‘Dog Day Afternoon’ Theater Review: Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach Lead a Disastrous Adaptation of a Cinema Classic
#Dog Day Afternoon #Broadway #Jon Bernthal #Rupert Goold #Stephen Adly Guirgis #Sidney Lumet #theater review #adaptation critique
📌 Key Takeaways
- The Broadway production transforms the serious film into an inappropriate comedy
- Creative conflicts occurred during production, with the playwright temporarily banned from rehearsals
- The director fails to capture the tension and authenticity of the original film
- The adaptation trivializes complex characters and relationships
- The iconic 'Attica! Attica!' moment is turned into an awkward audience participation exercise
📖 Full Retelling
🏷️ Themes
Adaptation, Theater criticism, Film vs. stage
📚 Related People & Topics
Dog Day Afternoon
1975 American crime drama film by Sidney Lumet
Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 American biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and produced by Martin Bregman and Martin Elfand. The film stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick and Charles Durning. The screenplay is written by Frank Pierson and is based on the Life magazine artic...
Jon Bernthal
American actor (born 1976)
Jonathan Edward Bernthal (; born September 20, 1976) is an American actor. He came to prominence for portraying Shane Walsh on the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2010–2012; 2018), where he was a starring cast member in the first two seasons. Bernthal achieved further recognition as Frank...
Stephen Adly Guirgis
American dramatist (born 1965)
Stephen Adly Guirgis (born 1965) is an American playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. He is a member and a former co-artistic director of New York City's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced both Off-Broadway and on Broadway, as well as in the UK. His play Between Riversi...
Rupert Goold
English theatre director
Rupert Goold (born 18 February 1972) is an English director who works primarily in theatre. He is the artistic director of the Almeida Theatre, and was the artistic director of Headlong Theatre Company (2005–2013). Since 2010, Goold has been an associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
This Broadway adaptation matters because it represents a significant cultural moment where a beloved classic film is being reinterpreted for the stage. The negative reception affects the careers of the actors (Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach), the director (Rupert Goold), and the playwright (Stephen Adly Guirgis). It also impacts the legacy of the original film and raises questions about how sensitive social themes should be handled in contemporary theater adaptations.
Context & Background
- Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 film directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik, a man who robs a bank to pay for his lover's gender reassignment surgery.
- The film was based on a real-life 1972 bank heist in Brooklyn, New York, and was praised for its authentic portrayal of desperation and social commentary.
- The original film was nominated for six Academy Awards and is considered a classic of American cinema.
- This Broadway adaptation marks the first major theatrical adaptation of the film in its 50-year history.
- The film is particularly noted for its sensitive portrayal of Sonny's relationship with his trans wife Leon, played by Chris Sarandon.
- Director Rupert Goold is known for his innovative stage productions, including the acclaimed 'King Charles III.'
- Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright known for works like 'Between Riverside and Crazy.'
What Happens Next
Given the critical panning, the production may face declining ticket sales and potentially a shortened run. The creative team might need to address the criticisms in future productions or press statements. The negative reception could also impact future adaptations of classic films, potentially leading to more careful consideration of tone and social themes in theatrical adaptations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 film based on a real bank heist in Brooklyn, starring Al Pacino as a man who robs a bank to pay for his lover's gender reassignment surgery. The film explores themes of desperation, media frenzy, and LGBTQ+ relationships.
The adaptation is directed by Rupert Goold and stars Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The screenplay is adapted by Pulitzer-winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. It's being performed at New York's August Wilson Theater.
Critics have panned the production for transforming the serious drama into an inappropriate antic comedy, misunderstanding the tone of the original film, replacing thriller elements with broad humor, and trivializing complex relationships, particularly Sonny's connection with his trans wife Leon.
The adaptation fails to capture the tension and authenticity that made the original film a classic. It replaces the sober thriller elements with broad humor and caricatured characters, and reportedly handles the trans character with crassness that seems regressive compared to the more sensitive treatment in the 50-year-old film.
The negative reception could impact the reputations of director Rupert Goold, playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis, and actors Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, potentially affecting their future casting opportunities and projects.
Yes, this marks the first major theatrical adaptation of the film in its 50-year history, making it a significant cultural event despite its negative reception.