Interesting.

From Graydon Royce of The Star Tribune:

"Gremlin scored a coup in securing long-distinguished actors Claudia Wilkens and Richard Ooms for Mary and James, but the result is not as edifying as this pairing might have augured. Ooms looked tentative, lacking Tyrone's cocksure swagger and earthy style. He is more fastidious patrician than brawling bully, and it is only in the stupor of self-reflection in the fourth act that Ooms gets into rhythm and owns his dialogue. Wilkens doesn't have the body language nor the facial expressions of a nervous addict in dry dock. O'Neill makes great reference to Mary's nervous hands as a symbol of her isolation and pain. Little of this shows in Wilkens' performance."

From Rob Hubbard of The Pioneer Press:

"If O'Neill's genius weren't attraction enough, two of the Twin Cities' most admired actors — real-life spouses Claudia Wilkens and Richard Ooms — have left the Guthrie stage they've been on so many times for an intimate little theater in downtown St. Paul. There, they inhabit the roles of Mary and James Tyrone so brilliantly that audiences should feel honored by the opportunity."

Not that I'm expecting them to agree, but I wonder if I'm the only one who feels the Pioneer Press readers got the short end of the stick here. I mean, what exactly have we been told? "They inhabited their roles brilliantly." That's it. That's all. No other details.

Oh come on, Pioneer Press! EARN your salaries!!

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Derek Miller: Good reviewers found in unlikely places.

Matthew A. Everett: The Humble Reviewer

Graydon Royce: The Snide Critic

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How Reviews Can Cut Through The Hype

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