ACT ONE  at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre

(Seen April 27, 2014)

James Lapine's  adaptation and direction of Moss Hart's now-classic autobiography is lively and entertaining.  As Hart, three stars play him at different ages of his life:  Santino Fontana, Tony Shalhoub, and Matthew Schecter, each one personable and accomplished --- particularly appealing is Fontana!

The inventive turntable-mounted set by Beowulf Boritt, and effective lighting by Ken Billington, serves Lapine's  cinematic approach, even though it sometimes seems cumbersome.

My problem is with the tone of the play, and some of Lapine's choices of material.  He trivializes many of the characters, particularly those of Dore Schary, Ed Chodorov, and Charles Gilpin.  Although the events my be true to Hart's book, it feels like Lapine was always looking for a comedic punch-line, trying to make it a popular entertainment. 

Obviously he succeeds, judging by the enthusiastic audience response to the jokes and the caricatures.  But it could have been so much more