High with Kathleen Turner

[skynyc]

Saw an early preview of this tonight, and went in expecting very little. I last say Ms. Turner in Charles Busch's Third Story, and she wasn't at her best. Tonight, she holds her own in what amounts to an obvious grab for a Tony nomination in a slim year of Best Actress competition.

 

The play is about a nun who has overcome past addictions to work in a rehabilitation home. She has just been assigned a new patient, a troubled teen with some unanswered questions about his past.

 

Sorry for inadvertent spoilers, but much of this drama worked for me, particularly in the fact that it doesn't take the pretty way out. Turner does a nice job in a pretty standard role for the Lifetime network. The real standout here is the kid, Evan Jonigkeit, who achieves both sympathy and loathing from the audience at the same time.

 

There are a lot of religious overtones that would make for interesting discussion, and in a situation like the one presented here, there are no easy answers.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Jonigkeit remembered by the Tony nominating committee in the FEatured Actor category. And Turner may find herself in that fifth slot for Best Actress, (along with Lily Rabe - Merchant, Frances McDormand - Good People, Edie Falco - House of Blue Leaves, and ????)

 

There is a major full-frontal scene for the young star who measured up even from the 15th row. What was sadly distracting were the two older gentlemen in front of me with their binoculars who behaved as if they hadn't seen a penis in fifty years.

 

I saw this alone...if you see this and want to discuss over coffee...give a shout.

 

 

Tomorrow night Born Yesterday.

[foxy]

This is a tough play. You won't have fun but it's well worth seeing especially if you have any relationship to the Catholic Church. Three out of the four of us who saw it yesterday have had experiences with nuns and parochial schooling. Evan Jonigkeit is really amazing. Can't imagine how this young guy can go through this performance night after night. I was wiped out at the end. The extensive nude scene is not the reason to see it.

[Cooper]

High

 

There's no happy ending to HIGH. The hard truth about drug addiction is excellently portrayed by this very talented cast. Superb character development and a captivating story that will not disappoint... The meaning of the term enabler is perfectly defined and demonstrates how much harm an enabler can cause in the treatment of an addict. Very impressive and emotional show, I'd see it again... The sarcastic line Kathleen Turner gives, "I'm not a 60 yo man with low self esteem", might hit home to some.

 

Glad foxy and Ed James joined me. The play has given us a lot to think and talk about.

 

Coop

[edjames]

Yes, a highly charged emotional roller coaster drama with Ms. Turner in charge throughout. Once again, for those of us "lapsed Catholics," it was an interesting look at religion, faith and ethics. I went not expecting much and came out thinking about the show throughout most of the evening. Yes, sure Tony noms in their future.

[leeper]

Saw this last week while in New York on a "nine shows in six days" theater-going rampage. All of the comments above are completely consistent with my own impressions. Worth seeing but definitely not a "feel good" theater experience.

[leeper]

Reviews are in today...and the show announced that it is closing on April 24. The Wall St. Journal review was especially negative. I thought the show had more positives than negatives and am glad I got to see it.