Theater review: “McNeal,” starring Robert Downey Jr. in his Broadway debut
by Anne Hulegard
Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr. makes his Broadway debut in Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar’s new play “McNeal,” at The Lincoln Center Vivian Beaumont Theatre, in New York.
Downey stars as Jacob McNeal, a prolific writer who is both self loathing and egotistical, full of life and sometimes suicidal. In the beginning of the play his concerned doctor (Ruthie Ann Miles) warns he is slowly drinking himself to death, which McNeal doesn’t seem to mind. He’s been worrying obsessively about winning the Nobel for literature, which he feels entitled to. McNeal does win the Nobel and his agent (Andrea Martin) wastes no time arranging for a New York Times reporter (Brittany Bellizeare) to do a story on the novelist. Narcissist McNeal enjoys talking about himself but McNeal might be too revealing, putting him at the risk of being “canceled.”
McNeal has a history of failed relationships, which he exploits by writing them into his novels. His son, Harlan (Rafi Gavron), and former girlfriend (Melora Hardin, The Office) also confront him about this betrayal. We learn that there is a dark secret buried between him and his son. They are haunted by the suicide of McNeal’s Wife/Harlan’s Mother. Both struggle to navigate their emotions, guilt and questions about her death.
Downey’s character has that charismatic boy charm of a person who can get away with anything, almost. He flirts with his agent’s new 20 year old assistant (Saisha Talwar) and you get the feeling he is accustomed to using his fame to lure in young girls. But now that he’s older it’s starting to feel a little creepy. McNeal’s Nobel prize acceptance speech in Stockholm addresses the pros and cons of AI and its part in the future of writing. Is using ChatGPT plagiarism or a part of an artist’s toolbox? I don’t want to give much more away about the play, but I was most intrigued with the questions playwright Akhtar raised about AI and what Mc Neil does about it. I’m sure in 5 to 10 years AI will play a much bigger role in all of our lives.
Set/Production Designers (Michael Yeargan and Jake Barton’s ) created a giant iPhone on stage for McNeals texts, which become an essential part of the storytelling. Bravo to Tony winning director Bartlett Sher who put together a talented cast and brought out strong performances from all.
At times the story seemed disjointed and supporting characters disconnected and slightly off compared to Downey’s McNeal who was consistent and real. Were McNeals story unfolding from inside his writer’s brain or his alcoholic delusions or his AI influences? Robert Downey Jr’s performance was stellar. He’s a great actor in all mediums and I truly hope he does more theater.
“McNeal” continues through November at the Lincoln Center Vivian Beaumont Theatre in New York City. For more information visit LCT.org. ER