BORN YESTERDAY at the Cort Theatre

(Seen 5/10/11)

Although peopled with a good cast, this revival of Garson Kanin's once-sharp and opinionated picture of dishonesty in our nation's capital, seems picaresque rather than pointed.

Jim Belushi, Nina Arianda, and Robert Sean Leonard go through the motions and machinations of the political and big business intrigue that seems to be the normal activity in government. And director Doug Hughes has failed to flesh out more than surface portrayals from his talented cast, making the play seem like a tv situation comedy.

Set in John Lee Beatty's opulent hotel suite, the cast moves like cardboard figures going through the motions -- rather than the emotions -- of important things happening that will change their lives, and maybe the lives of Washington's political establishment. It comes across as superficial comedy, sometimes entertaining, but never meaningful. Another missed opportunity.