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Last week I sat in a dark theater, watching a show that caused me to have a smile on my face the entire time. As soon as the curtain rose at “Act One”, and Tony Shalhoub came on stage, portraying Moss Hart, the famous real-life playwright who penned several Broadway classics, including “Merrily We Roll Along” in 1934 and “You Can’t Take It With You” in 1936, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize, a smile graced my face and never left. This is truly a show for theater lovers, and I, of course, am one.
Act One
Written and directed by James Lapine, “Act One” follows the life of Hart and the set conveys his history, from uptown hovel to midtown office to townhouse. He was born into a poor family in the Bronx and introduced to theater by his aunt (played by the fabulous Andrea Martin). In the first act, we watch his challenging childhood and follow him to adulthood where he falls into a job working for a famous theater producer, writes a play and teams up Broadway legend George S. Kaufman which changes his life.
Santino Fontana and Shalhoub play the younger and older Hart with such vigor and bring this fascinating tale to life on stage. Their performances are gripping, and when Shalhoub rotates between playing Hart’s father to Kaufman, it’s hard to even notice it’s the same actor. Fontana has the earnestness it takes to play Hart and he’s also very convincing in the role.
The play’s second act focuses on Hart and Kaufman’s 1930 “Once in a Lifetime” which had a rocky road to Broadway, saved just days before its premiere in NYC. It’s entertaining, stressful but true to the book it was based on and a solid depiction of how tough it really is to take a play to the stage. If it was hard back then, imagine how much harder it is today.
“Act One” is a love letter to the theatre and to the fascinating people who made Broadway what it is today. It also speaks to everyone who loves theater – to the people who work in for very little money but dream of their big break and to the people who sit in the seats staring down at the actors who transport them into another world (that would be me). Once again, I am grateful to Lincoln Center for this wonderful, solid production.
Disclosure: I was not given tickets to this play.
Frequently asked questions
What is Act One about?
Act One is James Lapine’s 2014 stage adaptation of playwright Moss Hart’s 1959 memoir of the same name. The play follows young Moss Hart’s rise from poverty in the Bronx to Broadway success with his 1930 collaboration with George S. Kaufman, Once in a Lifetime.
Where did Act One play?
Act One played at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center in New York. It opened in April 2014 and closed in June 2014, with a televised PBS broadcast of the production extending its reach to a national audience.
Who starred in Act One at Lincoln Center?
Tony Shalhoub starred as both the older Moss Hart narrator and George S. Kaufman, with Santino Fontana as the young Moss Hart and Andrea Martin in multiple roles. Shalhoub won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.
Is Act One worth watching?
For theater history fans, absolutely. The play loves the Broadway of the 1920s-30s with detailed care, and the Tony Shalhoub double performance is a master class. Audiences less familiar with Moss Hart or the Kaufman & Hart partnership may find slower stretches.
Can you still see Act One?
The original Lincoln Center production is no longer running, but the PBS broadcast was released on DVD and is available through some streaming services and library systems. Regional theaters occasionally revive the play.
What is Moss Hart’s connection to Broadway?
Moss Hart was one of the most successful Broadway playwrights and directors of the 20th century, co-writing You Can’t Take It With You (Pulitzer 1937) and The Man Who Came to Dinner (1939) with George S. Kaufman, and directing the original My Fair Lady (1956).