On learning of his mother’s death, country music icon Strings McCrane (Adam Driver) finds himself in an existential tailspin. The only way out, he decides, is to abandon superstardom in favor of the simple life, so he moves back to his hometown in Tennessee. The simple life turns out to be anything but simple in this brilliantly observed tragicomedy, as the consequences of Strings’ success and mind-bending effects of his fame prove all but impossible to outrun. -Synopsis
Hey y’all, I had a FAB wknd in NYC!!! On SAT night, I saw Adam Driver (my current fave actor, as regular readers know) in the play Hold on to Me Darling (written by Kenneth Lonergan)! The play has a limited engagement at The Lucille Lortel Theatre (West Village) until DEC 22nd; I set a reminder, got in the (online) queue, and (luckily) got my ticket in early AUG. In the past, Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood; Justified) played the lead role of country singer/actor Strings McCrane. Twitter was abuzz (earlier this Fall) after seeing a few photos of Olyphant in the role (incl. ones where he is wearing black boxers and socks). OMG, how was Adam going to look (some of us wondered)!? And more importantly, how were we super-fans (AKA rats) going to handle seeing him in-person!?
Let’s get the important stuff out of the way: Adam really is that tall (so towers over the supporting cast) and looks as (uniquely) gorgeous as in photos/movies. His hair is V dark/ thick; he is BOTH wide (note the shoulders) and slim (see waistline). Early in the 1st act, Strings strips down to his boxers and socks before getting a massage from Nancy (Heather Burns). Yup, Adam still has 6-pack abs! As the stage is small, he looms large as a (physical) presence and w/ (deep/baritone) voice. Strings has a Southern accent; fans/viewers from the region commented (online) that Adam did a good job w/ it. He plays the guitar, but Strings is TOO upset to sing much.
The story involves grief, regret, unresolved family issues, a love triangle, and the toxicity of fame (incl. loss of privacy and disconnection from everyday ppl). This play is V well-suited to Adam, as he shows his range; Strings goes from loud/domineering to more quiet/vulnerable (w/o missing a beat). Strings can be charming, yet also self-centered (after being a celeb so long). Adam is in every scene of the 2 act play, aside from one, in the 2 hr. 45 mins. play (which I thought was a BIT too long). Strings wants to regain closeness w/ his older brother, Duke (C.J. Wilson), a working-class family man who still lives in their hometown. He is reunited w/ his 2nd cousin twice removed, Essie (Adelaide Clemens), at his mother’s funeral; this actress has a strong resemblance to Michelle Williams. Essie was a close friend to this mom in recent yrs, so feels her loss deeply.
There are meta moments, such as Strings complaining to his assistant Jimmy (Keith Nobbs) re: “this goddamn space movie” he needs to shoot soon in Kansas City. When Rian Johnson (director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi) saw the play in previews, he laughed out loud at that line. There are many funny lines; I didn’t expect to laugh so much! Nancy compares Strings to a “sad, dark prince” (a la Kylo Ren); a viewer who saw the (previous) play wrote: “Lonergan changed a few lines to fit Adam.” In the final scene, we meet a (hitherto unseen) character named Mitch (Frank Wood); he and Strings have an emotional/powerful conversation (which made me a BIT teary). If you want to see more (incl. 2 vids I took at the stage door), then go to my Twitter/X account (knightleyemma)!
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