lithgow too is a force when it comes to stage acting. Lithgow has been nothing short of brilliant of everything that I have seen him in. It will be interesting to see how Dog Day Afternoon is directed and adapted for the stage. The movie was nothing short of great with Al Pacino and cast making the movie one of the best the year it was released.

Broadway Bob, New York City, Iran, Al Pacino, John Lithgow, Nathan Lane, Arthur Miller, Laurie Metcalf, Tony Awards.