PATRIOTS Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 12:30am

Following a brief London run last summer, Peter Morgan’s new play Patriots crosses the pond to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it begins Broadway previews tomorrow night (April 1) before an April 22 opening. The political drama stars Michael Stuhlbarg and Will Keen as Russian powers Boris Berezovsky and Vladimir Putin; the cast also includes Luke Thallon, Stella Baker, Ronald Guttman, and Alex Hurt. Patriots runs through June 23; Rupert Goold directs. Of note, Netflix, one of the show’s producers, is also currently developing a film adaptation.

“In 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union, the new Russia belongs to its oligarchs — and no one is more powerful than billionaire Boris Berezovsky. When an eventual successor to President Boris Yeltsin is needed, Berezovsky turns to the little-known deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin. But soon Putin’s ruthless rise threatens Berezovsky’s reign, setting off a riveting, near-Shakespearean confrontation between the two powerful, fatally flawed men.”

Who’s going, comrades?

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 8:43pm

Without diminishing what could well be a very insightful play, asking people to spend money on a play about Putin, while we still can't escape him on the nightly news is kind of a hard sell for me.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 9:01pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "Without diminishing what could well be a very insightful play, asking people to spend money on a play about Putin, while we still can't escape him on the nightly news is kind of a hard sell for me."

I'm pretty sure Putin doesn't get a royalty -- so I don't get the reasoning here? Is he made out to be a misunderstood hero in the play?

Maybe you and the "anti monarchy" guy should start a cover band?

 

 

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 10:14pm

I wouldn't say that Putin is shown to be "misunderstood" or a person to be pitied, based on what I saw in London. He is not sympathetic. But, I also just think he is underwritten. Putin's "change" really seemed, to me,  to come out of nowhere. Now, this is Berezovsky's view, so perhaps understandable. Both Putin and Berezosky claim to be "patriots" - who only love Russia - all the while profiting from their supposed "love". Some of the financial machinations were a little difficult to follow as I was not familiar with the Berezovsky tale. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 10:57pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "Without diminishing what could well be a very insightful play, asking people to spend money on a play about Putin, while we still can't escape him on the nightly news is kind of a hard sell for me."

to each their own, but isnt that what makes this play topical, relevant, etc? 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 9:36am

https://nypost.com/2024/04/01/us-news/boardwalk-empire-actor-michael-stuhlbarg-attacked-by-rock-wielding-homeless-man-near-central-park/

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 10:54am

Attacked?!  The man threw a rock at his back and the cops arrested the man (with a previous assault record).  Michael even declined medical attention. Slow news day if this merits to be called an “attack.” Geez.  

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 11:05am

I mean...yes "attack" is a completely accurate description here.

Attack: "an aggressive and violent action against a person or place"

[gibsons2]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 11:10am

BrodyFosse123 said: "Attacked?! The man threw a rock at his back and the cops arrested the man (with a previous assault record). Michael even declined medical attention. Slow news day if this merits to be called an “attack.” Geez."

Are you unwell? The man has been assaulted with an object and by luck hasn't been seriously harmed. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 11:28am

As a former New Yorker, if getting a rock thrown at my back is considered an “attack” then I can easily say I’ve experienced countless assassination attempts during my 7 years in NYC. 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 11:58am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "Without diminishing what could well be a very insightful play, asking people to spend money on a play about Putin, while we still can't escape him on the nightly news is kind of a hard sell for me."

to each their own, but isnt that what makes this play topical, relevant, etc?"

I was really sorry to hear about Michael Stuhlbarg getting attacked. It's a little surreal the suspect got apprehended outside the Russian Consulate. 

Getting back to if the play is relevant, for sure the topic is relevant. But is it revelatory? There's no way to know that without watching it. However, Putin has been running Russia for 25 years. We know exactly who he is. What makes him tick is wanting to gain and retain power, I don't think it's that complicated.  

It's really hard finding new things to say about an active political figure as scrutinized as Putin. If the reviews say Patriots is brilliant and does say something new, I'll probably buy a ticket. But otherwise, I'm just spending a couple of hours with a very familiar, unpleasant character. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 11:59am

I'm going to agree that "attack" seems a bit strong of a word here. Technically correct, sure - but that's a bit of a loaded word.

But the US loves hyperbole. A few months ago Duff Goldman (the baker/food network) was involved in a car accident with a drunk driver.   Scarey, I have no doubt.  But the yahoos that needed to talk about it kept referring to it as a 'near death' accident.. Duff did injure his hand (lots of stitches, but seemingly that's it.)   Yes, it could have been worse, but the man wasn't even admitted to the hospital overnight.   Boy, did I get $hit for pointing that out.  

[JSquared2]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 12:14pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "As a former New Yorker, if getting a rock thrown at my back is considered an “attack” then I can easily say I’ve experienced countless assassination attempts during my 7 years in NYC."

 

Really??  I've lived here 40+ years and it has never happened to me -- but if it ever does, I would most certainly consider it an attack.  If it happened to you "countless times" in just 7 years -- I think it's safe to assume that it's your personality? 

[Kad]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 12:16pm

Yeah, I've lived here for 16 years and can safely say I've never had a rock thrown at me and I can't think of anybody else I know who has, either.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 12:53pm

dramamama611 said: "I'm going to agree that "attack" seems a bit strong of a word here. Technically correct, sure - but that's a bit of a loaded word.

But the US loves hyperbole. A few months ago Duff Goldman (the baker/food network) was involved in a car accident with a drunk driver. Scarey, I have no doubt. But the yahoos that needed to talk about it kept referring to it as a 'near death' accident.. Duff did injure his hand (lots of stitches, but seemingly that's it.) Yes, it could have been worse, but the man wasn't even admitted to the hospital overnight. Boy, did I get $hit for pointing that out."

A little over a year ago, a presumedly mentally unstable man I wasn't even looking at hit me in the head with a soup can on the C train, screaming at me to get off his train car. The cops insisted I get in an ambulance and it brought me to Bellevue. I got 4 stitches and went home. 

I was fine in the sense I moved on with my life. I was not fine in the sense any time I see someone acting erratic on the train, adrenaline starts pumping, and I start going through all the things I should and shouldn't do if I get attacked, based on that experience. 

What I'm getting at is no one I told that to in real life responded with "well technically you were attacked but you didn't even stay overnight at the hospital." They just said they were sorry that happened to me. 

If we're just having a discussion, cool. Why is your first instinct when you hear something bad happening to someone else to try and convince people they're overreacting?     

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 1:39pm

Great response. Empathy is a powerful thing.

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 2:22pm

Per the reports, he was hit in the back of the head/neck by the rock, not his back. I wouldn't downplay the severity of what is clearly an unprovoked attack. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 3:38pm

Per a press release issued by the production:

Michael Stuhlbarg will perform at tonight’s first preview performance of Patriots on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, as scheduled. As media outlets have reported, the actor was randomly attacked near Central Park last night. The entire Patriots company fully supports Mr. Stuhlbarg, who feels fine and is looking forward to performing on stage tonight.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 3:42pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Attacked?! The man threw a rock at his back and the cops arrested the man (with a previous assault record). Michael even declined medical attention. Slow news day if this merits to be called an “attack.” Geez."

1.  You are so highly insensitive to take the time to write what you did 

2. You just mucked up an entire thread on previews to this show 

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 4:01pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Attacked?! The man threw a rock at his back and the cops arrested the man (with a previous assault record). Michael even declined medical attention. Slow news day if this merits to be called an “attack.” Geez."

Sometimes people say dumb things on here and lose credibility as a theatergoer.

You just lost credibility as a human being.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 4:49pm

You just lost credibility as a human being.

Boo-ya! Another thing off my Bucket List. Thank you to everyone who voted. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 9:08pm

anyone who shows up to downplay a violent assault with a weapon is PRECISELY the person who would be screaming bloody murder if they, themselves, were ever so attacked.

Looks like Stuhlbarg handled this attack with grace, calmness, and a true Show Must Go On spirit, and that should be our takeaway here. Good for him. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 11:50pm

2:50 running time including intermission, per Telecharge

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 4/2/24 at 11:53am

So...did anyone see this last night that can comment on it?  The topic intrigues me but I'll admit it's been lower on my priority scale compared to everything else.

[theaterdarling]

Posted: 4/2/24 at 1:22pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "PipingHotPiccolo said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "Without diminishing what could well be a very insightful play, asking people to spend money on a play about Putin, while we still can't escape him on the nightly news is kind of a hard sell for me."

to each their own, but isnt that what makes this play topical, relevant, etc?"

I was really sorry to hear about Michael Stuhlbarg getting attacked. It's a little surreal the suspect got apprehended outside the RussianConsulate.

Getting back to if the play is relevant, for sure the topic is relevant. But is itrevelatory? There's no way to know that without watching it. However, Putin has been running Russia for 25 years. We know exactly who he is. What makes him tick is wanting to gain and retain power, I don't think it's that complicated.

It's really hardfinding new things to say about an active political figure as scrutinized as Putin. Ifthe reviews say Patriots is brilliant and does say something new,I'll probably buy a ticket. But otherwise, I'm justspending a couple of hours with a very familiar,unpleasant character.

A few things:

"..There is no way to know without watching"   Well, yes always better not to pontificate on whether a play says something new or not without seeing it. Respectfully, might have been a good idea to heed that advice. That being said one could have easily read reviews of the UK productions that could have explained to you the play's unique vantage point on Putin and, some, do indeed say the play and/or the performances were brilliant.   

You do know that while Putin is of obvious significance to the play, albeit technically a supporting part, the play tells the story of Putin's rise through the eyes of Boris Berezovsky, and to a lesser extent, other oligarchs who enabled Putin and met various fates. So, unless you are up on your Russian oligarch history, you might indeed learn something new about Putin and his rise.  

I pretty much know the story of modern British monarchy inside and out and after a billion books/movies/plays regarding same I'm sure there is nothing new to say about it, but, as with "The Crown", "The Queen," "The Audience," when Peter Morgan has a go at a piece of history I know something about, I still listen.  Probably nothing new to know about Richard Nixon once "Frost/Nixon" was written - coupled with the ability to watch the real interview on which the play/movie was based, yet Peter Morgan made it something new.  I don't know if "Patriots" will tell me anything new about Putin and if the facts are 100% correct (love or hate Morgan for that), but he excels at telling an oft told historical tale singularly and in an incredibly smart, entertaining and impactful way, with great wit. You throw Rupert Goold into this and pretty much a no brainer no matter how much I might know about the subject matter.

"..asking people to spend money on a play about Putin, while we still can't escape him on the nightly news is kind of a hard sell for me."   Yes, for you perhaps, but theatergoers in the UK spoke loudly regarding this and were quite happy to have their money taken from them to spend time with Putin (again, let me repeat, a play more about or as much about the men who enabled Putin) - I believe "Patriots" was the fastest sell out in Almeida history and with the West End run the play recouped.  If plays were only written about historical figures we like and are happy to spend tie with, then (stating the obvious) serious theater going would be a much sadder place. Richard III, anyone - the list goes on.  

Thankfully Sonia Friedman was not at all shy about asking me to spend my money even though I can't escape Putin on the nightly news, and I couldn't have handed said money over to her fast enough for the April 20 matinee. 

And, if you were not aware of this, what also distinguishes Morgan's work is that he writes so smartly and vibrantly that the actors saying his words always are lauded and honored - substantial list. Keen won the BAFTA and, as I previously cried about in another thread, while I am profoundly disappointed that Tom Hollander (BAFTA nominated for Boris) will not be in this production I am sure Stuhlbarg will find similar acclaim in an incredibly juicy role and Keen will be similarly lauded on this side of the pond. Again, (stating the obvious) but brilliant performances are their own joy - and a reason itself to attend a play about a "familiar" and "unlikeable" subject matter.

Sorry, just needed to respectively address your dismissiveness of the play's subject matter, which, unfortunately, irked me to no end --especially when there are so many interesting elements to this production. Nothing personal. As a previous poster said, to each his own and many might feel similar - though my mind is majorly boggled by it.