McNeal

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Melora Hardin, Ruthie Ann Miles, Andrea Martin, Brittany Bellizeare, Rafi Gavron, Saisha Talwar
Directed by: Bartlett Sher
Written by: Ayad Akhtar
Genre: Drama
2024

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A troubled author (Robert Downey Jr.) reflects on his life and past mistakes while he waits for word on a major literary award and contemplates using artificial intelligence to help with his next book.

Review:

Tim: I was fortunate enough to catch a preview showing of McNeal at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at the Lincoln Center, in New York City. I've been to a number of theatrical performances, but still not enough to become immune to the wonder of the experience. I went into this play knowing very little, other than I was going to see Robert Downey Jr. act on stage. I walked away from this heavy, dark play with a head full of ideas and desperate for time to process what I'd seen. Ayad Akhtar's film is unexpected- it combines themes of plagiarism, artificial intelligence, creativity, writing, alcoholism, family dysfunction, and much more into a unique and unforgettable theatrical experience. It's a show that is uncomfortable at times, that challenges your preconceived notions. It's deep and dark and thought-provoking.

It's hard for me to assess or evaluation productions, usually. There's things I loved about this- the acting, elements of the narrative, the exploration of mature themes. There's things that felt odd- some of the various elements combine in odd ways, it's hard to pin down exactly what Akhtar's vision was for this play. I wouldn't say this is one of my favorite productions, but it's incredibly thought-provoking and I'm so thankful I got to see it.

I do want to highlight Robert Downey Jr. That's why I came- regardless of what the play was about, I wanted to see him on stage. Downey is incredible in this production- he's confident, arrogant, charismatic, intelligent, but also lost and afraid. It's the perfect role for Downey- he's able to pull in aspects of Tony Stark, but to bring a darker tint to this character. I have to believe that Downey Jr. tapped into some of his own life experiences for this role. McNeal is an artist, one haunted by his past. His demons are vivid and destructive. You almost feel like you're watching an alternative version of Downey himself- who he could have been if he didn't redeem himself at a certain point of his life. He's excellent on stage, bringing this character to life, knowing that he's likely the perfect actor for this part. It leverages all of his strengths and allows him to make McNeal a fascinating, tragic figure. This isn't the easiest part- Downey has some long monologues- but he delivered them all flawlessly. It's no surprise that Downey has always been an incredible actor. To see him do this live, to watch how he carries this play on his own shoulders- I walked away so very impressed by his immense talent.

I also loved getting to see Melora Hardin here. I'm a fan of her because of her work on The Office. I was a bit disappointed that she didn't get more to do- her role felt extremely limited. Still, getting the chance to see on stage was wonderful. Andrea Martin did a nice job and has some great scenes of back-and-forth with Downey Jr. In addition, Rafi Gavron adds a nice supporting performance as McNeal's son. Brittany Bellizeare was impressive- outside of RDJ, she's the most impressive from the cast. She brings fire and energy to her role, making it one of the most memorable aspects of the play.

The set design was solid- I enjoyed the modernistic take. The whole artificial intelligence angle to the story felt very contemporary and interesting. It's interesting to see one of the older art forms (live theater) tackle such a modern topic (the use of artificial intelligence in the creative process). That melding of old and new felt like it gave this production an intriguing twist. I was certainly invested in the story and the experience.

I left this production with my head spinning. I felt uncomfortable and intrigued by the plot. I was grateful and inspired by Downey Jr.'s remarkable performance. This likely isn't a production that sets the world on fire, but it was absolutely worth the investment to get tickets. It was a limited run, roughly September-November 2024. I'm so lucky I got to see it, I enjoyed the play and my appreciation for RDJ's talent increased immensely.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



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