Careful With That Act Eugene

The second outing with G&A was to the Old Vic to see A Moon For The Misbegotten. My first trip there. The seats we had were pretty rubbish, in the top balcony at the side, so we had to strain forward to see half the stage. The play was so engrossing though that it didn't really bother me too much. The first act was a lot lighter than I expected. I thought Eugene O'Neill was a by-word for interminable angst and dread, but this was played as broadish comedy. Superb performances from Eve Best as a penniless Southern farm girl with a bad reputation, and Colm Meaney as her conniving Pa. The seond act was a lot darker, with an awe-inspiring performance from Kevin Spacey as a gulit riddled alcoholic, based on O'Neill's brother. At one point someone in the crowd was giggling at Eve Best's speech. Not too surprising as even the tragic denouement was being played for the occasional laugh, but in this case Spacey obviously felt it was inappropriate, and still reacting to Best, held his hand up to the audience. I did a double take as I realised he was breaking the fourth wall and communicating directly with the crowd. A tricky stunt to pull off, but one that actually paid off as it was obvious that Spacey was just trying to get the piece treated with the respect he felt it deserved.