Victoria & Frederick for PresidentMoson Productions and Create Carolina Arts Festival at the New School for Drama Theater as part of the New York International Fringe FestivalReviewed by
David Sheward
August 18, 2009
Davidson offers a sharp snapshot of a little-reported corner of American life. Immediately after the Civil War, there were robust equal-rights movements for women and blacks spearheaded by Woodhull and Douglass, respectively. To incumbent Republican Ulysses S. Grant, Woodhull's candidacy was an annoying distraction and a possible game-changer, because she had the potential to draw away much-needed black votes. Matters were complicated by the fact that Douglass was giving stump speeches for Grant. His nomination as Woodhull's vice president was made without his permission, and he never even met the woman until many years later. The characterizations are surprisingly parallel to contemporary America, with Woodhull and Douglass sounding not unlike Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in their cries for change. Director Charles Randolph-Wright gives us a brisk staging, highlighted by effective use of video projections. The eight-member cast is sturdy, with special kudos to Brenda Pressley, who gives an impassioned performance as Douglass' neglected wife. The one caveat—and it's a major one—is Davidson's framing device of having a modern-age talk-show host, a descendent of one of the 1872 characters, open and close the play with flip monologues. These satiric speeches don't match the straightforward nature of the historic material, jolting us in and out of the Woodhull-Douglass scenes. Presented by Moson Productions, Create Carolina Arts Festival, and Adrian Grenier as part of the New York International Fringe Festival at the New School for Drama Theater, 151 Bank St., NYC. Aug. 15–22. Remaining performances: Wed., Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Aug. 21, 3:45 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 22, 9:30 p.m. (866) 468-7619 or www.fringenyc.org. |
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Industry Grosses
| Rank | Title | Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | WICKED | $1,534,111 |
| 2. | THE LION KING | $1,445,999 |
| 3. | SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK | $1,433,241 |
| 4. | THE BOOK OF MORMON | $1,425,488 |
| 5. | HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING | $1,319,824 |
| 6. | WAR HORSE | $960,191 |
| 7. | JERSEY BOYS | $915,982 |
| 8. | PORGY AND BESS | $878,884 |
| 9. | FOLLIES | $878,880 |
| 10. | THE MOUNTAINTOP | $693,128 |
Week ending Feb 20, 2012.
Credit: The Broadway League
| Rank | Title | Gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | SAFE HOUSE | $27,542,825 |
| 2. | VOW, THE | $26,640,786 |
| 3. | GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE | $25,470,773 |
| 4. | JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND | $25,934,109 |
| 5. | THIS MEANS WAR | $20,006,912 |
| 6. | STAR WARS: EPISODE I - PHANTOM MENACE | $9,920,675 |
| 7. | CHRONICLE | $9,164,061 |
| 8. | WOMAN IN BLACK, THE | $7,794,176 |
| 9. | BORROWER ARRIETTY, THE | $8,684,864 |
| 10. | GREY, THE | $3,717,234 |
Week ending Feb 20, 2012.
