Full Article Text
ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA COMEDY MUSIC TV CELEBRITY KIDS MOVIEFONE
Michael Giltz
Freelance writer and raconteur
Posted: March 24, 2011 01:56 PM
BIO
Become a Fan
Get Email Alerts
Bloggers' Index
1
34
0
0Inspiring Funny Hot Scary Outrageous Amazing Weird CrazyTheater: "The Dream Of The
Burning Boy" Almost Catches Fire
Read More: Reed Birney , Roundabout Theatre , Entertainment News
THE DREAM OF THE BURNING BOY ** 1/2 out of
****
Roundabout Black Box Theatre at the Haroldand Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre
The Black Box Theatre admirably meets its mission to
mount new plays by emerging writers and directors with
The Dream Of The Burning Boy . It is, indeed, a new
play by the promising writer David West Read,presented simply but with professionalism by directorEvan Cabnet and a solid cast that do it justice. See it andyou'll be reminded anew of the skill of lead actor ReedBirney and look forward to Read's next show. Gettingthe chance to see his work performed with such care
should prove invaluable.
The story is a familiar one: a high school student has dropped dead in the hallway and everyone from
teachers to his family and friends are struggling with how to react. The boy's sister (Alexandra Soche)resents how all the students make such a show of their mourning (and take full advantage of the daysthey can skip school and not be in trouble). His girlfriend (Jessica Rothenberg) feels pressured to grievepublicly and regularly, not easy when she apparently fooled around with his best friend (Jake O'Connor).But most interesting of all is his favorite teacher Larry (the always solid Birney), who doesn't seem to begrieving enough at all. Prodding from the school conselor, a former student Larry can't take seriously(played very well by Matt Dellapina), will eventually draw out the revelations we know are coming.
MOST POPULAR ON HUFFPOST 1 of 2
9/11 Responders Warned
They Will Be Screened For
Terrorism Ties (EXCLUSIVE)
Jerry Seinfeld, Donald Trump
Rip Each Other In Heated
Political War Of Words
PlayStation Network Could Be
Down For Days FOLLOW USBIG NEWS: Celebrities | Britney Spears | LeAnn Rimes | Lindsay Lohan | Tribeca Film Festival | More...
PHOTOS: The
Funniest People
Not On TwitterMiranda Kerr &
Orlando Bloom
Step Out To 'The
The Funniest
Someecards For
Easter 2011Weekly Roundup of
eBay Vintage
Clothing Finds
News Web
Like 276K April 24, 2011 | Log In | Sign Up
Get Alerts
SHARE THIS STORY
Submit this story
Get Entertainment Alerts
Sign UpPHOTO GALLERIES
Like 20K
Like 4K
FRONT
PAGEPOLITICS BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA TECH COMEDY SPORTS STYLE WORLD FOOD LIVING IMPACT EDU LOCAL
All the tech elements are solid, such as the sets by Lee Savage. Essentially, a series of bookcases are
rearranged repeatedly to reflect a classroom, a library and a counselor's office quite effectively, aidedespecially by the sound design of Jill BC DuBoff. The cast is strong top to bottom. And while the storyfeels familiar, it's constructed efficiently and clearly. Unfortunately, it's also constructed a little too neatly.
The teacher is haunted by a recurring memory of his last chat with Dane (Josh Caras), the student who
left his classroom and died a moment later in the hallway. The first scene of the show depicts the final
moments of the boy's life. And then towards the end of the show, we see that scene again, fully awarethat we're watching the teacher's dream. It's an unsettling, effective moment, coming right after anintriguing scene where Dane's sister behaves unexpectedly. These two scenes together raise all sorts offascinating issues. They make us believe these characters can surprise us and move us by capturing thatfrustrating sense of regret and missed opportunities that can so unsettle the people left behind when alife is cut short. It was the perfect ending, doing what theater can do better than any other art form.
Unfortunately, the show went on for about another ten minutes. We're given a Good Will Hunting scene
where the teacher has an emotional breakthrough and is able to begin to heal. It's all too rote and neatly
tied up in a bow. If Read can realize his play went on a little too long, that the need to connect the dotsand give us some closure is the wrong one, that art should unsettle us, not reassure us, he'll build on thispromising work and this fine production and deliver something great the next time around.
THE 2010-2011 THEATER SEASON (ratings on a four star system)
Angels in America revival at Signature *** out of ****
Beautiful Burnout at St. Ann's Warehouse **
Blood From A Stone ** 1/2
The Broadway Musicals Of 1921 at Town Hall ***Devil Boys From Beyond **
The Diary Of A Madman with Geoffrey Rush at BAM ***The Dream Of The Burning Boy ** 1/2Driving Miss Daisy **
Elf *
Elling **
A Free Man Of Color ** 1/2
Gatz ***
Ghetto Klown ***
Good People with Frances McDormand **
The Grand Manner **
The Great Game ***
Gruesome Playground Injuries ***
The Hallway Trilogy: Nursing **The Hallway Trilogy: Paraffin ***
Shelterpop: Unplugging
Appliances: Do I REALLY
Have to Do This?
Popeater: Brad and
Angelina's Strict Nanny
Requirements
What To Do About Smelly
Feet
Noam Chomsky Is the World
Too Big to Fail? The
Contours of Global Order
AOL Real Estate: Prince
William and Kate to Live in
Royal Mansion
TV Squad: Maria Menounos
Relives Her Paparazzi
'Wardrobe Malfunction' on
'Lopez' (VIDEO)
DON'T MISS HUFFPOST BLOGGERS 1 of 5
Sam Waterston
Saving Easter Island’s Marine
Ecosystems
David O. Russell
FDR Said it All in 1936 -- Who Will
Follow in His Steps Today?
More Celebrity News at People.com
Like 1K
Like 1K
Like 1K
Like 670
Like 3K
Like 56
Like 52
Lindsay Lohan Is 'Angry'
About Jail Sentence
READ MORE
Antoine Dodson Arrested
READ MORE
Stefano Langone RevealsHis Relationship Status
READ MORE
Royal Wedding Guest ListRevealed: Who's Going?
The Hallway Trilogy: Rose ***
The Importance Of Being Earnest ** 1/2
The Interminable Suicide Of Gregory Church *** 1/2
John Gabriel Borkman * 1/2
La Bete ** 1/2
Les Miserables ***
Lombardi **
The Merchant Of Venice *** 1/2
Middletown ***
The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore *
Mistakes Were Made ** 1/2
Nixon In China *** 1/2
The New York Idea **
The Nightingale and Other Short Fables at BAM ***
Other Desert Cities **
Our Town with Helen Hunt ***
The Pee-wee Herman Show ***
The Road To Qatar *
Room ***
The Scottsboro Boys ****
Small Craft Warnings zero starsThree Sisters (w Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard) *** 1/2Timon Of Athens at Public with Richard Thomas ***
The Whipping Man **
Wings **
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown **
AT THE NEW YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL
Blood Ties ***
Fellowship * 1/2
Fingers and Toes ** 1/2
Frog Kiss *** 1/2The Great Unknown ** 1/2Nighttime Traffic **Our Country *PopArt *Shine! The Horatio Alger Musical ** 1/2Show Choir **Tess: The New Musical **Trav'lin' ***
Without You *** 1/2
*****
Thanks for reading. Michael Giltz is the cohost of Showbiz Sandbox, a weekly pop culture podcast that
reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinionmakers as guests. It's available free on iTunes. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog.
Download his podcast of celebrity interviews and his radio show, also called Popsurfing and alsoavailable for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and gain access to thousands of ratings and
reviews .
Note: Michael Giltz was provided with tickets to the show with the understanding that he would bewriting a review.
Follow Michael Giltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelgiltz
More in Entertainment...
TOP VIDEO PICKS 1 of 10
Lindsay Lohan Back in the
Slammer
Beckhams In, Obamas Outat Royal Wedding
Olsen's Wacky Fur Outfit
MOST DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW 1 of 2
HOT ON FACEBOOK 1 of 3
HOT ON TWITTER 1 of 2
More Celebrity News at Popeater.com'Bed Intruder' Star AntoineDodson Arrested
Paul Reiser's New Show
Yanked After Two Weeks
Jerry Seinfeld, Donald
Trump Rip Each Other In
Heated Political War Of
Words
Is Kate Beckinsale The
Next Sharon Stone?
Viral Star Antoine Dodson
ARRESTED
Like 5K
Daytime Disaster! Did
ABC Have to Kill All My
Children and One Life to
Live?
Like 834
mayhemstudios
RT @sbeasla : What happens when
you tickle a little penguin?
http://j.mp/dEZjCM via
@huffingtonpost
twsuccess
Antoine Dodson Arrested For
Marijuana Possession
http://huff.to/edLaIo
Lindsay Lohan
Quickly Released
From Jail After...
Antoine Dodson
Arrested For
Marijuana
Possession
'The Hangover 2'
Trailers: New TV
Spots...
'The Office' Season
Finale: Jim Carrey
Joining...
Buy a link here Sponsored Links
Mom Is 55, Looks 30...
Her clever $5 wrinkle therapy angers Botox Doctors. Find Out How!
FDXNews8.com
SHOCKING: Apple iPad for $24.87
TODAY ONLY: Auction site to give away 1,000 iPads for $24.87!
Channel9Today.org/Shocking-Deals
Trade Free for 60 Days.
Plus get up to $500. Apply at E*TRADE Securities.
www.etrade.com/tradefree
DO NOT buy Auto Insurance!
A secret to saving you money now. $9 Auto Insurance is here!
www.Consumer-Insurance.org
Loading comments…
Buy a link here Sponsored Links
Mom Is 55, Looks 30...
Her clever $5 wrinkle therapy angers Botox Doctors. Find Out How!
FDXNews8.com
HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES
NBA
Afghanistan
Fast Food
Gas & Oil
NASA
Hockey
Brian Williams
Gabrielle
Giffords
Mexico
MORE BIG NEWS PAGES »
ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA COMEDY MUSIC TV CELEBRITY KIDS MOVIEFONE
Advertise | Log In | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Careers | FAQ | Contact Us
User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type
Copyright © 2011 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | "The Huffington Post" is a registered trademark of TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Get AlertsFRONT
PAGEPOLITICS BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA TECH COMEDY SPORTS STYLE WORLD FOOD LIVING IMPACT EDU LOCAL
Michael Giltz
Freelance writer and raconteur
Posted: March 24, 2011 01:56 PM
BIO
Become a Fan
Get Email Alerts
Bloggers' Index
1
34
0
0Inspiring Funny Hot Scary Outrageous Amazing Weird CrazyTheater: "The Dream Of The
Burning Boy" Almost Catches Fire
Read More: Reed Birney , Roundabout Theatre , Entertainment News
THE DREAM OF THE BURNING BOY ** 1/2 out of
****
Roundabout Black Box Theatre at the Haroldand Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre
The Black Box Theatre admirably meets its mission to
mount new plays by emerging writers and directors with
The Dream Of The Burning Boy . It is, indeed, a new
play by the promising writer David West Read,presented simply but with professionalism by directorEvan Cabnet and a solid cast that do it justice. See it andyou'll be reminded anew of the skill of lead actor ReedBirney and look forward to Read's next show. Gettingthe chance to see his work performed with such care
should prove invaluable.
The story is a familiar one: a high school student has dropped dead in the hallway and everyone from
teachers to his family and friends are struggling with how to react. The boy's sister (Alexandra Soche)resents how all the students make such a show of their mourning (and take full advantage of the daysthey can skip school and not be in trouble). His girlfriend (Jessica Rothenberg) feels pressured to grievepublicly and regularly, not easy when she apparently fooled around with his best friend (Jake O'Connor).But most interesting of all is his favorite teacher Larry (the always solid Birney), who doesn't seem to begrieving enough at all. Prodding from the school conselor, a former student Larry can't take seriously(played very well by Matt Dellapina), will eventually draw out the revelations we know are coming.
MOST POPULAR ON HUFFPOST 1 of 2
9/11 Responders Warned
They Will Be Screened For
Terrorism Ties (EXCLUSIVE)
Jerry Seinfeld, Donald Trump
Rip Each Other In Heated
Political War Of Words
PlayStation Network Could Be
Down For Days FOLLOW USBIG NEWS: Celebrities | Britney Spears | LeAnn Rimes | Lindsay Lohan | Tribeca Film Festival | More...
PHOTOS: The
Funniest People
Not On TwitterMiranda Kerr &
Orlando Bloom
Step Out To 'The
The Funniest
Someecards For
Easter 2011Weekly Roundup of
eBay Vintage
Clothing Finds
News Web
Like 276K April 24, 2011 | Log In | Sign Up
Get Alerts
SHARE THIS STORY
Submit this story
Get Entertainment Alerts
Sign UpPHOTO GALLERIES
Like 20K
Like 4K
FRONT
PAGEPOLITICS BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA TECH COMEDY SPORTS STYLE WORLD FOOD LIVING IMPACT EDU LOCAL
All the tech elements are solid, such as the sets by Lee Savage. Essentially, a series of bookcases are
rearranged repeatedly to reflect a classroom, a library and a counselor's office quite effectively, aidedespecially by the sound design of Jill BC DuBoff. The cast is strong top to bottom. And while the storyfeels familiar, it's constructed efficiently and clearly. Unfortunately, it's also constructed a little too neatly.
The teacher is haunted by a recurring memory of his last chat with Dane (Josh Caras), the student who
left his classroom and died a moment later in the hallway. The first scene of the show depicts the final
moments of the boy's life. And then towards the end of the show, we see that scene again, fully awarethat we're watching the teacher's dream. It's an unsettling, effective moment, coming right after anintriguing scene where Dane's sister behaves unexpectedly. These two scenes together raise all sorts offascinating issues. They make us believe these characters can surprise us and move us by capturing thatfrustrating sense of regret and missed opportunities that can so unsettle the people left behind when alife is cut short. It was the perfect ending, doing what theater can do better than any other art form.
Unfortunately, the show went on for about another ten minutes. We're given a Good Will Hunting scene
where the teacher has an emotional breakthrough and is able to begin to heal. It's all too rote and neatly
tied up in a bow. If Read can realize his play went on a little too long, that the need to connect the dotsand give us some closure is the wrong one, that art should unsettle us, not reassure us, he'll build on thispromising work and this fine production and deliver something great the next time around.
THE 2010-2011 THEATER SEASON (ratings on a four star system)
Angels in America revival at Signature *** out of ****
Beautiful Burnout at St. Ann's Warehouse **
Blood From A Stone ** 1/2
The Broadway Musicals Of 1921 at Town Hall ***Devil Boys From Beyond **
The Diary Of A Madman with Geoffrey Rush at BAM ***The Dream Of The Burning Boy ** 1/2Driving Miss Daisy **
Elf *
Elling **
A Free Man Of Color ** 1/2
Gatz ***
Ghetto Klown ***
Good People with Frances McDormand **
The Grand Manner **
The Great Game ***
Gruesome Playground Injuries ***
The Hallway Trilogy: Nursing **The Hallway Trilogy: Paraffin ***
Shelterpop: Unplugging
Appliances: Do I REALLY
Have to Do This?
Popeater: Brad and
Angelina's Strict Nanny
Requirements
What To Do About Smelly
Feet
Noam Chomsky Is the World
Too Big to Fail? The
Contours of Global Order
AOL Real Estate: Prince
William and Kate to Live in
Royal Mansion
TV Squad: Maria Menounos
Relives Her Paparazzi
'Wardrobe Malfunction' on
'Lopez' (VIDEO)
DON'T MISS HUFFPOST BLOGGERS 1 of 5
Sam Waterston
Saving Easter Island’s Marine
Ecosystems
David O. Russell
FDR Said it All in 1936 -- Who Will
Follow in His Steps Today?
More Celebrity News at People.com
Like 1K
Like 1K
Like 1K
Like 670
Like 3K
Like 56
Like 52
Lindsay Lohan Is 'Angry'
About Jail Sentence
READ MORE
Antoine Dodson Arrested
READ MORE
Stefano Langone RevealsHis Relationship Status
READ MORE
Royal Wedding Guest ListRevealed: Who's Going?
The Hallway Trilogy: Rose ***
The Importance Of Being Earnest ** 1/2
The Interminable Suicide Of Gregory Church *** 1/2
John Gabriel Borkman * 1/2
La Bete ** 1/2
Les Miserables ***
Lombardi **
The Merchant Of Venice *** 1/2
Middletown ***
The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore *
Mistakes Were Made ** 1/2
Nixon In China *** 1/2
The New York Idea **
The Nightingale and Other Short Fables at BAM ***
Other Desert Cities **
Our Town with Helen Hunt ***
The Pee-wee Herman Show ***
The Road To Qatar *
Room ***
The Scottsboro Boys ****
Small Craft Warnings zero starsThree Sisters (w Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard) *** 1/2Timon Of Athens at Public with Richard Thomas ***
The Whipping Man **
Wings **
Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown **
AT THE NEW YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL
Blood Ties ***
Fellowship * 1/2
Fingers and Toes ** 1/2
Frog Kiss *** 1/2The Great Unknown ** 1/2Nighttime Traffic **Our Country *PopArt *Shine! The Horatio Alger Musical ** 1/2Show Choir **Tess: The New Musical **Trav'lin' ***
Without You *** 1/2
*****
Thanks for reading. Michael Giltz is the cohost of Showbiz Sandbox, a weekly pop culture podcast that
reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinionmakers as guests. It's available free on iTunes. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog.
Download his podcast of celebrity interviews and his radio show, also called Popsurfing and alsoavailable for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and gain access to thousands of ratings and
reviews .
Note: Michael Giltz was provided with tickets to the show with the understanding that he would bewriting a review.
Follow Michael Giltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelgiltz
More in Entertainment...
TOP VIDEO PICKS 1 of 10
Lindsay Lohan Back in the
Slammer
Beckhams In, Obamas Outat Royal Wedding
Olsen's Wacky Fur Outfit
MOST DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW 1 of 2
HOT ON FACEBOOK 1 of 3
HOT ON TWITTER 1 of 2
More Celebrity News at Popeater.com'Bed Intruder' Star AntoineDodson Arrested
Paul Reiser's New Show
Yanked After Two Weeks
Jerry Seinfeld, Donald
Trump Rip Each Other In
Heated Political War Of
Words
Is Kate Beckinsale The
Next Sharon Stone?
Viral Star Antoine Dodson
ARRESTED
Like 5K
Daytime Disaster! Did
ABC Have to Kill All My
Children and One Life to
Live?
Like 834
mayhemstudios
RT @sbeasla : What happens when
you tickle a little penguin?
http://j.mp/dEZjCM via
@huffingtonpost
twsuccess
Antoine Dodson Arrested For
Marijuana Possession
http://huff.to/edLaIo
Lindsay Lohan
Quickly Released
From Jail After...
Antoine Dodson
Arrested For
Marijuana
Possession
'The Hangover 2'
Trailers: New TV
Spots...
'The Office' Season
Finale: Jim Carrey
Joining...
Buy a link here Sponsored Links
Mom Is 55, Looks 30...
Her clever $5 wrinkle therapy angers Botox Doctors. Find Out How!
FDXNews8.com
SHOCKING: Apple iPad for $24.87
TODAY ONLY: Auction site to give away 1,000 iPads for $24.87!
Channel9Today.org/Shocking-Deals
Trade Free for 60 Days.
Plus get up to $500. Apply at E*TRADE Securities.
www.etrade.com/tradefree
DO NOT buy Auto Insurance!
A secret to saving you money now. $9 Auto Insurance is here!
www.Consumer-Insurance.org
Loading comments…
Buy a link here Sponsored Links
Mom Is 55, Looks 30...
Her clever $5 wrinkle therapy angers Botox Doctors. Find Out How!
FDXNews8.com
HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES
NBA
Afghanistan
Fast Food
Gas & Oil
NASA
Hockey
Brian Williams
Gabrielle
Giffords
Mexico
MORE BIG NEWS PAGES »
ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA COMEDY MUSIC TV CELEBRITY KIDS MOVIEFONE
Advertise | Log In | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Careers | FAQ | Contact Us
User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type
Copyright © 2011 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | "The Huffington Post" is a registered trademark of TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Get AlertsFRONT
PAGEPOLITICS BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA TECH COMEDY SPORTS STYLE WORLD FOOD LIVING IMPACT EDU LOCAL