The Cradle Will Rock

The Cradle Will Rock is playing at the Classic Stage Company located at 136 East 13th Street. It runs ninety minutes with no intermission. The musical closes on May 19, 2019.

The play was written 1937 as part of the Federal Theatre Project. It was directed by Orson Welles. He was 22 at the time. It opened on Broadway in 1938 at The Mercury Theatre.

John Doyle is the director. He won a Tony Award in 2005 for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

David Garrison was nominated Tony Award in 1980 for A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine.

The place is a steel mill, 1937.

The Moll (Lara Pulver) is only works two days a week in the mill earing $2.00. She was arrested when she wouldn’t take money from a police officer. Joining her are the Leaders of Liberty Committee, who are anti-union. They are mistaken for being pro-union.

We learn how Mister Mister (David Garrison) owns the town.

In 1915 and 1916 Mrs. Mister (Sally Ann Triplett) gives Reverend Salvator (Benjamin Eakeley) money to preach in favor of her husband.

He has Harry Druggist (Tony Yazbeck) lie about an incident.

Editor Dailey (Ken Barnett) is paid to print favorable news about the factory and Mister.

Mister Mister goes to Dr. Specialist (Eddie Cooper)to say when he examined the patient hurt in the factory he was drunk, when he wasn’t.

Professor Scott (Ian Lowe) tells Professor Trixie (Kara Mikula) to inform the students they will be expelled if they don’t go into the Army.

In between Larry Foreman (Tony Yazabeck) is arrested and beaten for distributing leaflets to join a union.

Ella Hamer (Rema Webb) is concerned what is going on.

In the end Mister Mister bails out the Committee. He offers to pay Forman bail but he refuses. Larry Forman says in the end The Cradle Will Rock.

All the actors play several roles. They all did a remarkable job. Some take turns playing the piano.

I liked the show and I didn’t.

I liked the story about a man of power and wealth who controls a town with money.

I didn't like that there is no set but barrels that the actors move to the center of the stage. The stage is surrounded by the audience. So depending on where you are you don’t see all the actors when they are sitting a circle. You miss their facial expressions. This would help to get a feeling for the character. You hear them singing.

As usual I left out things as not to spoil it if you should go and see it.

I never rate a show by stars but I will this one. I give it three out four.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid with the cast, scroll down to the left for photos. Click on photos for this and other shows.