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Two Reviews. The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window

Summer 1976.

By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).Published 11 months ago 4 min read
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Robert M. Massimi.

"The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window" at the former Cort Theatre, now the James Earl Jones Theatre deals with a married couple that live in the West Village in New York City. Sidney has closed closed his fold nightclub and is taking over a weekly newspaper called "The Village Cryer". He doesn't want it to be political and here lies the problem that is twofold.

Lorraine Hansberry (Raisin in the Sun" never digs into what could have been a great story if it was written differently. The play takes place in the 60's, a time when the West Village was a hot bed of politics a revolutionary thought. In "Window", we get a smattering of political thought; Alton Scales (Julian De Niro), and Max (Raphael Thompson). But like the writing itself we never get anything of substance.

In Sidney (Oscar Isaac) we get a self absorbed, insulting individual. He treats people with such rudeness in his words. We cannot figure out how his wife Iris (Rachel Brosnanhan) puts up with him. He uses her for his amusement. What is even more confusing is that he is not an accomplished man, in fact, he seems like a failure.

While the two lead actors are good in this play, Miriam Silverman as Mavis steals the show. The other supporting cast is weak and uninspiring. The writing in this two hour forty five minute show circles and circles but never lands anywhere of significance. The show has many lulls in it, like "Raisin in the Sun", it gets very wordy and leaves us drifting away from the play.

The direction by Anne Kauffman is as uninspiring as the writing. The set is constant throughout. It supports the image of a West Village apartment, but isn't anything that is overly spectacular. The costume design doesn't really capture the period. Other than Max, sometimes Sidney and Mavis, the costumes never put us in that period in which it was written for. The lighting is deeper than it appears, the colors used in the play are mostly washed out. It gives the effect of the drab period that is most of the characters lives.

Unlike "Raisin in the Sun", Hansberry never brings a finality the the show. While we see the characters inner secrets, their fears and weaknesses and their willingness to settle, she never brings an ending story to tie out the play. Like a lot of the actors in this show, this play does not belong on Broadway and should have stayed at the BAM.

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"Summer of 1976".

In David Auburn's play at the Friedman Theatre we get two really good actors. In Laura Linney who plays Diana (Little Foxes, Ozark) you always get a first rate performance. Here she plays an uptight intellect who has family money. She is as vulnerable as she is confident as a mother, artist and knowledgeable about the finer things in the world. In Jessica Hecht you get a woman who is comfortable in who she is. She doesn't have the grace that Diana does, but she too is an educated woman who dotes on here child.

The play is ninety minutes long and without intermission. It can be slow at times but for the most part it is a well written play. Director Dan Sullivan never has us feeling to badly for the characters but he does bring many feelings to the body of work. At times we feel sorry for Alice, at other times we laugh at her. The same can be said for Diana, however, her strong character never has us feeling sorry for her as she is a woman in control regardless of any adversity that she comes across.

In the plays scenic design, John Lee Beatty does an admirable job with the set. The stage is well funtionable in that we get a modern feel when the two actors are talking to the audience (they very rarely address each other). When the main set is opened by the lights, we see a warm, friendly trees in the backdrop. In the end we get a wonderful image of an art gallery.

Japhy Weidman does a very nice support to this play. While for the most part the lights are warm and give us an open feel. Hana S. Kim's projection design also supprts the show with an understatement. The costume design by Linda Cho however makes no sense. I can't understand why Linney is in all black. Her personality in this play does not warrant her character in all black. It simply doesn't fit her personality in the show to be clad in all black. Hecht's outfit too doesn't suit her character. She has a simple, hippie type of dress with expensive boots to go with it.

"Summer of 1976" is worth seeing. It is about a brief friendship over the course of three months. The two could not be more opposite but they become fast friends. They support each other on a superficial level; they begin to rely on one another in a very brief period of their lives. While the writing is not deep, it moves along through time neatly.

Laura Linney, Summer 1976, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, James Earl Jones, "A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry, Jessica Hecht, Broadway, Tony Awards, Oscar Issac, Rachel Brosnahan, Friedman Theatre, John Lee Beatty, Daniel Sullivan, Some Like it Hot, Funny Girl, swmnimbus.org, Metropolitan Magazine, Mann About Town.

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About the Creator

Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).

I have been writing on theater since 1982. A graduate from Manhattan College B.S. A member of Alpha Sigma Lambda, which recognizes excellence in both English and Science. I have produced 14 shows on and off Broadway. I've seen over700 shows

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  • J. S. Wade11 months ago

    Interesting review. I can only imagine how vibrant West Village was in the 60’s and the disappointment that it wasn’t captured on the stage. Lost opportunity? Summer of ‘76 would be interesting as that was the year I graduated High school and first met the world on my own. Thank you for the insightful reviews.

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