Present Laughter, A View From The Bridge, As You Like It

A View From The Bridge
 
Roundabout’s sparkling revival of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter is an Art Deco treat for the eye and ear. Starring Broadway and television star Victor Garber as Garry Essendine, a deliciously self-absorbed actor (that Coward modeled on himself!), Present Laughter is a hilarious comedy about a day in Essendine’s life as he readies himself for a tour of Africa, deals with all the women in his life who are driving him crazy, puts off a crazed playwright who’s obsessed with him and fights his inevitable slide into “middle-age.” Though Coward’s acerbic dialogue doesn’t come as effortlessly to Garber as it did to Frank Langella in the brilliant 1996–97 revival (that also launched Allison Janney’s career), he makes the role his own as he fusses, fumes, simpers and rails against the injustices being done to him. Briskly directed by Nicholas Martin on Alexander Dodge’s set spectacular with lavish period costumes by Jane Greenwood, Present Laughter is a rare theatrical treat, indeed.
 
For riveting drama, you’ll do no better than Gregory Mosher’s spectacular revival of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, which boasts electrifying performances from Liev Schreiber, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Hecht and Michael Cristofer. As a dockworker in 1950s Red Hook, Schreiber plays a man in love with his niece (Johansson). He consults an attorney (Cristofer) for advice on how to handle two of his wife’s (Hecht) Italian cousins (Corey Stoll & Morgan Spector), one of whom (Spector) also makes the mistake of falling in love with his niece. Tautly drawn and sharply paced, Bridge offers a superb cast, with Schreiber delivering a harrowing depiction of a man literally self-destructing in front of your eyes. Expect Tony nominations all around.
 
The Bridge Project, a theatrical collaboration between London’s Old Vic, BAM and Neal Street, is back for its second season and their first offering brings us a rewarding if somber As You Like It directed with detached coolness by Sam Mendes. Starring the beautiful husband and wife team of Christian Camargo and Juliet Rylance as Orlando and Rosalind, this As You Like It doesn’t have the warmth of Sir Peter Hall’s Theater Royal Bath production in 2005, which starred Hall’s luminous daughter Rebecca as Rosalind. But the acting is strong, especially from the British component of the company—including Stephen Dillane, Anthony O’Donnell and Edward Bennett—and the Bard’s classic story of revenge, loss and love rules the day. Joining As You Like It on February 25 will be The Tempest; the two plays will then run in repertory through March 13.    N
 
Present Laughter plays through March 21 at Roundabout (227 W 42nd St, 212-719-1300). A View from the Bridge plays at Cort (138 W 48th St, 212-239-6200). As You Like It plays through March 13 at BAM Harvey (651 Fulton St, Brooklyn, 718-636-4100).