Cloudabouts
You know, Joan Rivers, that comedic hurricane who bulldozed her way through the old boys’ club of comedy? Yeah, her life’s practically begging for a deep dive, right? So, when Barrington Stage Company put on “Joan,” I was expecting, well, a little more excavation. What we got, though, felt more like a highlights reel – all the big moments, none of the messy humanity. It’s like, we saw the wig, but not the wit underneath, you know?
The Premise: A Whistle-Stop Tour of a Life
The play zips through the well-known chapters. We’re talking about the trenches of stand-up, the golden years with Johnny Carson (and the subsequent explosion when she dared to have her own show – gasp!), and that phoenix-from-the-ashes reinvention. It hits the major plot points, sure, but does it really get under the skin of Joan Molinsky?
Focus on Key Moments
You get the obligatory scenes. The dingy comedy clubs, the “Tonight Show” glory, the catastrophic fallout, and the climb back to the top. It’s all there, just…a bit too tidy, perhaps? A little too “Wikipedia entry” and not enough “warts and all biography.” I mean, who hasn’t seen this story before?
Missed Opportunities for Depth
And that’s where the frustration sets in. Where’s the exploration of her insecurities, the constant need for validation that fueled her act? What about the impact of her mother – that classic, critical Jewish mother dynamic? And the relationship with Melissa – so much more than just a co-star on the red carpet, right? These are the juicy bits, the stuff that makes her more than just a caricature. It feels like the play just politely tiptoes around them, afraid to stir up anything too uncomfortable. Like, did we even scratch the surface?
The Performance: Mimicry Over Substance
Okay, let’s talk performance. The actress playing Joan nails the voice. The raspy delivery, the New York accent, the whole shebang. You almost believe it…almost.
The Lead Actress
She’s got the voice down pat, and the mannerisms are spot-on. But here’s the thing: Joan Rivers wasn’t just about the voice or the gestures. She was about the raw nerve, the vulnerability she masked with a thousand jokes. And that’s where the performance fell a little flat. It was a good impression, sure, but not a true embodiment. A convincing mask, but not the face beneath.
Supporting Cast
The supporting characters? Bless their hearts, they’re just…there. Underwritten and underdeveloped. They’re supposed to give us a glimpse into Joan’s world, her relationships, but they mostly just feel like cardboard cutouts. I was hoping for at least one person to give us a little more insight.
The Production: Visually Appealing, Emotionally Hollow
Visually, the show’s got it going on. The sets and costumes scream Joan Rivers – glitz, glamour, and a healthy dose of excess. You definitely get the vibe. No argument there!
Set Design and Costumes
Think sequins, feathers, and enough jewelry to blind a small nation. The sets evoke the world of high-end apartments and television studios. It’s all very impressive, but it doesn’t quite fill the void where the emotion should be. Great looking, but not so great feeling, you know?
Pacing and Direction
The problem is, it all feels so rushed. Like they were trying to cram 80 years of life into two hours. There’s no room to breathe, no time for the audience to connect with Joan on a deeper level. It’s anecdote after anecdote, zipping by so fast you barely have time to register them. The direction relies on broad strokes, on the familiar jokes and stories, instead of digging deeper into the character’s psyche. Maybe it just needed a little more time to slow down and marinate a little bit more!
So, you’re left with this feeling… disappointed. Like you just watched a really well-rehearsed impersonation, not a play that truly understands the woman behind the legend. It’s a shame, really.
A Disappointing Portrayal
The play just doesn’t quite nail the essence of Joan – the genius, the flaws, the relentless drive, the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. It’s like they only scratched the surface, afraid to delve into the messier, more complicated aspects of her life.
A Recommendation for Further Exploration
Honestly? If you want to really understand Joan Rivers, you’re better off watching a documentary or, even better, reading her own autobiographies. She told her story best, in her own words, with all the sharp edges and unflinching honesty that made her who she was. I mean, she wouldn’t want you to waste your time on a watered-down version of her life, would she?
