Theater Review: After Miss Julie

After Miss Julie, Relief That There Isn’t a Second Act
By Lauren Yarger
I didn’t think there was anything that could make me think last year’s mindless The Philanthropist with Matthew Broderick wasn’t so bad, but After Miss Julie, Roundabout Theatre Company’s latest offering at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway sure did.

Sienna Miller stars in Patrick Marber’s version of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie, about a spoiled society girl who has a sadomasochistic affair with John (Jonny Lee Miller), a man servant on her estate, even though he’s sort of betrothed to Christine (Marin Ireland), the woman servant there, and despite the fact that Julie’s father and all of society is sure to object to a relationship across class lines.

While colleagues assure me that Marber’s adaptation, which moves the action from late 19th-century Sweden to post World War II London is true to the original, which I have not seen or read, I have to wonder why anyone would choose to produce this story in any form. These are a couple of really disturbed, unlikable people who seem to enjoy the danger of their relationship and using each other to assuage their own needs and fears more than they care about each other. They spend more time throwing stinging insults at each other then groping each other on the large work table on Allen Moyers massive set recreation of the estate’s kitchen.

In this version, directed by Mark Brokaw, there isn’t any visible sexual tension between the lovers; they just perform the actions and say the lines, which you’re lucky to hear (Jonny Miller’s accent makes it difficult sometimes, but I found I couldn’t hear the women at times too, David Van Tieghem, original sound design and music). Ireland’s performance is the strongest, but maybe that’s because Christine is the only one of the three who seems to have a grip on normalcy and gives the actress something concrete with which to work.

Otherwise, the play is incredibly boring and interruptions when three rude audience members allowed their cell phones to ring actually were welcome as other audience members seemed to be inciting a riot. At least this gave us some interesting action to watch. Occasionally some of the lines, though not intended for humor, bring robust laughter.

“I’m just a simple country girl, John,” says this woman who is anything but simple. She attempts to hurt herself and her lover offers her a cup of tea. You just have to laugh at the incongruity.

While I wasn’t mentally compiling my weekly shopping list as I had during The Philanthropist, I did find myself realizing I hadn’t checked to see whether there would be an intermission. A few minutes in I was hoping there would be one -- and soon -- because the dialogue just wasn’t taking me anywhere. About a half an hour in, I was really hoping this was a one-act which would be over soon. At the end of the play (which is 90 minutes without an intermission) my companion turned to me and said, “Is this a one-act?” We could only hope.

After Miss Julie plays through Dec. 6 at American Airlines Theatre, 227 West 42nd St., NYC. Tickets are available by calling (212) 719-1300 or online at www.roundabouttheatre.org
For discounted group tickets go here and indicate the religious charity you wish to support is Masterwork Productions.

Christians might also like to know:
• Sexual dialogue
• Sex outside of marriage
• Sadomasochism
• Attempted rape