Burn This is my favorite play by Lanford Wilson; I first came across it in acting class looking for a piece to develop into a monologue. I really wish I had seen the original John Malkovich performance, and every time I re-read the play, I keep imagining the scenes with him in it. Joan Allen never came clear for me as Anna, the dancer turning to choreography in the prime of her career, and I don’t know the actor who first played Burton.
I saw an off-off-Broadway production three or four years ago, the last night of its run, but was not too impressed: the Pale actor was clearly overacting, realizing it, and overemphasizing the cursing and weeping. Most of the audience was aged, and were rather appalled. I shrunk in my seat to watch it.
Hot l Baltimore is another Lanford Wilson play I love to re-read. Never seen it in production though.
I caught a local production of Talley’s Folly on my birthday (alone, boohoo) that was fairly good. It’s a small play with two characters that lends itself to small theaters.
The last I heard, Lanford Wilson was trying to collaborate on a screenplay for Burn This, but I have not been checking for it.
Revival Works A Transformation. A sensational cast led by Edward Norton and Catherine Keener presents an eye-opening, soulful revival of Lanford Wilson's portrait of disconnectedness. By Ben Brantley. [by way of RUL’s presentation of New York Times: Arts]
[Whoops, spoke too soon. more information on what Mr. Wilson has been doing of late.]
11:33:47 PM 
|
|
