Side Man
Side Man | |
---|---|
East 13th Street Theater New York City | |
Original language | English |
Subject | |
Genre | Drama |
Setting | New York City, 1953-1985 |
Side Man is a memory play by Warren Leight. His inspiration was his father Donald, who worked as a sideman, in jazz parlance a musician for hire who can blend in with the band or star as a solo performer, according to what is required by the gig.
Plot
The play starts in the 1950s and follows the family through the next 35 years. The play's narrator is Clifford Glimmer, the only son of Gene, a talented but self-absorbed jazz
Productions
Side Man was first presented in a workshop by the Naked Angels in March 1996. It was then produced at Vassar College in a joint production of the New York Stage and Film Company and The Powerhouse Theatre, in association with RKJ Productions in July 1996.[1][2]
The play premiered at the
The
Through an arrangement with Actors' Equity, which allowed for the British cast of The Real Thing to travel to Broadway, Side Man, with Wood, Falco (reassuming the lead role of Terry), Page (reassuming the supporting role of Patsy), and Jason Priestley, opened on February 8, 2000, in London's West End at the Apollo Theatre, where it ran to June 2000.[5][6]
Critical response
In reviewing the Off-Broadway production, Peter Marks of the
The CurtainUp reviewer wrote: "When a show is this good, I'm prompted to ask what distinguishes it. For one thing, there is the dexterous hand of Michael Mayer (who has been involved in this show since its early workshops) guiding; he keeps the storytelling in sharp focus. For another, there are the wholly convincing performances, rendered with attentive and obvious joy, and no weak links. But in the final analysis, it is the integrity of Warren Leight's semi-autobiographical story that sets this play apart. There is a melding of objectivity with the personal: the love is as palpable as the inconsistencies it generates."[8]
Awards and nominations
- 2000 Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding Lead Actress (Angelica Torn, winner)
- 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama (finalist)[9]
- 1999 Tony Award for Best Play (winner)
- 1999 Tony Award, Featured Actor in a Play (Frank Wood, winner)
- 1999 Drama League, Distinguished Production of a Play (nominee)
- 1999 Friends of New York Theater Award, Best Play (winner)[10]
- 1999 Friends of New York Theater Award, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play (Angelica Torn, winner)
- 1998 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play(nominee)
- 1998 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Edie Falco, nominee)
- 1998 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Play(nominee)
Music featured in the play
A recording was made by BMG of the music in the play, which are recordings used as background music.[11]
- 1. I Remember Clifford [7:12]
- 2. Rockin' Chair [3:08]
- 3. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance [7:25]
- 4. Daahoud [4:07]
- 5. Cristo Redentor [5:47]
- 6. Land's End [5:02]
- 7. Chelsea Bridge [3:27]
- 8. A Night In Tunisia [11:07]
- 9. Time [5:07]
- 10. It Never Entered My Mind [4:02]
RCA Victor released a CD compiled from the original recordings.[12]
References
- ISBN 082221721X, p. 2
- ^ Klein, Alvin. "Theater Review;New Works Shaped by Audiences" New York Times, July 7, 1996
- ^ "Lortel Archives Internet Off-Broadway Database". Lortel.org. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
- ^ " 'Side Man' Broadway" playbillvault.com, accessed November 11, 2015
- ^ Dalglish, Darren. " Side Man' Review" londontheatrearchive.co.uk, March 1, 2000
- ^ Lefkowitz, David. "London 'Side Man 'to Have a Little Priestley, Feb. 17" Playbill, December 9, 1999
- ^ Marks, Peter. "Theater Review" New York Times, March 12, 1998 (subscription required)
- ^ Gutman, Les. "Review. 'Side Man'" curtainup.com, April 29, 1998
- ^ "Drama Citation, 1999" pulitzer.org, accessed November 11, 2015
- ^ "Salesman, Fosse Lead FANY Award Winners | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
- ^ Suskin, Steven. "ON THE RECORD: a Side Man, a Robber Bridegroom, & an Anthologizer" Playbill, March 7, 1999
- ^ "Side Man: Jazz Classics from the Broadway Play: Music". Amazon. 1999. Retrieved 2014-04-08.