Hir — Park Theatre

[couldileaveyou]

[nash16]

Dec 12, 2023 9:30:40 GMT couldileaveyou said:

Love her. But so sad that she’s reduced to playing the Park Theatre.  Did her film career ever recover after the conviction?  

[Jan]

I wonder if a UK actor with a similar conviction would even be able to get a visa for travel to and work in USA.

[mrbarnaby]

This is really sad. She is such a brilliant actress who should be having a huge career. And yet here she is appearing at the Park theatre.

[jr]

The Park theatre is not a dump. Maybe she is trying to get back without making too much noise and playing a character that interests her?

As for the play, I saw it at the Bush theatre and didn't find it very interesting. I don't remember much except for quite a bit of shouting and moaning about different things.

[vickyg]

A criminal record would end the majority of people's career, irrespective of their talent. Hopefully she's thanking her lucky starts that she can continue in any capacity but I doubt it.

[couldileaveyou]

I mean none of them had been up to much after the end of Desperate Housewives, she wouldn't be packing audiences in a West End theatre even without a criminal conviction.

[parsley1]

KST packed them into the West end

So did Branagh

Doubt either performance going into the annals of fame

Huffman is worth well over 40 million dollars

I am sure this is part of low key approach to a foray into live acting

She has also won an Emmy a Golden Globe

And been nominated for an Oscar and 3 further Globes

No one can condone the behaviour which lead to her arrest

But she has been punished quite amply

Many politicians and others get away with a lot more without any consequences

[zahidf]

Shes paid the price for her crime, so if she wants to rebuild her career with a play, thats fair enough.

[sph]

Dec 14, 2023 13:27:35 GMT vickyg said:

A criminal record would end the majority of people's career, irrespective of their talent. Hopefully she's thanking her lucky starts that she can continue in any capacity but I doubt it.

Would it? In Hollywood a criminal record seems to be part of many an actor's CV... Those whose careers "ended" were usually in a career decline anyway, and even then they often pop back up a decade or so later with a new image and a new TV show. Her crime was very white-collar by Hollywood standards.

That being said, I'm am always a bit surprised to see big names playing smaller venues outside the West End, but I like it. I mean don't we currently have Woody Harrelson at Riverside Studios?

[vickyg]

Dec 14, 2023 15:05:19 GMT sph said:

Dec 14, 2023 13:27:35 GMT vickyg said:

A criminal record would end the majority of people's career, irrespective of their talent. Hopefully she's thanking her lucky starts that she can continue in any capacity but I doubt it.

Would it? In Hollywood a criminal record seems to be part of many an actor's CV... Those whose careers "ended" were usually in a career decline anyway, and even then they often pop back up a decade or so later with a new image and a new TV show. Her crime was very white-collar by Hollywood standards.

That being said, I'm am always a bit surprised to see big names playing smaller venues outside the West End, but I like it. I mean don't we currently have Woody Harrelson at Riverside Studios?

I was talking more about normal folk really. My job would be well and truly gone if I got myself a criminal record as I'm sure most people's would. 

[d'James]

Dec 14, 2023 15:05:19 GMT sph said:

Dec 14, 2023 13:27:35 GMT vickyg said:

A criminal record would end the majority of people's career, irrespective of their talent. Hopefully she's thanking her lucky starts that she can continue in any capacity but I doubt it.

Would it? In Hollywood a criminal record seems to be part of many an actor's CV... Those whose careers "ended" were usually in a career decline anyway, and even then they often pop back up a decade or so later with a new image and a new TV show. Her crime was very white-collar by Hollywood standards.

That being said, I'm am always a bit surprised to see big names playing smaller venues outside the West End, but I like it. I mean don't we currently have Woody Harrelson at Riverside Studios?

Well, haven't you hit the nail on the head there. The operative word being 'actor.' Actresses on the other hand...

(I know, actor can be for everyone, I'm just using it to make a point.)

[sph]

Dec 14, 2023 18:49:26 GMT d'James said:

Dec 14, 2023 15:05:19 GMT sph said:

Would it? In Hollywood a criminal record seems to be part of many an actor's CV... Those whose careers "ended" were usually in a career decline anyway, and even then they often pop back up a decade or so later with a new image and a new TV show. Her crime was very white-collar by Hollywood standards.

That being said, I'm am always a bit surprised to see big names playing smaller venues outside the West End, but I like it. I mean don't we currently have Woody Harrelson at Riverside Studios?

Well, haven't you hit the nail on the head there. The operative word being 'actor.' Actresses on the other hand...

(I know, actor can be for everyone, I'm just using it to make a point.)

There's a fair amount of actresses and female celebrities out there whose mugshots have graced the pages of the tabloids yet all has been forgotten not too long after. Heck even Martha Stewart bounced back! And Winona Ryder popped back up after a couple of years from her shoplifting arrest. I seem to recall Lindsay Lohan being a bit of a wild child too... 

[finalperformance]

She looks great in that picture taken years ago. I say give her a break and head to the off West End playhouse.

[d'James]

Dec 14, 2023 23:21:18 GMT sph said:

Dec 14, 2023 18:49:26 GMT d'James said:

Well, haven't you hit the nail on the head there. The operative word being 'actor.' Actresses on the other hand...

(I know, actor can be for everyone, I'm just using it to make a point.)

There's a fair amount of actresses and female celebrities out there whose mugshots have graced the pages of the tabloids yet all has been forgotten not too long after. Heck even Martha Stewart bounced back! And Winona Ryder popped back up after a couple of years from her shoplifting arrest. I seem to recall Lindsay Lohan being a bit of a wild child too... 

You really think people have forgotten about the three you mentioned? I know nothing about Martha Stewart, but the other two are really nowhere near recovered career-wise.

[sph]

I'd say headlining one of the biggest streaming series around is a pretty solid "recovered" career for a 52-year-old actress yeah.

[theatrescribe]

I saw this Bush Theatre and thought it was pretty sickening - abuse and degradation of a semi-comatose man played for laughs.

[cat6]

Hi! Just saw Felicity Huffman has been fortunate to find employment starring in "Hir" on the west end (according to Mail and Guardian articles). A few years ago Huffman, who comes from a wealthy family and is married to actor William H. Macy, starred in her real-life scandal (dubbed "varsity blues") over here in the US in which she attempted to bribe her daughter's way into uni and ended up in prison. Work has been scarce.

From The Guardian: "Not everyone who sees the new revival of Taylor Mac’s anarchic comedy "Hir" (pronounced “here”) will realise that the play was named by the New York Times as one of the 25 most influential works of postwar queer literature, alongside the likes of Angels in America and Giovanni’s Room."

Do you have any desire to attend this play?

[mrbarnaby]

Dec 14, 2023 14:00:23 GMT parsley1 said:

KST packed them into the West end

So did Branagh

Doubt either performance going into the annals of fame

Huffman is worth well over 40 million dollars

I am sure this is part of low key approach to a foray into live acting

She has also won an Emmy a Golden Globe

And been nominated for an Oscar and 3 further Globes

No one can condone the behaviour which lead to her arrest

But she has been punished quite amply

Many politicians and others get away with a lot more without any consequences

How on earth is she worth over 40million? Inherited money?

[theatrefan62]

Feb 6, 2024 20:09:39 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Dec 14, 2023 14:00:23 GMT parsley1 said:

KST packed them into the West end

So did Branagh

Doubt either performance going into the annals of fame

Huffman is worth well over 40 million dollars

I am sure this is part of low key approach to a foray into live acting

She has also won an Emmy a Golden Globe

And been nominated for an Oscar and 3 further Globes

No one can condone the behaviour which lead to her arrest

But she has been punished quite amply

Many politicians and others get away with a lot more without any consequences

How on earth is she worth over 40million? Inherited money?

She was earning over $300,000 per episode in DH by the end, plus I'm sure she gets residuals.

Invest that wisely and it would be pretty easy to be worth 40 million

[FJ]

Caught the first preview last night and really enjoyed it.

Haven't been to the Park Theatre before and loved the intimacy of it.

I think all 4 actors were brilliant, particularly Felicity Huffman (the main reason I went to see it). Very well polished for a first preview.

Mix of comedy but with deep undertones, interesting themes explored and some great performances.

I thought perhaps a bit of a mixed reaction from the audience, some people definitely looking bored throughout but others (myself included) very engaged.

I'd give it 4 stars.

[parsley1]

I have never been so glad to escape at half time as last night

The acting is good

The dialogue is atrocious

Characters exchange lines which are not even part of any dialogue

There are awful diatribes like a diversity campaign

The set looks like it cost 50p

It’s clear to me Taylor Mac isn’t a playwright

[l0islane]

Caught this tonight. Wow it was miserable. As others have said the performances are great but the play is a mess. Lots of issues raised without any insight into any of them. I was confused, bored and ultimately underwhelmed.

[parsley1]

The playwright is incapable of modulating his thoughts

What you get is a play with every embarrassing cliche

And is desperately politically correct

[avfan]

Loved this last night. Cast were superb across the board but Felicity Huffman was particularly wonderful. Direction and design was superb. Yes it's somewhat overwritten but the performances and direction really make up for it. Well worth a watch.