Learn Your Craft
We Were There: Hughie starring Forest Whitaker
In his Broadway debut in Eugene O’Neill’s Hughie, Forest Whitaker dutifuly reminds us why he’s one of the best actors of our generation.
In Hughie, which takes place in the lobby of a crummy New York City hotel in the late 1920s, Whitaker plays “Erie Smith,” a small-town hustler whose luck has gone bad after the death of his friend and former hotel clerk, Hughie. The play itself is a 60-minute, one act play that only consists of two characters the entire time. The majority of the play is essentially Whitaker delivering a 60 minute monologue to the audience and the new night clerk, Charlie Hughes.
With no intermission, no breaks, and a whole lot of lines, Forest Whitaker proved to be more than up to the task, as his delivery was poignant and effortless as ever. The pauses were deliberate, the emotions were real, the charm was believable, as he really makes Erie Smith come to life on the stage. Where there were moments that required the audience to empathize, we did. When there were moments that required laughter, we did that, too. It’s clear Whitaker took his time with this piece and valued the art of the theatre as he made “Hughie” as real to us as possible.
This role was the first time in decades that Whitaker has acted in a play, and coincidently it will also be the first time that a black actor has played Erie Smith on Broadway — a detail that doesn’t go unnoticed by us –especially in light of the recent buzz in Hollywood and its #OscarsSoWhite, meanwhile Broadway is celebrating its most diverse season ever, and I mean EVER (Just check out 45th street this spring).
In addition to the performance, the set also makes you feel as though you are back in the 1920s. It features an amazing bronze-painted staircase and fright elevator that was lit beautifully the entire 60-minutes I spent in the Booth Theatre. If you have the chance to go see Hughie, you’d be doing yourself a favor.
Hughie is now playing at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street) on a strictly limited engagement. Tickets can be purchased here, by phone at 212-239-6200 , or by visiting the box office in person.
Check out pics & video from Opening Night of Hughie on Broadway below!
Forest Whitaker Opening Night Curtain Call
