Pound (Triumvirate Artists)

See it if you like... Christopher Lloyd; brilliant performances; history you might not know

Don't see it if you prefer light stories

See it if you want to see a virtuosic performance by Christopher Lloyd supported by good cast. This may have suffered in previews, but it's great now

Don't see it if you're not interested in history or heavy subject matter. A lot of the dialogue is unpleasant to hear, but comes across authentic

See it if You are interested in Ezra Pound. This is well written. Looking around the audience not a head moving

Don't see it if You do not like to hear the word kike. Jew. Lloyd was reading from script. No humor at all.

See it if Facing treason charges, the bigoted poet is apprehensive to leave hospital; relies on Jewish therapist to save him from himself. Fine cast.

Don't see it if No poetry. Racial slurs. At both performances, the great Lloyd(that voice!) was on book, throwing off the cast, the rhythm, and missing cues

Also Wait until Lloyd settles in. Sir, Pull Down Thy Vanity. On a revisit, he's still on book, but isn't as befuddled on stage. That means that at least 25% of the run was not how the playwright and the director intended.
--There was an unsettling moment when Lloyd, looked up from book and delivered excoriation to an ethnic group. THAT he remembered
--...And upon the third and final re-visit to the final show (in light of the violence over the weekend to the maligned group called out onstage)...he was off book, but sadly, stumbling through his lines and stepping on actor's lines. All these error's made Kate Abbruzze's brilliant work as Dr. Polley even more apparent. Brava.... Read more Read less

See it if A profound, well acted play. Hard to follow at times.

Don't see it if If You are looking for a quick moving upbeat theatre experience

See it if If you like Christopher lloyd. He stands well out in this cast. If you like the poet Ezra Pound.

Don't see it if If you dont like the subject matter or Pound. Biased and cursing throughout.

See it if you'll do your homework on Pound: why is he @ this psychiatric ward in DC for 12yrs? Interesting life, mind, battles w/personal demons, etc.

Don't see it if you don't do the research. If you already know about him, you won't learn anything new (but you'll get to see Christopher Lloyd LIVE).

Also Felt unfinished @ 90min.

Actually, @ a very slow line-delivery pace last Thurs nite, it ran 1hr & 45min. We thought the pace was a reflection of Ezra's mind @ the age of 72, but no. There were enough uncomfortable long pauses, missed/repeated lines, actors talking over each other... towards the end, "Dr Polley" (Kate Abbruzzese) mistakenly called "Archie MacLeish" (Redman Maxfield) Mr Pound instead of Mr MacLeish.

The book gives only a small glimpse of Pound's mind. You'd have to read a good bio to get how he became an ex-pat, a Mussolini fan, & an anti-Semite.

Cynthia Darlow ("Nurse Pris") is a ton of fun. Wish her character had been explored a little bit further.

Enjoyed seeing Christopher Lloyd perform live on stage. Huge fan. And no, no script our night. His "Ezra" was valiant, argumentative, sturdy, smug... until he meets "Dr Polley". Great back-n-forth between them, until HE breaks.

Heartfelt? Yes. We felt for him. Deserving? Each to decide for themselves.

Do your homework!... Read more Read less

See it if you're curious about Ezra Pound. I knew nothing about him, and was quite intrigued.

Don't see it if you are expecting a 'finished' piece. Unfortunately, this appears to be a work in progress.

Also It's frustrating to sit through a production that is well-written & well-cast yet not completely primed. As indicated in previous reviews, Christopher Lloyd is reliant on having his script in hand for much of the performance. In spite of this, his portrayal of the titular character is dynamic. Kate Abbruzzese is equally vigorous as the substitute psychiatrist assigned to deal with him. Their rapport is good theater, and this is fundamentally their story. However, the two supporting characters might have been given a bit more stage time to add some more variety to this imagined tale. Perhaps this production will one day evolve into a film adaptation for which Mr. Lloyd might be more in his comfort zone.... Read more Read less

See it if If you dont know who Pound was this really doesn't inform you. But if you do this gives a moment for empathy but ultimately infuriates.

Don't see it if You are offended by noxious 'Pound-isms' about Kykes and Jews... It will be about 20 minutes shorter when Lloyd is off script.

Also The end in which we are shown Pound's, hopefully fictitious, comeupance was shatteringly ugly and pointless. DId Pound deserve condemnation? Absolutely. But to employ a psychiatrist deliberately dismantling Pound through subterfuge made me question who was the worse demon--which admittedly the play briefly addressed. Two days later I remain unsettled, I suppose that is a job well done. But please---make it go away.

Likewise the woman to my right soundly snoring throughout.... Read more Read less

See it if You appreciate the story of Ezra Pound the poet. It's very interesting.

Don't see it if You want a finished play.

See it if see notes

Don't see it if see notes

Also I went to see the second preview and the director classified it as a work in progress. It seemed to be well written, actors were more than competent. The problem was that Christopher Lloyd was carrying his script and was constantly referring to it. It slowed down the action to a snail's pace and it dragged. The story is of interest and when he gets his part down the score could go up.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see Lloyd in person.

Don't see it if you are expecting to be wowed by the subject matter. Sadly, Lloyd is constantly referring to the script in hand. Very distracting.

See it if You had better be a Christopher Lloyd fan.

Don't see it if Lloyd did not know his lines read from the book. I think he is to old to memorize them. The premise rapidly becomes absurd and grating.

Also IT IS NOT true at all. A polemic. Only saving grace is Lloyd acting like a bastard. IT IS NOT ABOUT ART.... Read more Read less