Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune

B

This limited-run Broadway revival of Terrence McNally’s 1987 romantic dramedy has been cast with two fine actors with big box office appeal, Audra McDonald (Master Class, Carousel, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill) as Frankie and Michael Shannon (Killer Joe, Bug, Long Day’s Journey into Night) as Johnny. To see them together as a 40-something waitress and short-order cook on a memorable first date is an opportunity that is hard to resist. The setting is Frankie’s one-room Hell’s Kitchen apartment and the time is the 1980’s. As the play opens, they are in the final throes of vigorous sex. What Frankie regards as just an enjoyable toss in the hay is regarded by Johnny as the start of a serious romance. During most of the first act, Johnny very persistently tries to win Frankie over. Late in the act, he calls the music station they are listening to and asks the host to play the most romantic piece ever written. They are gazing at the full moon and listening to the titular piece as the first act ends. Part of me wishes that McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class) had ended the play there. The second act is repetitious and unruly and stretches the evening out too far. While I have unlimited admiration for Audra McDonald, her glamour and melodious voice work against her playing the beat-down Frankie. Michael Shannon is very much in his element. I thought they captured the play’s humor better than its pathos. I did not like the gimmicky set by Richard Hernandez (Indecent, The Gin Game) in which the backdrop is the exterior of the apartment building rather than the interior walls of Frankie’s apartment. The costumes by Emily Rebholz (Indecent, Dear Evan Hansen) do not grab attention. Arin Arbus’s (The Winter’s Tale, The Skin of Our Teeth) direction is a bit sluggish. The play would benefit from a 15-minute trim. I was lucky enough to have seen the 2002 revival with Edie Falco and Stanley Tucci. For me, that version remains the gold standard. Those who have not seen the play before will probably enjoy this production unless they are uncomfortable with nudity and rough language. Running time: two hours 20 minutes including intermission.