THEATRE REVIEW: SEMINAR

"There's only one thing harder than writing your first novel. Letting him read it." Last night I had the privilege of seeing Seminar, now in previews at the Golden Theatre on 45th street. The show is about a group of four fledgling writers who have paid a hefty sum to take a seminar (see how they did that?) with a notoriously tough writer/teacher played by the fantastically acerbic Alan Rickman, who some of you know best as Snape from the mega-successful Harry Potter series. In his usual form, Rickman tears up the stage with a series of one-liners and a couple of very impressive monologues in which we learn that not everything with his crabby/sexy Leonard is as as it seems. The cast is rounded out beautifully by the excellent Hamish Linklater (The New Adventures of Old Christine)as Martin, a young writer afraid of people actually reading his work; Jerry O'Connell (Stand By Me, Scream 2)as the hilarious Douglas, a slightly pretentious, adequately talented  writer with connections in the literary world; the Lily Rabe (American Horror Story, The Merchant of Venice) as Kate, a ashamedly rich girl who has been working on the same story for six years and is scared to leave it; and Hetteinne Park (The Intelligent Homosexuals Guide..) as Izzy, a free spirited young woman who is willing to do whatever she needs to become a successful writer. Each character and each scene is flehsed out  and played with juicy delight by this excellent cast in this 90 minute piece full of laughs, shocks and drama. Seminar is written by Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius) and directed by Obie Award winner Sam Gold (Circle Mirror Transformation), both of whom keep the story rolling along at the perfect pace and keep the audience guessing what surprise will pop up next. It's smart, sexy and funny and I highly recommend it if you are looking for something a little different on Broadway. If you want to find out more about Seminar you can visit their website SeminarOnBroadway.com, their facebook or their twitter page. Seminar opens November 20th. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!!