Noontime Show

In Neil LaBute's new play, "The Break Of Noon," (now playing at The Lucille Lortel) he examine the link between religion and commercialism.  John Smith (played by David Duchovny) is a lone survivor of the worst gunshot massacre in American History, and he survives because, he claims, he was saved by God, and conversed with him during those trying moments. He brings this forth to a very skeptical world, of course. The play dissects how this realization affects him in all aspects of his life. 


I must first say that the performance I saw was from its very early previews. There are a lot of things that the play wants to convey, and some points get better highlight than others. Still, it asks tough questions, and we are meant to fill in the blanks. I really don't know if I ended up thinking more or questioning more after the performance, to be honest. David Duchovny's performance is a little too "literal" right now, it seems to be playing David Duchovny a lot of the times. There is a better performance from him being hinted, and perhaps it will manifest itself after he settles into the role more. The play revolves around his character, so the weight of the play rests upon his shoulder. An audience member asks him when he was signing autographs: "When you agreed to do the play, did you know you are on every scene," to which he just smiled and replied: "I just read that it was a good play." (Good for him for wisely answering a stupid question)


The rest of the support him adequately. Amanda Peet has an electric stage presence, although the two distinct roles she play are too similar. Just like every other LaBute play, there is a tinge of misogyny, so in that case it is just business as usual. The play isn't as provocative as I thought it would be, and it doesn't really ask any question that has not been asked before. I guess also in that aspect, it's business as usual too.