Broadway Alert – Kevin Spacey in O’Neill’s “Moon for the Misbegotten” Only Through June 10

I am a huge fan of Kevin Spacey’s superb acting. His work in such films as “American Beauty,” “Glengarry Glen Ross” “Se7en,” and “The Usual Suspects” is of the highest caliber. I was not aware until last week that he has been involved as the artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theater. In that capacity, he has put together a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s classic “Moon for the Misbegotten.” After a very successful run in London, Spacey brought the production to Broadway for a very limited run of a few weeks.

I was fortunate enough to see the play last week, and was mesmerized by the performances of the three principal actors – Spacey in the role of Jim Tyrone, Colm Meaney as Phil Hogan, and Eva Best as Hogan’s daughter, Josie. These three consummate stage actors are a triumphant troika that pulls the sled of O’Neill’s haunting drama over the rough terrain of family dysfunction and romance gone wrong. As is the case with most of O’Neill’s plays, the action is seen through the fog of alcohol and its distorting effects. Spacey’s character, in the throws of a drunken crying jag, has a cathartic moment that leaves the audience spellbound and breathless.

This is acting and drama of the first order. The play runs only through June 10 in New York. See it if you can.

Al