French Welles play opinion

[Iago]

I took a look at the photos from the Welles play, "Obediently Yours". I'm afraid I have to disagree with the comment on the main page that the actor has an uncanny resemblance to Welles. The guy looks nothing like him, in both the facial features or in his girth. If anything, he resembles the Architect from the Matrix movies more than Welles. The only thing that remotely looked familiar is the red pajamas that Welles used to wear. Is the play in english or french? And why would it debut in France? Couldn't the producer find a venue in the states? I've seen many Welles-related plays and they were all sub-standard. The only exception was Austin Pendleton's play which I caught in Hollywood a few years back. Au revoir!

[NoFake]

Maybe it's not so much a matter of physical resemblance as sense of being, understanding... maybe you have to see it to appreciate it! :;):

[Iago]

After now reading the review of the OBEDIENTLY YOURS play, it confirms that it sounds like crap. Just as THE MAGNIFICENT WELLES play was utter garbage. Trying to capture the essence of Welles the man, in both look, feel and sound, is almost an impossible venture for any producer or actor, the closest being the aforementioned play by actor Austin Pendleton. My opnion in no way takes away from Richard France's excellent book, THE THEATRE OF ORSON WELLES. But his play sounds like a snooze fest. Perhaps if it ever makes it to America, I'll check it out and maybe then, I'll change my view...but I doubt it.

[NoFake]

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Maybe some other Wellesnetters will get over there to see it, and bring us back their impressions.

[Christopher]

I just wanted to mention that Jeff Still, the actor who played Orson in the New York production of Austin Pendleton's play, "Orson's Shadow," was uncannily like the real Orson, even though Jeff doesn't resemble him physically. However, Jeff, a superb actor, created an illusion of the real Orson by imitating his voice, his inflections, his mannerisms and so on, and it was totally convincing within the context of the play.

[ToddBaesen]

Based on Leslie's report I'd don't quite see how one could reach the assumption that the play is crap without seeing it.

How did you come to reach that conclusion, Iago?

[Iago]

The play sounds like a borefest with it's scattered topics, as the story dabbles in Welles' radio commercial gigs <yawn>, Welles' complaints about OTHELLO, DON QUIXOTE, THIRD MAN and SHANGHAI <groan>, and Welles' personal opinions about the Isaac Woodard case <been there, done that>. Just wake me when this turkey's over!

[NoFake]

The critics don’t seem to agree with you:

http://www.lelitteraire.com/article2611.html

http://www.lemague.net/dyn/article.php3?id_article=2413

http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture....te.html

[Iago]

What critics? You mean those three French bakery chefs? I must be wrong then.

[NoFake]

To that all I can say is, you certainly weren't wrong when you chose the moniker "Iago".

[Jeff Wilson]

If someone who has actually seen the play wants to weigh in, they can start a new thread. Otherwise, this one is going nowhere and is now locked.