'The Big Knife' Review: 'A Strong, Noirish Production'

NEW YORK ? The darker side of mid-20th-century Hollywood glamour found movie stars struggling to retain their identities and souls despite the iron grip of the all-powerful studio and publicity machines. Perversions and crimes that would reflect badly on their wholesome public images were routinely covered up for the sake of the studios' revenues.

Being true to oneself is a key issue in Clifford Odets' dark play, "The Big Knife," written in 1948 during the flush of postwar success, when America's focus turned toward capitalism. A strong, noirish production starring Bobby Cannavale opened Tuesday night on Broadway, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company.

Doug Hughes stages repeated dynamic moments during the period drama, smartly retaining much of Odets' stilted yet colorful dialogue. The more seasoned cast members relish their opportunities to melodramatically sneer, flounce and bluster as required.

Odets' popular early plays promoted social justice, including "Waiting for Lefty," and "Awake and Sing!" His drama "Golden Boy" about a violinist drawn to the big money of boxing, enjoyed a Broadway revival earlier this season. "The Big Knife" hasn't been produced as much as those plays, but the fine ensemble in this Roundabout production brings new life to the age-old story of artists trapped by the glitter of commercial success.

Cannavale charismatically portrays flashy, popular leading man Charlie Castle, who feels ensnared by his success as a cartoonish action-adventure performer. Cannavale sensitively enacts Charlie's inner doubts about how he may have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for fame and fortune, while reciting Odets' overblown language with increasing brio.

Charlie ruefully refers to himself in the third person, as when he tells his estranged wife, "Listen, monkey, I know I'm a mechanical, capering mouse. But Charlie Cass is still around in dribs and drabs ? don't you think he'd like to do a fine play every other year? Don't you think I want our marriage to work?"

Richard Kind gives a dynamic performance as mega-maniacal studio executive Marcus Hoff. To Hoff, manipulating his employees' lives is his perfect right, and even ordering a murder to protect his interests is all in a day's work. Kind forcefully imbues Hoff with unctuous, impassioned self-confidence and a callous disregard for humanity.

Marin Ireland has a difficult role as Charlie's brutally frank, emotionally exhausted wife Marion. Ireland is so naturalistic an actress that she can't always pull off the artifice in the dialogue, as when calling Charlie "Husband dear" or "Handsome." However, she's quite moving and effective when Marion is speaking honestly with her husband.

The excellent supporting cast includes Brenda Wehle, a malevolent delight as scandal-sniffing gossip columnist Patty Benedict. Joey Slotnick brings underlying despair to the role of Buddy Bliss, Charlie's nervous but loyal publicity manager. Chip Zien warmly enacts Nat Danziger, a sincere, longtime father figure to Charlie and Marion, while Reg Rogers wears a smarmy air as ironically-named Smiley Coy, who executes Hoff's every controlling whim.

The dark secret hidden by Charlie and his various handlers dominates the final, melodramatic scenes, when Charlie ruminates bleakly, "This whole movie thing is a murder of the people."

Adding to the general air of decadence are Ana Reeder, exuding heat as Buddy's voluptuous, immoral wife, and Rachel Brosnahan as a naively impudent, blackmailing starlet. C.J. Wilson makes a brief but notable appearance as Marion's solid, idealistic lover, and Billy Eugene Jones is discreetly effective as a loyal servant to the Castles.

Odets was a left-wing New Yorker eventually transplanted to Hollywood, where he churned out scripts within the Hollywood studio system. While he surely enjoyed skewering the power and immorality of studio executives in "The Big Knife," he also probably heard about some real-life scandals that may inform this cynical play.

John Lee Beaty's set is an elegantly handsome, airy Los Angeles living space, and Catherine Zuber's often-glamorous dresses and sharp suits add to the glossy period atmosphere. "Try to be happy ? this isn't a Russian novel," Charlie playfully tells Buddy. But by the dramatic conclusion, it's clear that Odets' script was informed both by sensational tabloid headlines and the tragic hubris found in great Russian literature.

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Online:

http://www.roundabouttheatre.org

• Shirley MacLaine

  Shirley MacLaine experienced her big Broadway break as an <a href="http://aea100.org/narrative-project/shirley-maclaine-understudy-legend">understudy to actress Carol Haney in 1954 production of "The Pajama Game."</a> Thanks to Haney's sprained ankle, MacLaine was seen by Paramount producer Hal Wallis, and so her silver screen career began. IMAGE: Actress Shirley MacLaine speaks onstage at the Masterpiece Classic 'Downton Abbey, Season 3' panel during day 1 of the PBS portion of the 2012 Summer TCA Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 21, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

• Anthony Hopkins

  Before he became famous for roles like Hannibal Lecter and Alfred Hitchcock, <a href="when Olivier was struck with appendicitis during a production of August Strindberg's The Dance of Death">Anthony Hopkins was an understudy to the great Sir Laurence Olivier</a>. Hopkins had his break in 1965 when Olivier was struck with appendicitis during a production of August Strindberg's "The Dance of Death." Hopkins stepped in and the rest is history. IMAGE: Sir Anthony Hopkins at the Premiere of Hitchcock at BFI Southbank, London.

• Bernadette Peters

  At the tender age of 13, famous songstress <a href="http://www.kansas.com/2012/08/16/2452957/bernadette-peters-will-bring-broadway.html">Bernadette Peters was an understudy for "Dainty June" in the second national tour of "Gypsy" (1961).</a> Since then, Peters has been nominated for seven Tony awards. IMAGE: Bernadette Peters attends the 66th Annual Tony Awards at The Beacon Theatre on June 10, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

• Taye Diggs

  Taye Diggs began his professional career as an <a href="http://www.backstage.com/news/from-standby-to-stardom-9-famous-actors-who-started-on-the-sidelines/">understudy for the role of Jigger Craigin in the 1994 Broadway revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein?s ?Carousel.?</a> Diggs would go on to star in the Tony-award winning production of "Rent" two years later. IMAGE: Actor Taye Diggs attends The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Presents 'Welcome To ShondaLand: An Evening With Shonda Rhimes & Friends' at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre on April 2, 2012 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

• Matthew Morrison

  In 2002, Glee star Matthew Morrison was but a humble <a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/69358-Carpinello-Drops-Out-of-Hairspray-Understudy-Morrison-Is-Link">understudy for the character of Chuck in Broadway's "Footloose."</a> Though he never saw the stage for that production, Morrison got his break when James Carpinello dropped out of "Hairspray" for a film role that same year. The role of Link Larkin was all his. IMAGE: US actor Matthew Morrison poses for photographers on the red carpet ahead of the world premiere of 'Les Miserables' in central London on December 5, 2012. (LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

• Lea Michelle

  Fellow Glee-alum Lea Michelle has similar Broadway origins. In 2005, she <a href="http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=70191">understudied the role of Chava in the 2003 production of ?Fiddler on the Roof."</a> She ended up playing the character of Shprintze in the same musical and didn't see her big break until the 2006 staging of ?Spring Awakening." IMAGE: Actress Lea Michele arrives at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's and In Style's celebration of the 2013 Golden Globes Awards Season at Cecconi's on November 29, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• John C. McGinley

  Famous for playing the resident curmudgeon of the television series "Scrubs," John C. McGinley had his break break while <a href="http://movies.yahoo.com/person/john-c-mcginley/biography.html">serving as understudy to John Turturro in the Circle-in-the-Square production of John Patrick Shanley's "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea."</a> A casting agent for writer-director Oliver Stone happened to see one of McGinley's performances and recruited him in to read for Stone's next film project, "Platoon." IMAGE: Actor John C. McGinley arrives at Paramount Vantage's Los Angeles premiere of 'Revolutionary Road' held at Mann Village Theater on December 15, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• Bebe Neuwirth

  Today, Bebe Neuwirth is a Broadway icon by all accounts. Who could forget her role as the darkly beautiful Morticia Addams in "The Addams Family" musical? But in 1975, she was just an <a href="http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/38557/Bebe-Neuwirth">understudy for the role of Cassie in "Chorus Line."</a> IMAGE: Actress Bebe Neuwirth attends the Vivienne Tam Spring 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on September 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

• Sutton Foster

  Broadway starlet Sutton Foster was once cast as the <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/17/entertainment/la-et-sutton-foster29-2010apr29">understudy to the lead in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2002.</a> When the primary actress fell ill, Foster stepped up only to win a Tony for her impromptu performance. IMAGE: Actress Sutton Foster attends the 2012 ABC Family Upfront at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on March 19, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

• Cheyenne Jackson

  Cheyenne Jackson was originally hired as an <a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/89301-Cheyenne-Jackson-Dons-Leather-Jacket-to-Star-in-All-Shook-Up-Replacing-Jarrod-Emick">understudy for the role of bad-boy singer Chad in the 2004 staging of "All Shook Up."</a> When contract negotiations fell through with actor Jarrod Emick, Jackson was asked to take up the starring role. He would later showcase his impressive chops on 30 Rock as well. IMAGE: This Nov. 19, 2012 photo released by Starpix shows actor Cheyenne Jackson at the 40th International Emmy Awards in New York. (AP Photo/Starpix, Andrew Toth)

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