Comedy

If there is, I dont know who it is. He is so perfect in this role, its hard to believe it wasnt written for him. The show is a bit dated, being a revival of a 1934 show, but it still has some relevant things to say about love and age. David Hyde Pierce perfectly plays the workaholic playwright who doesnt quite trust the love that is right in front of him. I sat in the second row, and could see up close the painful look in his eyes as he believes his love is passing him by. So touching! Charles Kimbrough is also marvelous as Flogdell the butler, bringing a bit of his famous Jim Dial character from Murphy Brown to the role. You simply cant go wrong with a David Hyde Pierce show on Broadway.

posted on 06/01/2009 at 4:39:00 PM

Ive seen this play twice n actually like the play. Its a bit dated in that in this day n age 50 is anything but old...its hardly middle age. David Hyde Pierce actually is beginning to look his age which makes his Stephen Gaye believable. The story line has already been related here so Ill just say that in the performances i saw with the exception of Charles Kimbrough Davie Hyde Pierce *is* the show. Contrary to what others have said, I did NOT see any of Niles or Cioffi in these performances. I thought he was absolutely brilliant n kept the show moving with h is impeccable timing!! In terms of Broadway performances the rest of the cast is amateurish, especially Ms. Garretson. So its an old play...its nice not to have sex thrown in your face for a change as well as not to h ave all the screaming n the *F* word thrown around as in so many other shows. Just my humble opinion.

posted on 04/30/2009 at 4:20:00 PM

Accent on Comedy - from As Good As News http://michaeljamesh.blogspot.com/2009/04/accent-on-youth.html David Hyde Pierce [revisits his award winning role as Niles Crane? - not entirely fair] milks every laugh from some witty dialog in the otherwise unremarkable Accent on Youth, a Manhattan Theater Club production now in previews. Steven Gaye Pierce is a playwright with a long string of successful Broadway comedies under his belt. After rounding age 51 or 53 or maybe its 54 he writes a tragedy dealing with themes of December-May romance. Attempting to cast a leading lady, Gaye meets with a much younger old flame Rosie Benton. Sparks fly. Gaye is prepared to chuck it all and flee to Finland with his renewed love when his much younger, naturally assistant Linda Brown Mary Catherine Garrison surprisingly declares her adoration. Gaye is smitten yet again, with inspiration. Suddenly, its forget Finland. With a new first act inspired by Browns revelation, the play succeeds. The former assistant captures the female lead in Gayes new play and his life. Dickie Reynolds David Furr a handsome, inarticulate mans man, looms in the background as the male lead in that new play. Comedy ensues. With sometimes inspired dialog and a few characters successfully walking the edge of farce, there are laughs present here. Pierce captures them with help from Rosie Benton and Charles Kimbrough Jim Dial from Murphy Brown as his valet. The predictable plot, thin characters, uninspired performances from Garrison and Furr and a somewhat one dimensional performance from Pierce himself dont generate much empathy, nor much joy when all is resolved. The result is a comedy that gets laughs, but doesnt explore any new ground and doesnt produce much of that Broadway non-black comedy staple, the emotional uplift.

posted on 04/19/2009 at 11:36:00 AM

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