THE LYONS Review Quotes

“NICKY SILVER’S BEST PLAY IN 16 YEARS! Hilariously frank, clear-sighted, compassionate and forgiving. A metamorphic magic imbues The Lyons. Fluidly directed by Mark Brokaw and performed by top-drawer actors.” –Ben Brantley, The New York Times “THE LYONS  SUCCEEDS MARVELOUSLY! Silver’s in top form – a funny, furious tale with honesty, savagery, humanity and wit.” -Scott […]

“NICKY SILVER’S BEST PLAY IN 16 YEARS!

Hilariously frank, clear-sighted, compassionate and forgiving. A metamorphic magic imbues The Lyons. Fluidly directed by Mark Brokaw and performed by top-drawer actors.”

Ben Brantley, The New York Times

THE LYONS  SUCCEEDS MARVELOUSLY!

Silver’s in top form – a funny, furious tale with honesty, savagery, humanity and wit.”

-Scott Brown, New York Magazine

“VERY FUNNY AND SURPRISINGLY AFFECTING!

Sharp verve and genuine affection. Silver has written his best dialogue in ages. Linda Lavin is a virtuoso marksman, hitting her target every single time.”

-Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Post

“TRULY ENJOYABLE! A TERRIFIC EVENING!

A pleasure to be back in Nicky Silver’s whirlpool of emotional hunger, despair and unexpected tenderness.”

-Linda Winer, Newsday

The Lyons  is smart and funny and moving!

LINDA LAVIN TRIUMPHS! A deeply affecting portrait — entertaining and thought provoking!”

-Jesse Oxfeld, The Observer

“Mazel Tov, Linda Lavin! She is WONDERFUL.

Nicky Silver has written one of his better works in years — one that moves at a crackling pace, peopled by fleshy, interesting characters, including a terrifically sour Dick Latessa. One leaves the theatre laughing. Hurry! Will be one of the hotter tickets of the season!”

-Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press

“HILARIOUS!

It’s nice to see Nicky home again! The performances are delightfully cracked and hysterical in Mark Brokaw tightly focused production.”

-David Cote, NY1

“LINDA LAVIN IS SUBLIME!

A fitting addition to Nicky Silver’s delightfully deranged oeuvre. Blissfully absurd.”

-Melissa Rose Bernardo, Entertainment Weekly

“HAS AUDIENCES HOWLING!

Linda Lavin performs with remarkable emotional depth. Michael Esper’s performance is exceedingly moving. A superlative ensemble.”

-Andy Propst, TheaterMania

“WILDLY FUNNY AND DEEPLY TOUCHING!

FULL OF BELLY LAUGHS AND STARK INSIGHTS! Simultaneously heartbreaking and hilarious! These ‘Lyons’ are worth listening to!”

-David Sheward, Backstage

“LAVIN IS A MARVEL TO WATCH!

Her Rita is a mother from hell, a woman on earth and a gifted actor in heaven.”

-Adam Feldman, Time Out New York

 

“A bitterly funny new play. Darkly hilarious.

Mark Brokaw’s production is sterling — very well acted by a top-notch company. Linda Lavin’s performance is brilliant.”

-Michael Sommers, New Jersey Newsroom

Artists

David Lander

(Lighting Design) Vineyard: THE LYONS, BEAUTIFUL CHILD, AFTER ASHLEY, THE ARGUMENT, AMERICAN FIESTA. Broadway: MASTER CLASS with Tyne Daly, BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO (Drama Desk Award; Tony and Outer Critics Nominations), 33 VARIATIONS (Tony and Outer Critics noms), I AM MY OWN WIFE (Drama Desk and Outer Critics noms), A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, DIRTY BLOND, GOLDEN CHILD. Off Broadway: MTC, New Group, NYTW , Playwrights Horizons, Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre, Signature Theatre, among others. Regional: Arena Stage, George Street Playhouse, Huntington Theatre, Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, St. Louis MUNY, Old Globe, among others. International: London, Dublin, Caracas, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, among others. Architectural lighting designs in Copenhagen (Tivoli Gardens), Sea World in San Diego and Orlando. Public Art installations in Houston, Pittsburgh, Providence, Denver and New York City.

Michael Krass

(Costume Design) Vineyard Theatre: THE LANDING, THE LYONS, MARY ROSE, BEAUTIFUL CHILD, EIGHT DAYS (BACKWARD), ANTIGONE IN NY, AMERICA DREAMING, HIT THE LIGHTS. Broadway: MACHINAL (Tony nomination); THE LYONS, AFTER MISS JULIE; THE CONSTANT WIFE (Tony nomination); TWELVE ANGRY MEN; YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN; RECKLESS, THE REHEARSAL (Drama Desk nomination), HEDDA GABLER, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE; many more. Off-Broadway: world premieres by Edward Albee, John Guare, Nicky Silver, Kenny Lonergan, David Rabe, Christopher Durang, Alfred Uhry, Theresa Rebeck, Elaine May, Keith Bunin. Downtown NY: built for collapse, THE SERPENT (Daniel Kramer), HADESTOWN (Rachel Chavkin), etc. Dance: BalletTech. Regional: The Guthrie, Arena Stage, The McCarter, Old Globe, La Jolla, ten summers at The Hangar, twelve summers at Williamstown. Film: Campbell Scott’s HAMLET. Opera: PELLEAS AND MELISANDE in St. Petersburg, Russia. Teaching: eighteen years at NYU undergrad, now the grad school at Brown.

Allen Moyer

(Scenic Design) Broadway: THE LYONS,  LYSISTRATA JONES, AFTER MISS JULIE, GREY GARDENS (Tony/Drama Desk nominations, Henry Hewes Award), THURGOOD, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, THE CONSTANT WIFE, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, RECKLESS. Recent Off-Broadway: THIS DAY FORWARD and DOT (Vineyard), STEVE and RASHEEDA SPEAKING (New Group), DINNER WITH FRIENDS (Roundabout/Laura Pels), FAR FROM HEAVEN (Playwright’s Horizons), GIANT (The Public), A MINISTER’S WIFE and THE NEW CENTURY (Lincoln Center Theater). Extensive opera credits include ORFEO ED EURIDICE for the Metropolitan Opera. Also, ROMEO AND JULIET; ON MOTIFS OF SHAKESPEARE with the Mark Morris Dance Group and CAROUSEL and SHOW BOAT (Live from Lincoln Center) for the New York Philharmonic, and THE NEW YORKERS and BIG RIVER (City Center Encores!). 2006 OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence.

Mark Brokaw

(Director) New York premieres include works by David Auburn, Lynda Barry (THE GOOD TIMES ARE KILLING ME), Douglas Carter Beane (AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN), Charles Busch, Julia Cho, Lisa Kron (2.5 MINUTE RIDE), Kenneth Lonergan (THIS IS OUR YOUTH, LOBBY HERO), Craig Lucas (THE DYING GAUL), Nicky Silver (THE LYONS, TOO MUCH SUN) and Paula Vogel (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME). Broadway: HEISENBERG, RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, THE LYONS, AFTER MISS JULIE, THE CONSTANT WIFE, CRY-BABY, RECKLESS. Regional includes Guthrie, Seattle Rep, Center Theatre Group, Yale Rep, La Jolla, Steppenwolf, Berkeley Rep, Sundance Theatre Lab and the O’Neill Theatre Conference. He has directed at London’s Donmar Warehouse and Menier Chocolate Factory, Dublin’s Gate Theatre and the Sydney Opera House. Mark is the artistic director of the Yale Institute for Music Theatre and serves on the Executive Board of SDC. Artistic associate: Roundabout Theatre.

Nicky Silver

Nicky Silver (Playwright) has been produced extensively in New York City as well as across Europe and as far away as South Korea (where THE LYONS was called HAPPY HAPPY FAMILY). His plays include PTERODACTYLS (Oppenheimer Award, Kesselring Award, Drama Desk nomination, Outer Critic’s Circle nomination), THE EROS TRILOGY, THE FOOD CHAIN (Outer Critic’s Circle nomination), FAT MEN IN SKIRTS, FIT TO BE TIED, THE MAIDEN’S PRAYER, FREE WILL & WANTON LUST (Helen Hayes Award), MY MARRIAGE TO ERNEST BORGNINE, THE ALTRUISTS, RAISED IN CAPTIVITY (Drama Desk nomination, Outer Critics Circle nomination, Drama-Logue Award), TOO MUCH SUN and THE LYONS (Drama Desk nomination).

Gregory Wooddell

(Brian) Broadway: THE LYONS, CYMBELINE at Lincoln Center Theatre. Other theatre credits include the world-premiere of Terrence McNally’s SOME MEN at Philadelphia Theatre Center, the American premiere of SCHOOL OF NIGHT at Mark Taper Forum, and the world premiere of MIRACLE AT NAPLES at Huntington Theatre. His film and TV credits include “Exposed,” “30 Rock,” “Hard Ball,” “The Paradise Virus,” and “Third Watch.”

Brenda Pressley

(Nurse) Brenda Pressley’s stage work includes: THE LYONS, DREAMGIRLS (original company), THE AMERICAN PLAY, CATS, THE MOONEY SHAPIRO SONGBOOK, THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, MOM HOW DID YOU MEET THE BEATLES?, SEVEN GUITARS, FRAN’S BED, GOODWILL, MARVIN’S ROOM, AND THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND-THE SONGS OF KANDER AND EBB and BLUES IN THE NIGHT. Her TV and film work includes: “Cradle Will Rock,” “Twisted,” “Body of Proof,” and “Brewster Place” (with Oprah Winfrey).

Dick Latessa

(Ben Lyons) DICK LATESSA won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his performance in the Tony Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY. Other Broadway credits: THE LYONS, CABARET, PROPOSALS, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED…, DAMN YANKEES, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, RUMORS, BROADWAY BOUND, RAGS, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, PASSIONE, I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES, CHAPTER TWO, FOLLIES, AWAKE AND SING!, DUBARRY WAS A LADY; LI’L ABNER. Mr. Latessa’s Off-Broadway credits include: CHAUCER IN ROME, OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, FIT TO BE TIED AND SOPHISTRY. His TV and film work includes: “The Substance of Fire,” “Alfie,” “The Good Wife,” and “Six Degrees.”

Linda Lavin

Kennedy Center: FOLLIES; LCT: OTHER DESERT CITIES, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG (Broadway), THE NEW CENTURY (Drama Desk Award; Off-Broadway). Broadway: THE LYONS, COLLECTED STORIES (Tony nomination), HOLLYWOOD ARMS, THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST’S WIFE (Tony nomination), THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (Tony nom., Drama Desk Award), GYPSY, BROADWAY BOUND (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Helen Hayes awards), THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Tony nom.), COP OUT, STORY THEATRE, SOMETHING DIFFERENT, IT’S A BIRD…IT’S A PLANE…IT’S SUPERMAN, A FAMILY AFFAIR. Off-Broadway: CAKEWALK; DEATH (The Public); THE MAD SHOW; OH, KAY! (Theatre World Award), LITTLE MURDERS (Outside Critics Circle Award). Regional: FINISHING THE PICTURE, COLLECTED STORIES, DOUBT, RABBIT HOLE, DRIVING MISS DAISY. Film: The Backup Plan, The Muppets Take Manhattan, See You in the Morning, I Want to Go Home. TV: “Alice”, “Barney Miller”, “Room for Two”, “Conrad Bloom”. TV films “The $5.20 an Hour Dream”, “A Matter of Life and Death”, “A Place to Call Home”, “Lena: My 100 Children”, “Best Friends for Life”, “The Ring”, “Collected Stories”. Cabaret: Songs and Confessions of a One-Time Waitress; national appearances include Birdland, The Metropolitan Room, Wilmington Symphony, NY. Upcoming: the film Wanderlust and her first CD, Possibilities!

Michael Esper

(Curtis Lyons) Broadway: THE LYONS, AMERICAN IDIOT and A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS. His Off-Broadway credits include THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL’S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, subUrbia, and THE AGONY AND THE AGONY. His regional credits include ME, MYSELF AND I at McCarter Theatre. His TV and film credits include: “All Good Things,” “Bunker Hill,” A Beautiful Mind, and “Dying is Easy.”

Kate Jennings Grant

(Lisa Lyons) Broadway: THE LYONS, Sarah Brown in GUYS AND DOLLS; PROOF and AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER (both directed by Daniel Sullivan). Off-Broadway: Bette in THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO, THE BEARD OF AVON (directed by Doug Hughes), BETWEEN US, RADIANT BABY, SUMMER OF ’42, BLOOMER GIRL. Regional: BLITHE SPIRIT, TALLEY’S FOLLY, THE MISANTHROPE, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, FINIAN’S RAINBOW, APPLAUSE. TV includes: “Pan Am,” “Body of Proof,” “Parenthood,” “Royal Pains,” “White Collar,” “Rescue Me,” “Damages,” “Commander in Chief,” “Cold Case,” “3LBS.” Film: “Love and Other Drugs,” Diane Sawyer in “Frost/Nixon,” “The Rebound,” “United 93,” “When A Stranger Calls,” “Forgiven,” “Kinsey.” Kate is a graduate of Juilliard and the University of Pennsylvania.