The Graduate was a wonderful film in its time, but it fails as a play, even though the touring cast is generally well chosen. Jerry Hall, as Mrs. Robinson, is all right, with some good moments. She certainly is quite attractive, and, in shadows, accomplishes her nude scene. Devon Sorvari, as Elaine Robinson, ends up being totally "valley girl." The rest of the cast is there, but not too convincingly. Rider Strong never grasps the depths of Benjamin or understand his motivations. Dennis Parlato as Mr. Robinson has one excellent scene.
Otherwise, the direction and staging are wooden. This is an intimate play done in a 3,000 seat theater with a 100-foot stage. It was decided to use the full stage, making any movement a trek. A tiny garret takes forever to move about. In a bedroom, moving from bed to closet to bathroom requires a guide and compass. The costuming is very New York, yet the locale is California. The lighting design tries to make up for the large stage and, occasionally, actually works. The music is limited, merely suggestive.
This is a poorly-directed adaptation that should never have happened. Testifying to The Graduate's failure is the amount of empty seats, previously filled in the first act, in the second act. Further, because of one of my volunteer functions, I had to witness the travesty four times. I didn't like the show the first time and by the fourth viewing I, too, walked out before act two.
