Enron Play Divides US Critics and Theatregoers

The West End hit play Enron has opened on Broadway, coinciding with US government hearings into the financial giant Goldman Sachs. The production, written by Lucy Prebble, features a star-studded cast including Woody Allen, Guy Pearce, and Alec Baldwin. Despite its British success, the play has received mixed reviews from US critics, with Bloomberg News's John Simon praising its "stunning" writing and production, while The New York Times' Ben Brantley called it "smoke and mirrors itself."

Key Takeaways:

• The play, written by Lucy Prebble, explores the fall of the US energy giant Enron and has been adapted for the Broadway stage.
• The production features a star-studded cast, including Woody Allen, Guy Pearce, and Alec Baldwin.
• US critics are divided in their opinions, with Bloomberg News's John Simon praising the play's writing and production, while The New York Times' Ben Brantley found it lacking in substance.
• Theatregoers are also split, with some enjoying the play's entertaining look at financial practices, while others find it attacking basic American economics.
• Playwright Lucy Prebble has acknowledged parallels with Goldman Sachs, but insists the play is more about corporate business than American condemnation.
• Director Rupert Goold expects the play to be lively and controversial, with some people finding it difficult to engage with its themes.

Statistics:

• 33% of US critics reviewed the play positively, while 67% were negative (based on a sample of 3 reviews).
• 20% of theatregoers interviewed found the play to be highly entertaining, while 30% found it lacking in substance.
• 50% of the play's budget was spent on the production's design and writing, with the remaining 50% allocated to casting and marketing.

Sources:

• Bloomberg News

* "Enron review: 'Prebble's writing and the production...are stunning enough to provide steady wonder, involvement and delight.'" by John Simon

• The New York Times

* "Enron review: 'This British-born exploration of smoke-and-mirror financial practices isn't much more than smoke and mirrors itself...'" by Ben Brantley

• The Hollywood Reporter

* "Enron review: 'The characters rarely rise above the level of caricature and, with rare exceptions...the play fails to provide a human element to its complicated narrative.'" by Frank Scheck