Comments on: Eugene O’Neill’s “Desire Under the Elms” a Turn Off at the St. James Theatre http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2009/04/26/eugene-oneils-desire-under-the-elms-a-turn-off-at-the-st-james-theatre/ Cranky critiques by Lynne W. Scanlon P.E.A. (Publisher/Editor/Author) Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:58:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Katie http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2009/04/26/eugene-oneils-desire-under-the-elms-a-turn-off-at-the-st-james-theatre/#comment-161286 Katie Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:10:41 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/?p=308#comment-161286 I don't think there's anything anyone can do about the accents being used considering they are written into the script. Perhaps, O' Neill wanted to ensure they could never not be used. And trust me, it is not more fun to read a script when the language looks like this..."Tis a hell av a thing fur grown men to be shiverin' loike children at a bit av a black box. [scratching his head in uneasy perplexity] Still, ut's damn queer, the looks av ut." Excerpt from "In the Zone" by Eugene O'Neill. I don’t think there’s anything anyone can do about the accents being used considering they are written into the script. Perhaps, O’ Neill wanted to ensure they could never not be used. And trust me, it is not more fun to read a script when the language looks like this…”Tis a hell av a thing fur grown men to be shiverin’ loike children at a bit av a black box. [scratching his head in uneasy perplexity] Still, ut’s damn queer, the looks av ut.” Excerpt from “In the Zone” by Eugene O’Neill.

]]> By: Maralyn Rittenour http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2009/04/26/eugene-oneils-desire-under-the-elms-a-turn-off-at-the-st-james-theatre/#comment-144631 Maralyn Rittenour Fri, 08 May 2009 13:06:55 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/?p=308#comment-144631 Our audience was quiet and riveted by the play - tho' 2 weeks later, a few empty seats. We thought the stage sets were terrific, and Abbie's acting first-rate. Our opposing impressions do seem to underscore the difference an audience can make. By the way, a new New York scam; when my friend didn't show (she mistakenly thought we were going to the evening performance), I left her ticket at the box office. After the play I was told it had been picked up - by a man! Then I remembered before the play started, a well-spoken, well-dressed gent askede me if I had an extra ticket. He must have observed me leaving the box office and just after curtain up, claimed the ticket and sat in an empty seat far from me. Of course the clerk should have asked for his name and ID. Happy ending, when my friend told the story that evening at the box office, they gave her a complimentary, fifth row aisle seat. Our audience was quiet and riveted by the play - tho’ 2 weeks later, a few empty seats. We thought the stage sets were terrific, and Abbie’s acting first-rate. Our opposing impressions do seem to underscore the difference an audience can make.

By the way, a new New York scam; when my friend didn’t show (she mistakenly thought we were going to the evening performance), I left her ticket at the box office. After the play I was told it had been picked up - by a man! Then I remembered before the play started, a well-spoken, well-dressed gent askede me if I had an extra ticket. He must have observed me leaving the box office and just after curtain up, claimed the ticket and sat in an empty seat far from me. Of course the clerk should have asked for his name and ID.

Happy ending, when my friend told the story that evening at the box office, they gave her a complimentary, fifth row aisle seat.

]]> By: The Curmudgeon http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2009/04/26/eugene-oneils-desire-under-the-elms-a-turn-off-at-the-st-james-theatre/#comment-143558 The Curmudgeon Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:34:58 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/?p=308#comment-143558 The woman with the cell phone should be committed to spending a week in a sardine can with Alec Baldwin. The woman with the cell phone should be committed to spending a week in a sardine can with Alec Baldwin.

]]> By: Robert Anthony http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2009/04/26/eugene-oneils-desire-under-the-elms-a-turn-off-at-the-st-james-theatre/#comment-143279 Robert Anthony Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:08:34 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/?p=308#comment-143279 Cell phones during a performance. Broadway has come a long way since I trod the boards and I'm thinking it's come down. It's not the intent of the venue that's a-lacking but of the theatre goers. (The Wicked Witch excepted) The ones who can afford a night on Broadway which must cost what? $500.00? At those prices a cell phone using stilted babe from Scarsdale certainly would have as little problem in whipping out her pacifier than she would in asking the usher where the refridgerator was so she could munch a Dill Pickle between acts. Cell phones during a performance. Broadway has come a long way since I trod the boards and I’m thinking it’s come down. It’s not the intent of the venue that’s a-lacking but of the theatre goers. (The Wicked Witch excepted) The ones who can afford a night on Broadway which must cost what? $500.00? At those prices a cell phone using stilted babe from Scarsdale certainly would have as little problem in whipping out her pacifier than she would in asking the usher where the refridgerator was so she could munch a Dill Pickle between acts.

]]> By: Al Buck http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2009/04/26/eugene-oneils-desire-under-the-elms-a-turn-off-at-the-st-james-theatre/#comment-143208 Al Buck Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:46:28 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/?p=308#comment-143208 I suspect your dislike was not of the play, but of the direction. Al Buck I suspect your dislike was not of the play, but of the direction.

Al Buck

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