"Corrie" running strong

"It caused a stir last spring when London's Royal Court, the theater where the show preemed, publicly accused Off Broadway's New York Theater Workshop of deciding against presenting the show due to concerns it might anger the Jewish community.
But no such ruckus has dogged the commercial incarnation that opened Oct. 15. Rumors of demonstrations never materialized, although activists have handed out leaflets outside the theater at many performances."

-Gordon Cox of Variety reporting on the extended and uneventful run of My Name is Rachel Corrie. Cox's excellent reporting on this story bodes well for what seems a revamped and revitalized Variety theatre page. Welcome!

Indeed, the night I went there were just a couple of people silently handing out flyers--a combination of debunking International Solidarity Organization and asking us to mourn Israeli victims of violence ("the other Rachels"). Basically the kind of internet stuff that freaked out New York Theater Workshop in the first place!

According to Cox, Alan Rickman himself plans on doing regular talkbacks, on Tuesdays. The show's website, though, shows two other especially interesting panels tonight and in two weeks:

Tuesday, Oct. 24 Dan Harris and Alisa Solomon

Tuesday, Nov. 7 David Hare, Tony Kushner and Robert O'Hara. Moderator: Gregory Mosher

Someone has mentioned that such talkbacks won't quite satisfy the call for balance, context, etc. since all the participants seem favorable to the play and/or its vews. Still, I admire Alan Rickman for going out there and giving those with political objections a chance to put him on the spot...Or maybe he's counting on there mostly be Muggles questions.

Note: The show does offer $25 (cash) rush tickets 2 hours before each show, so one of these Tuesdays may be the best time to go, if you are so inclined.