Talley's Folly

[firstfrost]

After seeing the Lyric's Talley's Folly (we lost chenoameg!) I find that most of what I'm thinking about is differences/similarites to the dpolicar/chanaleh version. All the things I think about the play are still true - I still find Matt more sympathetic than Sally, the writing good, and so on. I found the Lyric Matt very like Dave's Matt, but the Lyric Sally much more different (both harder and more frightened, which meant I could maybe understand her a little more (though I guess having seen it once before helps with that), but like her a little less.). I wonder if this is because Matt's character (for me) is so tied up in the accents and voices?

The only thing that I really didn't like was the music during the Sally-confesses confrontration. My first instinctive reaction was "oh for God's sake, is that someone's cell phone?" Then I realized it was music from the bandstand (there's a line about it), but even so, it made my entire emotional reaction to that scene one of annoyance at the noisemusic as opposed to a reaction to anything going on on stage.

Comments

[desireearmfeldt]

Much of what you're saying there is also about strategizing, though. (Matt's clearly strategizing--though I don't think he has to be doing it as much or as constantly as in the Lyric interpretation.)

He can send out feelers about proposing, but he'd better not do it for real at the wrong time or he may not get a second chance. (As it happens, he does it at a time that's OK enough that he gets a second chance.)

He can't tell Sally he's cut off her retreat when she's actually trying to retreat, because in that context it might be unforgivable, whereas in a different mood she'll see it as more on a par with the breaking down car and maybe even as the favor he's trying to do her.

It's not just a question of dealing when it comes up; it's waiting for--or causing--the opportune moment. ;)

[dpolicar]

Definitely. Sometimes he's just deflecting, sometimes he's coming at something the long way 'round, and sometimes he's taking advantage of the opportunity as it arises.

But the script allows for many different reads with respect to levels of stretegizing. In my head he's much less strategic than the script allows. For example, his incompetance at skating and at getting out of the hole is definitely intended to get him physical time with Sally, but his putting the skates on in the first place is just intended to be endearing and distracting.

It could easily be read differently though, and the more strategic he is the less likable he is.