Oscar Levant was committed to Mt. Sinai Hospital by his wife. He suffers from schizophrenia. One day, his wife tells the hospital that he needs to leave for four hours to attend his daughter’s graduation. However, he is actually going to appear on the Tonight Show with Jack Paar. On the show, he talks about all the things the network executives want him to avoid: politics, religion, and sex. Afterwards, they want him to play piano, but he really doesn’t want to.
This play is fantastic. It is definitely Tony Award worthy. Doug Wright has written a masterpiece that explores this complex character. The show runs 1 hour and 40 minutes. They should add an intermission just to give the audience a breather from the nonstop laughs and action. The perfect time to add an intermission could be when the curtain drops before the start of the Tonight Show.
Sean Hayes (Will & Grace, SmartLess) does a suburb job portraying Oscar Levant. It’s an amazing award-worthy performance! Ben Rappaport (Outsourced, The Good Wife) is truly charming as Paar. He makes for a great television host. The role of the network executive is nailed by Peter Grosz (Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Stranger Than Fiction). He delivers some of the funniest lines of the night. Emily Bergl is spectacular as Oscar’s wife. She plays the character with such passion and conviction. Ethan Slater, Ramell Tillman, and John Zdrokski are all solid in their supporting roles.
Cost of a ticket: $55 and up
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value
Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother
Get tickets now for Goodnight Oscar through April 24th!
Quinn Delaney
PlaylistHQ 