Hughie - Play Your Cards

Please note this performance of Hughie occurred during the show's previews, and changes to the show may be made ahead of its official opening night.

Fun Fact: Eugene O’Neill (playwright) disowned his daughter, Oona, for marrying Charlie Chaplin. She was just 18 while Chaplin was 54.

Target Audience: An older crowd will enjoy this, as well as the avid Eugene O'Neill fans

Feel-o-meter: Hughie definitely left me thinking "What’s the point?" and wondering how many lonely people are just coping day to day.

Verdict: I wouldn't see it again but I will remember the conviction and commitment of Forest Whitaker's marathon performance.

It is no small feat when film actors take on Broadway. The schedule is grueling and locks you into one location for the duration of the run. There is no option to cut, retake or reset the cameras to capture a performance from several angles or capture a tear falling in just the right light. Live theatre is undoubtedly a different ball game and it is always interesting to see how those from the silver screen will transition to the stage.

Forest Whitaker has starred in over 50 films and won several awards for his talents. He has worked with this century's top directors and tackled challenging roles, such as his renowned performance of dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He can certainly act, there is no denying his ability to bring characters to life and layer them with truth. Naturally, I was excited to see him shine on stage for his Broadway debut in the incredibly challenging role of Erie Smith in Eugene O'Neill's Hughie. The play is ultimately a 60-minute monologue and if Whitaker wanted to dive into the Broadway scene he has done so from a 190ft board.

Typical to O'Neill's style the play explores the deepest stirrings of the human spirit. Whitaker's performance shows the confidence and charm Erie exudes while subtly revealing his loneliness and disconnect. It is human nature for so many to hide behind such an illusion, making this story relevant today. Too often people post images and status updates online to create a picture of a happy life, while never revealing their true self or having meaningful connections. We are storytellers and exaggerate truth to feel worthy, which is rather sad.

After an hour of listening to Erie Smith talk about a person we knew nothing about I was left wondering, why do we care? While Whitaker kept me entertained and I could appreciate his performance, it must be said the content is by no means riveting. Which then makes you wonder, is life? The play has a somber feel and the references to gambling leave you with the notion, How can you win if you never throw the dice? And of course the fact that this play is set in a hotel lobby, gorgeously designed by Christopher Oram, reminds you that as one checks out another checks in and thus, make the most of your stay.

This is a case of playing your cards right, on one hand you have Forest Whitaker live on stage and on the other, Eugene O'Neill, one of America's first great playwrights and winner of four Pulitzer Prizes and the Nobel Prize for Literature. It seems like a win but you’ve got to know if you are playing at the right table. Those looking for an action packed adrenalin surge will not find it, Hughie requires you to settle in and listen because after all isn't life about sharing?

Reviewed by Nicola Quinn

Wednesday February 10th, 2016
Booth Theatre, New York City
Find me on Twitter: @newyorktheatre

View our show pages for more information about Hughie, Booth Theater.