✭Matinée Wednesday: Round Sixteen…
Matthew Broderick, AKA, Matthew Jessica Parker, returned to Broadway in the 2009 revival of The Philanthropist. This was the third and final show in a series presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company, to which my mother had purchased tickets. The first two, Distracted, starring Cynthia Nixon and Waiting For Godot, starring Nathan Lane, were fair at best, so my expectations for this show were pretty low.
In my short life, I have learned that it is best to expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised. That was exactly the case with The Philanthropist. From the moment that I walked into the beautiful American Airlines Theatre, I knew that I was in for a good night. This was my first time at this theatre, and I was surprised with how ornate it was.
As the house lights dimmed, the stage lit up to reveal a very nifty set. The show takes place in 1970s London and follows the life of Philip, a college professor. While a comedy, much of the humor is dry and full of innuendo. In particular, the final scene, in which Broderick’s character is seen cradling a revolver at the desk in his study. Traditionally, the audience is left to wonder whether or not he offs himself. However, this production has the revolver turn out to be a lighter.
Only receiving lukewarm reviews, the show ran for just two months. I feel as though the production was underrated but that may be because I was just so happy this show wasn’t a total bust after seeing the first two in the series.
