Review - Talk Radio (3.08.07)

Talk Radio (Thursday, 3.08.07)
Longacre Theatre, New York City

By: Eric Bogosian, Robert Falls (direction)

Starring: Liev Schreiber (Barry Champlain), Michael Laurence (Stu Noonan), Kit Williamson (Spike), Cornell Womack (Bernie), Peter Hermann (Dan Woodruff), Stephanie March (Linda MacArthur), Marc Thompson (Vince Farber), Christy Pusz (Jordan Grant), Sebatstian Stan (Kent), Barbara Rosenblat (Dr. Susan Fleming), Christine Pedi (Rachael)

Is he crazy? Is he genuine? Is he going to lose it?

The main conceit of “Talk Radio” is that the radio host, Barry Champlain, is a man on the edge. Because he is on the edge, we the audience should always wonder whether or not he will be okay. Barry Champlain’s radio persona is that of a man on the edge.

As Champlain, Schreiber is captivating. When he is talking, it is difficult to focus on anything else other than him. He is funny, outrageous, poignant – all the things you would expect in a successful radio host. He lets loose, but even when he does, you always get the sense that he is in control, even when he breaking down.

Herein lies the problem.

Schreiber’s Champlain is a thinking man. He is quick witted and quick tempered, unpredictable. But he’s always in control, and you always sense he will be ok. Even though he is a joy to watch and is very entertaining, one wonders why he isn’t more on the edge. There is no suspense, no worry about the character, no real edge.

Unfortunately, this is no small flaw. There is really no salvaging the production with the wrong actor in the lead role, and unfortunately, Schreiber is not the right actor. He is a terrific one, to be sure, a thinking actor who showed his chops in Glengarry Glen Ross. But here, his cerebral quality doesn’t allow him or his character to reach the heights if you really had that sense of unease about the character.

The remainder of the production is fine, although the play suffers whenever Champlain is no the center of attention. In particular, when the secondary characters step out for their monologues. The play would have been better streamlined if it simply focused on Champlain at all times. Of course, it would also have been better with a more appropriately cast actor in the lead role.