Six Characters in Search of an Author (Broadway Theatre...

Buy This Item Six Characters in Search of an Author (Broadway Theatre... by Kultur Video  Available from Amazon  $21.99  on 11-27-2008     Andy Griffith and John Houseman star in this excellent adaptation of Luigi Pirandello’s benchmark play. <I>Six Characters in Search of an Author</I> is about a family of unfinished characters who take over the rehearsal of another work in order to have their own story told. For this made-for-television production, director Stacy Keach wisely moved the action to a television studio, though otherwise the plot remains the same. Pirandello’s playful opening moments soon give way to the horror of the story the characters have to tell. Though the characters fight to have their scenes played out at last, they are often at cross-purposes, unhappy with the actors’ interpretations and arguing over who is at fault in their tragedy. Beverly Todd gives a fantastic, electric performance as the Stepdaughter, but it is Andy Griffith who gives the most surprising turn. Griffith deliberately uses his well-known amiable television persona, then reveals it as a mask that hides a menacing man within. You would be hard-pressed to find a better adaptation of this classic play. <I>--Ali Davis</I> Reader Reviews Admittedly, there is some degree of interest in this production, which is supplied most obviously by Beverly Todd, the standout performer here, as the Stepdaughter. Watching her is, to be honest, a big relief. She's basically the only actor who gives her character some real fire or juice, or whatever one calls it. Andy Griffith's character, the Father, who's the male lead in the production (not the play within the play, but the play itself), tries very very hard to be charming and charismatic and all that kind of thing, but he is clearly miscast. His hamminess is just too much to take and absolutely does not fit with his numerous ramblings in which he defends his own base actions. It just doesn't work; it's dated and makes the viewer cringe. John Houseman as the Director plays John Houseman. Nothing new there. James Keach as the Son is James Keach. The dialogue, as is true in the penultimate scene in the Kubrick film "Eyes Wide Shut"--between Cruise and Sidney Pollack--is taken directly from the original work on which the play/film was based (in the case of the Kubrick film, Scnitzler's "Dream Story", written in the early 20th century), and is often stilted and wooden. When this is combined with actors who are not fluid (e.g., James Keach), the result borders on mind-numbing. For Six Characters, the original was written in 1918. In order to express dialogue that is this stiff, the production must have truly compelling actors, and aside from Ms. Todd, they're just not in evidence. That being said, Julie Adams is fine in a limited role as the Mother. She does not have much to do, but she does do it well. The two stars are also for the concept of the production which is cleverly adapted by Paul Mayer, setting the action in a television studio in which the six characters appear through an electronic glitch on the studio's view monitors. This was a very good start. As well, the initial presence and presentation of the characters was interesting; the viewer is caught up in the obvious puzzle of what they are doing there. However, the combination of repeated over the top babble by Griffith, wooden dialogue, and only fair acting (barring noted exceptions) render this production far less than it could and should have been. It would be interesting to see this redone today with a different cast. Personal choices for casting, given the unique nature of the play, would include David Warner as the Father, James Spader as the Son, Meryl Streep as the Mother, Jasmine Guy as the Stepdaughter, and Michael Caine as the Director.

Six Characters in Search of an Author (Broadway Theatre... Available from Amazon Price: $21.99 Updated on 11-27-2008.

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