Seminar

Is at the John Golden Theatre located at 252 West 45th Street, It opens on November 20, 2011 and will play until March 4, 2012. The play runs for one hour thirty minutes with no intermission.

The playwright Theresa Rebeck was a Publitzer finalist in 2003 for her play "Omnium Gutherum". She has won a Peabody Award for her work in "NYPD Blue"

The director Sam Gold won a Obie in 2010 for his direction in "Circle Mirror Transformation".

Alan Rickman received a Tony nomination in 1987 for "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" and in 2002 for "Private Lives". He has become well known for his role in the Harry Potter series as "Severus Snape".

Lily Rabe is the daughter of the late actress Jill Clayburgh and playwright David Rabe. She was nominated for a Tony Award for best leading actress in a play in 2010 for "The Merchant of Venice".

Jerry O'Connell is known for his roles in the TV series the "Sliders", Crossing Jordon" and most recently "The Defenders".

Seminar is about wanna be writers taking a class with a well know writer and now professor. Each pay Leonard (Alan Rickman) $5,000.00 for a ten week class. They meet at Kate (Lily Rabe) apartment on the upper west side. There are three walls for a room, decorations on the wall. A bar on the right side is used alot.

Each scene the lights goes down, furniture is moved around and the cast changes their clothes to signify a different day.

The students and teacher lives include sexual encounters with each other which causes resentment.

Leonard is a bitter man who lashes out at his students. He has no compassion and is wrapped in himself.

Leonard first tears apart Kate's paper. He loves Izzy (Hettienne Park) paper on Sex. Douglas (Jerry O'Connell) get a so so review. Last is Martin (Hamish Linklater) who in the beginning he calls a pussy and continually puts him down . When he finally gives Leonard a paper to read Leonard's has nothing but praise for him. Martin won't listen. Leonard tells Martin you have it to make it but this is what going to happen. This where we find out about Leonard, he reflecting to Martin how he came to the point of his life he is at now.

The last scene the wall pulls away and you are in a loft with book shelves all around. This is Leonard's apartment. Kate has spent the last two days lets say having fun. Martin comes to the apartment demanding his money back since they only had four lessons. He had no money to pay his rent so Kate let him stay in her apartment but she kicked him out. Leonard is willing to help Martin. It leaves you to wonder what direction the two will go in. That's for you to decide.

Alan Rickman eloquent as the writer who life is not where he wants to be. There were times when I had trouble hearing him.

Lily Rabe irritated me in the begging with a nasal like voice. As the play went on she dropped this voice and was so much better. The acting was great but that voice has to go.

Jerry O'Connell was good as the arrogant know it all. Comedy is his thing.

Hamish Linklater made an admirable job for his Broadway debut. Hope to see him on Broadway again.

Hettienne Parks works well in her role but did we she have to raise her T shirt to show her breast for a couple of minutes. It added nothing to the play.

The set and costumes were designed by David Zinn. He did the costume designs for Other Desert Cities, Good People. Bengel Tiger, A Tale of Two Cities, Xanadu and In the Next Room (Tony and Drama Desk nominations).

This is a must see play. I'm not one for not laughing at comedies but this one I did

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.