“NOT TO BE MISSED!” – New York Magazine
Limited Engagement through May 24th
What the critics are saying about
JANE FONDA
IN
MOISÉS KAUFMAN’s
NEW PLAY
33 VARIATIONS
Also starring
SAMANTHA MATHIS, COLIN HANKS, ZACH GRENIER
DON AMENDOLIA, SUSAN KELLERMANN, ERIK STEELE & DIANE WALSH.
NEW YORK MAGAZINE, Stephanie Zacharek
“Not To Be Missed! The action shifts not just between countries but also from century to century. Kaufman allows his characters room to make plenty of wisecracks, as well as mistakes; he gives them space to be human. Fonda meets the challenge like a warrior queen. She may be playing a cerebral academic, but the physicality of her performance is what sticks with you. She uses her trim, sturdy frame to suggest the myriad ways in which our bodies can ultimately betray our minds. That’s not to say Fonda turns the play into a downer: If anything, she treats that betrayal as a grim joke, an approach that suits the unpretentious spirit of the material. What 33 VARIATIONS suggests, ultimately, is that when ideas breathe at all, it’s because human beings have given shape to them in the first place. We’re their alphabet, their notation, and the form we give them can linger, miraculously, even after we’re gone. Colin Hank and Samantha Mathis perform a charming, tentative courtship duet.” http://nymag.com/arts/theater/reviews/55276/
VARIETY, David Rooney
“Fonda distinguishes Kaufman’s play with integrity and class. The play is a race against time. The shifting between the early 19th century and the present is remarkably fluid. Samantha Mathis and Colin Hanks bring charm and sensitivity to their parts. The gradual bridging of the gap between mother and daughter is delicately traced. An impeccably honed production, its fine cast backed by exquisite visuals. David Lander’s mercurial lighting and Jeff Sugg’s artful projections blend seamlessly with Derek McLane’s striking, modern designs.” http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939837.html?categoryid=33&cs=1
DAILY NEWS, Joe Dziemianowicz
“The Oscar winner brings everything to this role that’s made her an iconic film star: pure enthusiasm, toughness tempered by vulnerability, and that distinctive voice which makes every line fascinating. Zach Grenier’s bluster and brooding are the right notes for the tempestuous genius, and Samantha Mathis’ quiet realism works wonderfully. Susan Kellermann employs light touches that take her role beyond stern stereotype. The stylish staging tickles the senses. Derek McLane’s set and David Lander’s beautiful lighting are first-rate.” http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2009/03/10/2009-03-10_jane_fonda_back_on_broadway_for_33_varia.html
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, Lisa Schwarzbaum
“Jane Fonda shares the stage with Ludwig von Beethoven in Moisés Kaufman’s satisfying, musically astute brainteaser. Kaufman’s enthusiasm for conveying the excitement of you-are-there documents is a joy. He makes a convincing case for the genius of emotional variation in each of us, whether we’re Beethoven or not. The music is sublime.” http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20264100,00.html
LIZ SMITH
“An incredible play. Everybody in the cast is simply wonderful. Fonda is elegant, glamorous and ultimately gallant. Get in line now!”
http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/liz-smith-scarlett-johansson-sly-stallone-jane-fonda-33-variations-233053?page=0%2C1
WOR RADIO, David Richardson
“A brilliant play. One of the joys of being a theater critic is to once in a while get surprised by a production. Quite fascinating. The cast, headed by a super Jane Fonda, is just plain terrific. Zach Grenier’s portrayal of Beethoven makes you think Ludwig is right there on the stage in living color. The scenic designs and projections are incredibly good. A straight A-sharp.”
BLOOMBERG NEWS, John Simon
”Fonda looks alluring as ever. The wonderful voice remains unchanged, and her energy, too, is undiminished. The role is extremely demanding, both physically and mentally. Fonda gives a sterling performance.” http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aucncfQtSIGI&refer=muse#
WNBC, Jeffrey Lyons
”A compelling, intelligent and passionate evening of theater. Jane Fonda heads a superb cast. Welcome back to Broadway!”
FOX NEWS, Roger Friedman
“A hit! The play is fascinating. A funny, poignant play, full of sharp observations and honest moments that draw you in. Kaufman makes 33 VARIATIONS a very modern piece of theater, a leap forward out of the standard Broadway drama. And Fonda shows what a star actress is really like on stage. Fonda is every bit as mesmerizing and disarming as she was in movies like “Klute,” “Coming Home” and “Julia.” Fonda is a commanding presence. She gives a Tony Award winning performance. Her castmates are superb, including Samantha Mathis, Colin Hanks, Susan Kellermann, Zach Grenier, and Don Amendolia. Kaufman has surrounded Fonda with pros, and it shows.” http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,507626,00.html
BERGEN RECORD, Robert Feldberg
“It’s hard to explain how the beauty and mysterious power of music is achieved, but Kaufman manages to do just that.” http://www.northjersey.com/entertainment/stage/Beethoven_piece_drives_mystery.html
AM NEW YORK, Matt Windman
“Kaufman’s play hits the right notes-and not just with music. It is an engrossing and moving drama that music enthusiasts are bound to especially appreciate. Fonda provides a non-showy, carefully calibrated performance.” http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/stage/blog/
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wendell Brock
“The steely woman at the center of 33 VARIATIONS has to crack wide open before grace rushes in. In a genius bit of casting, playwright-direction Moisés Kaufman chooses the legendary Jane Fonda to occupy the crucible seat of this complicated mother and musicologist. Fonda exhibits the serene inner beauty of a woman who seems to have spent several lifetimes fighting back the demons of tragedy, fame and controversy. Happily hers is a bravura performance: technically polished, emotionally engaging, honest to the core. Once again, this fascinating public figure finds herself under the scrutiny of the media and the hot, unforgiving lights of the theater. Fonda transcends the glare-with a performance that’s as haunting as it is historic. Zach Grenier gives a dazzling turn as the tormented genius.”
http://www.accessatlanta.com/arts/content/arts/stories/2009/03/10/jane_fonda_broadway.html?cxntlid=thbz_hm
David Binder (A Raisin in the Sun) presents the Tectonic Theater Project‘s production of 33 VARIATIONS, starring Jane Fonda, Samantha Mathis, Colin Hanks, Zach Grenier, Don Amendolia, Susan Kellermann, Erik Steele and Diane Walsh, written and directed by Moisés Kaufman.
Jane Fonda heads a cast of eight in 33 VARIATIONS, a new American play written and directed by Moisés Kaufman, about Katherine Brandt (Jane Fonda) trying to solve a centuries-old mystery about the world’s greatest composer. Katherine’s obsession takes her from present-day New York to 19th century Austria. As the music that consumes Katherine comes to life on stage, she races against time to find common ground with her daughter and to embrace the legacy of her own life.
The design team includes Derek McLane (Sets), Janice Pytel (Costumes), David C. Woolard (Additional Costumes), David Lander (Lights), André Pluess (Sound), Jeff Sugg (Projection Design), Charles LaPointe (Hair/Wig Design), Daniel Pelzig (Choreography) and Mark Bly (Dramaturg).
33 VARIATIONS opened on Monday, March 9th, 2009 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street). The engagement will play through May 24th, 2009.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for 33 VARIATIONS are currently on-sale to the general public and are available by visiting Telecharge.com, calling (212) 239-6200 and at the box office of the Eugene O’Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street). Ticket prices range from $67.00 – $117.00.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
33 VARIATIONS plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00PM with a Wednesday and Saturday matinee at 2:00PM and Sunday matinee at 3:00PM. (Please note: There will be a performance on Monday, February 9th, 2009 at 8PM. Tuesdays at 7PM begin on March 17th, 2009.
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