The Hard Problem

Saw this at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. It's a new production, directed by Jack O'Brien, with what I've read is a slightly revised script. Ben Brantley in the New York Times gave it a "meh" review, as I believe had some of the British press four years ago, which probably explains why it took so long for the play to be done in New York. (Stoppard is a big deal here.) I really like the play, as judged by both this version and the filmed Nicholas Hytner production; not my favorite Stoppard - that would have to be "Arcadia" - but still tremendously clever and kind of beautiful. Overall, I thought the London production had the edge, especially in the central performance by Olivia Vinall, who's just on a different plane from her American counterpart, able though the latter is. Spike is played here by Chris O'Shea as a British character, whereas in the London production Damien Molony seemed like he was trying to sound American. Krohl, as in London, is an American character.