BROADWAY SNAP-SHOT
by Russell Bouthiller

Dateline: 21 May 2003

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT

What family doesn't have its ups and downs? Mom's hooked on morphine, Dad's a sell-out actor and both kids are tumble-down drunks. No, this is not a spin-off of "The Osbornes." This is the domestic dispute blowing up nightly at the Plymouth Theatre in LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, the autobiographical masterwork from America's sole Nobel laureate dramatist, Eugene O'Neill.

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT stars Vanessa Redgrave as the hopelessly bewildered Mary Tyrone, Brian Dennehy as the miserly patriarch James Tyrone, Philip Seymour Hoffman as the underachieving elder brother James Tyrone, Jr., and Robert Sean Leonard as the consumptive Edmund Tyrone, the playwright's "alter ego."

Director Robert Falls and Dennehy, both of whom won Tony Awards for the 1999 revival of Arthur Miller's DEATH OF A SALESMAN, reunite in this scintillating production of what many consider to be O'Neill's greatest work. Once again, the director succeeds in bringing to the stage a stirring rendition of an American classic, one that may well be remembered as the quintessential interpretation.

With steady control, Falls creates a sense of symmetry among the four Tyrones, allowing his actors to delineate each character's function in this most dysfunctional family. As James Tyrone, Sr., Dennehy has the perfect vocal timber and he marshals his force with every swagger of his imposing girth. From liquor to light bulbs, this James Tyrone appears to rule the roost.

But, Tyrone's unyielding cheapness is precisely what undermines his authority. Attempting to drum into his sons the value of a dollar, his tales of youthful sacrifice fall on deaf ears. His mercenary motives are all too clear. This is most evident when it comes to providing Edmund his much-needed care. Instead of finding the best possible facilities for his ailing son, Tyrone weighs the better bargain.

Tyrone's hold is most seriously challenged by his pitiful wife. Lost in the haze of addiction, she's beyond his control and loosens his grasp at every turn. She castigates her husband for their misfortunes, especially the loss of an infant son. This is a woman who dominates with chaos.

As Edmund, Robert Sean Leonard's gangly frame and sullen looks brilliantly convey the torment of a budding artist trying to emerge in a blighted garden. Edmund bears all the strains of his family's twisted emotions while coping with the prospect of dying. He is like a frayed rope desperately trying to bind his slowly unraveling family.

Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers a smoldering portrayal of the younger James Tyrone. Deemed a ne'er-do-well by his father and the lesser son by his mother, he is acutely aware of their opinion and he mollifies this with drink. He's tries to protect Edmund from their parents' corrosive effects, yet resents Edmund's favorite son status as well as his literary talents. Hoffman's Jamie bellows like the ol' man, but the echo of his mother's despair is his most defining trait.

And, is there any surprise that Vanessa Redgrave's Mary Tyrone is nothing short of spectacular? Her fingers twisted with rheumatism, she communicates a contorted, conflicted, anguished persona with every gesture. Her Mary Tyrone is a lonely boat cut from the anchor of the present moment. By nightfall, she's is completely lost in O'Neill's oft-mentioned fog. This is a truly unforgettable performance, one that will haunt you for quite some time.

Set designs by Santo Loquasto are ideal, offering a teasing glimpse of the Tyrone's infamous staircase. And, his period costumes carry us with great delicacy to a bygone era. Lighting designs by Brian MacDevitt complete the picture admirably. Although LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT takes four hours to unfold and is often repetitive, it is a turbulent trek well worth taking.