The revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” that opened this weekend is getting rave reviews. I agree that it’s an excellent show, but I don’t think the play has been “revitalized anew,” etc. It’s a fresh take only if you look at a teeny tiny piece of the canvas, because in the grand scheme of things this is just another naturalistic “Woolf,” albeit a perceptive, expert one. Everything is there, from the fine psychological realism to the book-strewn set, which I described in my review as “shabby-academic.” What, Martha and George can’t live in some sleek Brutalist condo — she comes from campus power, after all? And would it be so unthinkable to set the show nowadays? This is a radical play and it’s never staged in a radical way.
Bonus: When I saw the play on Saturday evening, I was sitting kitty-corner from Larry David, slouching down in his trademark blazer, scarf and sneakers. Pretty, pretty, pretty good!