
Theatre Chit Chat
That's Your Opinion...Here's mine
Network
Network is playing at the Belasco Theatre located at 111 West 44th Street. It runs two hours ten minutes with one intermission. The play closes on March 17, 2019.
The play is based on the 1976 film by Paddy Chayefsky. It won four Academy Awards, Best Actor (Peter Finch), Best Actress (Faye Dunaway), Best Supporting Actress (Beatrice Straight) and Best Original Score (Paddy Chayefsky). It also featured Robert Duvall and William Holden.
Ivan Van Hove is the director. He won a Tony award in 2016 for A View from the Bridge.
Tony Goldwyn is known for his role as Fitzgerald Grant in the show Scandal from 2012-2018.
Frank Wood won a Tony Award in 1999 for Sideman.
Bryan Cranston is known for his role as Walter White in Breaking Bad from 2008-2013. He won four Prime Time Emmy Awards (2008-2010 and 2014). Bryan won a Tony Award for All the Way (2014) and a Olivier Award for Network (2018).
As we look at the stage, there is a big screen in the center of the stage. To the left is the technical staff for the network, behind is the dressing room. On the right are tables with people eating and a bar behind them.
Before the show begins some of the staff on the network is exercising. The crew is getting ready for the evening news. There are screens all over the theatre with a clock counting down till air time.
We are at UBS News. Howard Beale (Bryan Cranston) is telling about Patty Hearst being found. On the large screen over his face it says he is being fired by the news division Max Schumacher (Tony Goldwyn). On the next show Howard tells the audience that he is going to kill himself in a week. There is uproar with the executives. Harry (Julian Elijah Martinez) is screaming to get him off the air while he is broadcasting.
Each time he goes on air he makes some outrageous statement. Producer Diana Christensen (Tatiana Maslany) wants him on the air. The statements are bringing the ratings up. The other executives Frank Hackett (Joshua Boone), Nelson Chaney (Frank Wood) and Edward Ruddy (Ron Canada) are pushing for him to be fired.
Max and Diana are having an affair. When Max’s wife Louise (Alyssa Bresnahan) finds out she kicks him out of the house. The affair continues even after Max is fired.
Howard has a melt down on air. Finally he says “Mad as hell. I won’t take anymore.” On another occasion on air he says the station is being by a Saudi Arabian. This statement has him brought in front of the Communication Corporation of America Chairman Arthur Jensen (Nick Wyman ).
Howard continues to report. What happens, you will have to see the show. I don’t want to spoil it for you. This is a delightful show to see.
Brian Cranston does an outstanding performance. The rest of the cast shined.
Review By Rozanna Radakovich.
Photos by Annazor.
To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for photos. Click on photos for this and other shows.