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A CurtainUp Review

Falling Off Broadway
By Jenny Sandman


Why don't you find something useful to do?. . .I went to see a therapist. --David Black

David Black
David Black
David Black has had a long and varied career, which includes being a producer. Unfortunately it makes for an autobiographical solo show that just as rambles along. A series of anecdotes about his life and childhood lack any real sense of urgency or discovery.

Granted, some of Black's stories are pretty interesting. He trained in Italy for five years to be an opera singer. When his opera career failed to materialize, he stumbled into Broadway producing and eventually produced eighteen shows. These included George M., The Impossible Years, and the revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

With the hits came the misses. And so, after his fifth straight flop, Black had a nervous breakdown at the Waldorf-Astoria. From there he went on to become a painter, a career which led to several solo shows on both sides of the Atlantic.

But Falling Off Broadway is not strictly about Black's career. His entire life has been a journey to separate himself from his parents. I'm afraid there's not much new or exciting there. Emotionally distant and sometimes overbearing, their presence shadows their son's life. As his many therapists could probably attest, every new endeavor has merely been another attempt to win attention from his mother and approval from his father. It's a common problem, and an old theme in literature, but in this show it becomes a little monotonous.

Black is a good writer and he manages to create something resembling a narrative out of his life. However, while this is an engaging story (sometimes), Black isn't an engaging actor. He's not particularly animated which makes me suspect he's a better producer than actor. For the audience, it adds up to a lackluster evening.

Director Craig Belknap is to be commended for doing a great job with the flat script. The production values are excellent. Several of Black's uniquely impressionistic paintings are projected during the show. They're colorful and vibrant. Too bad the rest of the play is so monochrome.

FALLING OFF BROADWAY
Written and performed by David Black
Directed by Craig Belknap
Set, Lighting and Projections Design by Tal Sanders
Costume Design by Mimi Maxmen
Sound Design by Brian Hurley
Running time: Sixty minutes with no intermission
Playwrights Horizons Peter Sharp Theater, 416 West 42nd Street; 212-279-4200
11/26/04 through 2/20/05; opening 12/05/04
Tuesday through Saturday at 8 pm; Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm. All tickets $47.50
Reviewed by Jenny Sandman based on December 2nd performance
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