We went to see Spencer in All My Sons on Tuesday. Talk about proud parents. He really did a great job. He has some of the only laughs in that very serious show, and his timing and delivery were spot on. Gosh I was proud!
The show was terrific. Very strong acting all around. It's an interesting part for Will Lyman, who has such an innate sophistication that at first he seems a funny choice for rough old Joe, but he is such a fine actor that it really didn't matter. I found him delightful and moving and utterly convincing.
And Karen MacDonald? Off the charts! She has this one moment, when she suddenly assails Joe saying something like "Don't you say a word" that is one of the most powerfully filled moments I've ever seen on stage. Her character's whole life is in the line, and I almost felt it physically knock me back in my seat. I was stunned. Such awful depth and power. It reminded me of her extraordinary Mother Courage, another landmark in her magnificent career. Yep, she good.
So, when it sweeps the Nortons, I will for once say "well deserved". It's really a special evening. I only wish it had been in a smaller space - I did sometimes feel the intimacy of the stage life, and the immediacy of what was happening, blunted by size and distance. I could see how good it was, but I couldn't feel it as powerfully as I knew I could if I were right in there with them. But there's nothing they can do about that. And the set was beautiful. I loved the huge cyc, and the use of film, and the presence of the indoor space that you couldn't see but could really feel.
All in all, very worthwhile. The whole show was almost as good as my son :)
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