Arcadia at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre

Last night I was invited to a preview performance of the current revival of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia on Broadway.  I have seen several amateur productions of this show and was excited to see what a top-notch Broadway cast would be able to do with this complex and challenging play.  Arcadia is not for the faint of heart.  This is a long, complex, and intellectually challenging play.  A play about academics for academics.  But if you are willing to be patient and pay attention it is well worth your time.
Since the show doesn't open until March 17th, it wouldn't be fair to do a real review.  Instead, here are some thoughts on what I saw...


The Cast - Because the show is so cerebral and wordy it really takes a great cast to bring it to life.  This cast rises to the occasion.  Raúl Esparza is, as always, terrific delivering a subtle and completely believable performance as Valentine Coverly.  Despite the complexity of the material he seems natural and not at all like an actor in the role.  Mr. Esparza actually kept his hands firmly in his pockets during an entire scene and yet it totally worked.  Really impressive work in one of the least showy parts.  Also fantastic is Billy Crudup as the self-important academic Bernard Nightingale.  Nightingale is abrasive, rude, cocksure, and completely believable as portrayed by Billy Crudup. The character on the page could easily seem flat or one-note, but Crudup has created a fully fleshed-out performance that allows you to see the underlying insecurity behind all of Nightingale's bluster.  Bel Powley (Thomasina), Margaret Colin (Lady Croom), Tom Riley (Septimus Hodge) and Grace Gummer (Chloë Coverly) all deliver excellent performances though not quite as fully formed as those of Esparza and Crudup.


The Script - Watching Arcadia is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.  The first half of the evening (before intermission) is spent laying each piece out on the table.  Some are grouped by shape, some by color, but it is not entirely clear what the final result will be.  After intermission, the pieces start going into their correct places and the picture begins to take shape.  This takes time, patience, and attention all of which are no longer regularly asked (or required) of Broadway audiences.  At nearly three hours long, Arcadia is twice as long as last season's Red and bucks the trend of short, intermission-less plays.  For those willing to undertake the task, it is time well spent.

Who Should See This - Arcadia is not a show I would recommend to someone looking for a big, splashy Broadway show or a light comedy.  If, however, you are looking for superb acting and a thought-provoking and challenging play Arcadia is a great choice.

Arcadia is in previews with an opening date set for March 17, 2011.  This limited engagement ends its run June 19, 2011.

Want to see for yourself?  Click here for tickets.


ARCADIA Pre-Roll from Arcadia Broadway on Vimeo.