Broadway is being inundated with stars.
It’s a powerful checklist. Robert Downey Jr., George Clooney, Mia Farrow, Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, Julianna Margulies, Sarah Snook, Katie Holmes, Shailene Woodley, Jim Parsons and Nicole Scherzinger are all showing in exhibits this season.
Between them are 5 Academy Awards, eight Emmys and 15 Golden Globes.
And, most notably, only one Tony.
Why are these celebs all right here from LA? Absolutely to not get a whiff of the East River.
The explanations are many. Some are outdated professionals on the stage, whereas others had holes of their normally packed filming schedules opened up by the 2023 Hollywood strikes. A number of haven’t made a film in years, and one, Washington (the aforementioned one Tony), is a presumed Oscar contender subsequent March for “Gladiator II.”
However for everyone, Broadway — regardless of the nostalgic enjoyable of placing on a present — comes at an unlimited threat to a star’s delight and status.
New York theater isn’t like the films, the place actors do a number of days of “did something humorous occur on set?!” press months after capturing and transfer on to the subsequent challenge.
After the evaluations drop on a Broadway opening evening — generally bringing the boozy social gathering to a crashing halt — the A-Lister has received to return again and do it once more a day later. It doesn’t matter what.
Downey Jr. took the season’s first harsh blows. I gave his tedious play about AI, “McNeal,” one star, whereas the Instances known as it “well timed however turgid.”
A supply advised Nearer journal, “The brutal evaluations have shattered him. He poured his coronary heart into this challenge, just for it to bomb — it’s been a blow to his ego.”
One other stated, “he gained’t be stepping foot on a theater stage once more.”
He ought to, if Downey Jr. might shepherd in a greater script. He’s positive within the position of a jackass Nobel Prize winner. It’s Ayad Akhtar’s migraine of a play that sinks the ship.
The factor is, “McNeal” is promoting out. The play, which is produced “in affiliation” with Downey Jr’s firm, Group Downey, grossed $1.35 million final week. Marvel followers are legion.
However after these scathing notices, Downey Jr. has nonetheless needed to carry out eight instances per week for 2 extra months. For megawatt stars not accustomed to being so susceptible, it’s embarrassing.
Margulies was subsequent in line. The “Good Spouse” and “Morning Present” actress leads playwright Delia Ephron’s “Left on Tenth,” an extended sit a few girl who finds love after the loss of life of her husband, solely to be recognized with most cancers.
I gave it 1.5 stars final Wednesday, a part of a tidal wave of mixed-to-negative responses. “Left” is a clumsy rom-com that by no means comes collectively. And, ouch, it runs via Feb. 2.
Catastrophe hasn’t befallen everyone. Former Pussycat Doll Scherzinger received raves for her efficiency as Norma Desmond in “Sundown Boulevard.” And Package Connor, a brand new phenom on Netflix’s “Heartstopper” was well-received in “Romeo + Juliet” — even when the rave-like manufacturing received a extra tepid response.
However we’ve nonetheless received months to go earlier than the 2024-25 season ends subsequent April.
An enormous second will come within the spring when George Clooney makes his Broadway debut in “Good Night time, and Good Luck,” which, a supply stated, is headed to the Winter Backyard after “Again to the Future” drops its DeLorean on the junkyard.
It’s a giant Broadway debut for an enormous title. And George will probably be hoping he doesn’t undergo the identical destiny as Julia Roberts, with whom he notably appeared in 5 movies.
The “Erin Brockovich” actress graced the New York stage in 2006 for the primary — and solely — time in “Three Days of Rain.”
Not gained over by fame alone, The Submit’s Clive Barnes didn’t mince phrases.
“Hated the play. To be sadly sincere, even hated her. At the very least I preferred the rain – even when three days of it may well appear an eternity,” Clive wrote.
After a line like that, Roberts needed to be considering, “Hooray for Hollywood!”
