Take Me Out

October 31st, 2004
Geffen Playhouse at The Brentwood Theatre
Play, went with Troy

One of the most brilliant (and surprising) productions we've yet seen.

Since B & I saw it on Broadway, we weren't expecting to be bowled over. But, I have to say (and do so very quietly) that this production bettered the original Broadway cast.
It's about a baseball player, who comes out of the closet, and then expects everyone to be as nonchalant about his actions as he is, not realizing the ripple effect he has on people. The play is powerful, riveting, gripping, touching, funny, scary and hopeful all at once.

Here are the major differences, for anyone who saw the Broadway production. Jeremy Sisto as Shane, for one. He blew us away. He was much more menacing and ominous than we expected, and it changed the dynamic, all in good ways. A threatening "villian" is much more powerful than a confused and desperately ineffectual one.

Also, in this version, we could feel real warmth from Darren (the central character), and also from his relationship with his accountant. The added chemistry worked really nicely. You didn't feel like Darren was just tolerating and toying with him, but genuinely liked him. This really changed the implicit meanings behind their final scene to one of true friendship.

5 stars for an evocative and fascinating play by Richard Greenberg.