As we have reportedpreviouslyBryan Cranston (Hal) recently starred on stage in Neil Simon’s Chapter Two. Here is a 2nd review that rates Bryan again. If there are any readers who got to see it, it would be great to hear your thoughts.
Solid cast does justice to Simon’s Chapter Two
Benny or Local? If you’re “Chapter Two” director John Burke, you’re probably enjoying a singular opportunity to work with the best of both worlds.
As artistic director of the annual Shadow Lawn Summer Stage series of productions at Monmouth University, Burke has assembled casts that have featured a mix of Actors Equity professionals, community-stage commandos, Monmouth students and occasional characters who appeared to have stumbled onto the set from the fire exit. Results have consequently ranged in quality from the transcendent to the train wreck.
With this revival of Neil Simon’s 1977 comedy, the school’s Music and Theatre Arts Department chair finally has a cast to die for — a quartet of players that includes a couple of Monmouth County’s most versatile pros, along with a pair of talented out-of-towners from screens big and small. It’s a production that’s attracted special attention due to the participation of Bryan Cranston, the Emmy-nominated actor known to millions as Jerry’s swinging dentist on “Seinfeld” — as well as, most memorably, family man Hal on the Fox series Malcolm in the Middle.
In his role as the perennially frustrated, put-upon patriarch in that long-running sitcom, the stalwart character man checked his thespian dignity at the soundstage door and regularly tested the envelope of his considerable energies, going to sometimes superhuman lengths in the service of a sharply-written, creatively realized belly laugh. As the widowed novelist George Schneider in Simon’s quasi-autobiographical play, Cranston is called upon to conjure a very different sort of character — a guy who doesn’t always wear his heart on his sleeve, for whom the right words somehow always manage to be expressed in all the wrong ways.
Keeping a low profile in the early scenes, and gradually dipping into his toolbox of facial expressions and physical-comedy gifts, Cranston finds the requisite laughs in Doc Simon’s dependably gag-infused script — without veering so far into shtick as to dilute the power of his more emotionally wrenching scenes toward the end of this play. It’s a beautifully modulated performance, and a satisfying showcase for a skilled farceur who’s always managed to invest even the silliest of projects with an enormous amount of heart and mind.
Any actor worth his paycheck should be expected to feign likability, of course, but in this production, Cranston finds himself in the company of friends — not least of whom is wife Robin Dearden, the veteran stage-screen actress who co-stars here as Jennie Malone, a recent divorcee who rebounds into a re-marriage as the second Mrs. Schneider. With the action flip-flopping from one Manhattan apartment to another over the course of nearly 20 brief blackout scenes, Cranston and Dearden are asked to telescope what seems like years of life experience into an impulsive whirlwind relationship that seems so doomed, yet so right at its core.
Alternately helping and hindering things are George’s press-agent brother Leo and Jennie’s best friend Faye, played by Shadow Lawn returnee Bill Timoney and his wife, Georgette Reilly Timoney. The Belmar residents are both cartoon-voice specialists and multifaceted artists in their own right; their presence here reinforces the very real sense of rapport among this company.
With the material secure in such good hands, the only problems with the production arise from the fact that it’s being presented in the school’s 700-seat Pollak Theatre, rather than the Summer Stage’s usual home at the charming little Woods Playhouse, a facility that’s currently undergoing some welcome renovations. With whole sections of the auditorium blocked off to ticket buyers, the Pollak makes an unfortunately cavernous setting for this intimately-scaled show.
In the not too distant future, when posterity is able to sort through the prodigious output of the prolific Neil Simon, Chapter Two may take its place as one of the popular playwright’s deepest and most heartfelt works — this despite being ill-served by a 1979 film version that starred a miscast James Caan. Those who might think they’re dealing with the umpteenth dessert-show production of Last of the Red Hot Lovers should grab the opportunity to see this often overlooked play, presented by a group of artists who have mined it for its full heartbreaking, knee-slapping potential.
As previously reported Bryan Cranston next major role is in Breaking Badand AMC original TV series set to air January 2008. Bryan plays a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a meth dealer (using his chemistry skills) when he learns that he is dying of lung cancer so he can provide for his wife and handicapped son after he’s gone.
With its focus on a sympathetic drug peddler, the script from The X-Files exec producer Gilligan had been considered a hot, if controversial, property……The main character does some things that are surprising and questionable……..But it’s a classic story of one man against the system, and you’re rooting for him……While the show doesn’t glorify meth dealing, it does paint a sympathetic portrait of the man who decides to take up an unlikely new vocation as a drug dealer, said those familiar with the project…..
Bryan’s on screen son (16) is played by RJ Mitte (pictured above) which his biggest role to date. RJ and his character share something in common both have cerebral palsy (although RJ’s is mild). For more information on RJ read this article. There is a lack of plot imformation and the current photos we have focus on RJ. But we are on the lookout.
As we have reportedpreviouslyBryan Cranston (Hal) is currently starring on stage in Neil Simons Chapter Two. Here is a review that rates Bryan but is disappointed overall. If there are any readers who get to see it, it would be great to hear your thoughts.
Chapter Two has turned into a blacker comedy than it needs to be at Shadow Lawn Stage in West Long Branch.
Granted, this is Neil Simons most complicated play, for it deals with death and disappointment. The famous line Marry in haste, repent at leisure here becomes “Remarry in haste, and repent almost immediately.”
Give credit, though, to the four performers — including Bryan Cranston (Hal in Malcolm in the Middle) — for making the laughs that do exist to fly over the footlights. All four, however, are sabotaged by set designer Fred Del Guercio and director John Burke — though both men were probably undermined by a small budget.
Del Guercio hasn’t designed a set, but is merely the show’s interior decorator. All he’s done is pick out pieces of furniture, and arrange them into two apartments — one for recent widower, novelist George Schneider, and one for actress Jennie Malone, who’s newly divorced. Behind them, Del Guercio hasn’t created two distinct walls, but has simply dropped an enormous black curtain. That dark expanse imposes an additional heaviness.
Burke, though, is the bigger culprit, for thinking that each scene needs to end with a blackout. Considering that there are 18 scenes, the lights go out far too often. The audience sits in darkness for dozens of seconds, and waits … and waits … and waits. That short-circuits the play’s flow.
Most directors who tackle “Chapter Two” prefer to keep the lights up when, say, George exits from his apartment to end a scene and Jennie comes into hers to begin one. While every now and then a technical worker needs to come on in darkness to deal with a significant prop, Burke still should have kept the blackouts to a minimum.
The chemistry is excellent among the four performers for good reason. Cranston (George) and Robin Dearden (Jennie) are married in real life. So are Bill Timoney, who plays George’s brother Leo, and Georgette Reilly Timoney, who portrays Jennie’s best friend Faye Medwick.
Cranston first wears the mask of tragedy as, at first, George mourns the loss of his beloved wife, cancer-victim Barbara, to whom he was blissfully married for 12 years. When a believable contrivance has him meet Jennie through an errant phone call, Cranston finally gets the chance to put on the mask of comedy. He knows how to play consternated, and can amusingly shrink in his skin when he makes a mistake. At playing benign neurosis, Cranston is a master comedian.
Dearden first plays the divorcee as the seen-it-all New Yorker, seeming as haughty as her impressively high cheekbones. She then displays a third-degree burn on her soul. Eventually she warms into such a nice person that, if George doesn’t appreciate her, many men in the audience will yearn to take his place.
Simon made George and Jennie the “serious” couple, and Leo and Faye the “comic” one. Thus, the Timoneys have more fun. He has an astonishing sense of comic timing, and knows how to punch a punch line. She has a delicious pert quality that usually isn’t seen in this role, but she makes it work wonderfully.
“Chapter Two” isn’t the summer-by-the-sea comedy that audiences may desire on a hot night. Still, for those who always wondered what Hal in “Malcolm in the Middle” did for a living, here’s one answer: Bryan Cranston is an accomplished stage performer who knows that having a strong cast around him makes him look even better.
BY PETER FILICHIA
Performances play Pollak Theatre on the Monmouth University campus July 19-29, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ. Tickets are $35. For information, call (732) 263-6889 or visit the official site.
As was reported last year Bryan Cranston (Hal) will have a devilish turn this august in the 2nd and 3rd part of ABC’s Fallen trilogy. Quite a role change from Hal! But as many will know Bryan has shown he is very much a multi-talented actor. He plays Lucifer alongside Aaron Corbett(Paul Wesley) the half-angel. Check out the trailer and behind the scene clips below.
Frankie Muniz (Malcolm) was on SpeedFreakson ESPN2 last Thursday (July 19). He did a interview about racing in the Champ Car Atlantic. I think it was filmed a month or so ago.
Frankie is racing in Edmonton today, here is his interview with the The Edmonton Journal. All the best Frankie and drive safe.
He was never the one scaling the neighbourhood fence, looking for the next boyhood adventure. He was a tap and jazz dance student, a child actor. He was Malcolm in the Middle.
But 16 months ago, Frankie Muniz walked away from Hollywood and stepped into a race car.
He traded in money and fame for octane and adrenaline.
Frankie Muniz was bitten by the racing bug at a celebrity event in California.
“There’s probably less of a guarantee for me as an actor just because it’s all about being wanted. Not about performance. Not anymore,” said Muniz, who is in Edmonton to drive in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship.
“There are people I can name right now who are getting paid $10 million for a movie, and they’re horrific but they’re big celebrities.”
“And I didn’t really like being in a world like that.”
“I like this, because if I put my mind to it and work hard enough and if I do well on the track, that’s it. You can’t tell me I’m not good. I like that aspect a lot more.”
“And I do think I have a future in racing — if not as a driver then as an owner,” says Muniz, 21.”
Sitting in his team’s steamy paddock at the City Centre Airport, the site of this weekend’s races, Muniz spoke about the shift from TV star to speed demon.
No longer is he playing a role, he’s now playing catch-up, given that most of the racers he competes against grew up driving go-karts.
“I had no idea I was going to be a race car driver. I had no idea I wanted to be a race car driver, but I’m not bad,” he said. “And I’m very competitive, so it’s very satisfying to have a good result or to beat guys on the track.
“Even if I qualify in the back, I’m always running with people. I’m right there. That really pushes me too, knowing I’m as good as I am after 16 months.”
Then again, he never took acting lessons either, but at the age of 13 was cast as Malcolm, the boy-genius who ended up anchoring an award-winning sitcom that aired for seven seasons.
He’s done voice-over work on The Simpsons, had major roles in the films My Dog Skip, Big Fat Liar and Agent Cody Banks, and there are three more movies still set for release.
There are no other projects in the works — except the one that revolves around his No. 13 Chandler Team Jensen Mazda-Cosworth. That is where his focus lies. It is why he has a personal trainer, why he has put 23 pounds on his small frame. Why he will be on the track today for the first qualifying run.
By 2010, Muniz is certain he’ll have graduated from the Atlantic series to the Champ Car circuit.
“I played all kinds of sports, but I was afraid to go up the stairs at waterparks. I mean, I’m not afraid to drive fast but I was afraid of heights, of roller-coasters. I wasn’t a crazy daredevil kid.
“I was the one who was afraid to climb the fence and break into the school to go play basketball. But I’ve always loved cars, I’ve loved watching racing, and now I’m doing it at a very high level, and it’s amazing. I’m really enjoying myself.”
The bug first bit in 2005 when Muniz won a celebrity race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. He was looking to buy a NASCAR team and tossed out the idea that he should go for a test ride for owner Eric Jensen. “I think he reluctantly said yes, just because he was testing real drivers, but after the second day he signed me for two years.”
Last season, Muniz made his professional debut in the Formula BMW circuit. What followed were seven Atlantic starts that saw him finish no better than 19th, but lately Malcolm has moved into the middle of the pack.
He roared into ninth place in the July 8 race in Toronto, and now he’s here in Edmonton, where there will be races on Saturday and again on Sunday.
“It’s all about building confidence,” he said. “You have to be confident that the car is going to stick and I had to be confident in myself.
“I know when I first looked at the Atlantic car it scared me. The thought of driving it a year ago was crazy, but now I am and I’m doing pretty well.”
“I do hope to be doing this for a really long time.”
As we reported last monthTV Land had an exclusive visit to the Malcolm in the Middle set when they filmed the final episode last year. The ‘Finales‘ episode aired last night. What did the cast take from the set? Watch below to find out!
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It will also be re-airing on Sunday, July 22nd @ 10:00pm on TVLand.
As previously reported, the ‘Finales’ episode will air tomorrow (Wednesday), July 18th @ 10:00pm on TVLand. If you miss this episode for any reason, you’ll still have another chance to catch it as it will be re-airing on Sunday, July 22nd @ 10:00pm on TVLand.
We have no idea how much of the episode will be on Malcolm in the Middle but will try to have a copy viewable here.
Frankie mentions in this video that he is guest starring in ‘The Dewey Cox Story‘ which was retitled ‘Walk Hard‘
However this is the first mention of it I’ve ever heard and I can’t find anything that backs this up.
It is of course possible that he was cut from the film but the interview was only shot back in May, but then again he is out of the Hollywood loop currently (racing) so it’s possible he made a mistake somehow.
‘Walk Hard‘ is expected for a 14 December 2007 release.
We will keep you up to date with any further developments but if you have more information please comment here or in the Forum.
Justin Berfield (Reese) attended the chariety event ‘Rock The Kasbah’ on July 2. This event was held in honour of Eve Branson, mother of Sir Richard Branson, for her work with Virgin Unite, which Justin supports.
The benefit was held to raise funds for ongoing projects, set up by Eve Branson in association with Virgin Unite, underway in Morocco.
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As we have reported previously Bryan Cranston (Hal) recently starred on stage in Neil Simon’s Chapter Two. Here is a 2nd review that rates Bryan again. If there are any readers who got to see it, it would be great to hear your thoughts.
As we have 
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