Hold On to Me Darling
| Hold on to Me Darling | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Kenneth Lonergan |
| Date premiered | February 24, 2016 |
| Place premiered | Linda Gross Theater |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | existentialism, grief, family, midlife crisis, fame |
| Setting | Tennessee |
Hold on to Me Darling is a play by Kenneth Lonergan. The show, first produced Off-Broadway in 2016, follows a fictional country music icon named Strings McCrane, who finds himself in an existential tailspin on learning of his mother's death.
The play had its world premiere off-Broadway starring Timothy Olyphant and was produced by the Atlantic Theater Company. It received a nomination for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.
Summary
[edit]The story revolves around a country music icon named Strings McCrane, who finds himself in an existential tailspin on learning of his mother's death. Determined to abandon his celebrity and career, he moves back to his hometown in Tennessee.
Cast
[edit]| Role | Linda Gross Theater Off-Broadway (2016) |
Lucille Lortel Theatre Off-Broadway (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Strings McCrane | Timothy Olyphant | Adam Driver |
| Essie | Adelaide Clemens | |
| Nancy | Jenn Lyon | Heather Burns |
| Jimmy | Keith Nobbs | |
| Mitch | Jonathan Hogan | Frank Wood |
| Duke | C.J. Wilson | |
Productions
[edit]The play had its world premiere in 2016, opening on March 14 at Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theater starring Timothy Olyphant and directed by Neil Pepe.[1] The play will have a off-Broadway revival at the Lucille Lortel Theatre starring Adam Driver and will run from September 24, 2024 to December 22.[2]
Critical reception
[edit]The 2016 production received mixed reviews with Frank Rizzo of Variety praising its lead star Olyphant but writing that while "The play is entertaining and engaging, performed by a top-rate ensemble...its long reach for political and social resonance is a stretch, with Strings and those around him equating or manipulating his celebrity life and personal angst to a larger moral drift of the country."[3] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "There’s a much better play nestling in the almost three hours of Hold On to Me Darling, but Lonergan seems unwilling to find it, leaving most of the poignancy buried between his disjointed scenes en route to a conclusion of unearned emotion.".[4] Alexis Soloski of The Guardian described the play as being "amusing but uneven", adding that it was a "A changeable blend of farce, comedy and drama".[5]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play | Kenneth Lonergan | Nominated | [6] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Kenneth Lonergan's Hold On To Me Darling, Starring Timothy Olyphant, Extends Off-Broadway". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Adam Driver to star in 'Hold on to Me Darling' off Broadway this fall". NY Theatre Guide. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Off Broadway Review: Timothy Olyphant in Kenneth Lonergan's 'Hold on to Me Darling'". Variety. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "'Hold On to Me Darling': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Hold on to Me Darling review – troubles of a pampered country star". The Guardian. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards 2016: And the Winners are..." NY Theatre Guide. Retrieved August 1, 2024.