IT'S ONLY A PLAY-Is Only Okay

Terrence McNally's new play IT'S ONLY A PLAY is clearly meant to thumb his nose at critics.  I agree, critics capitalize on critiquing other's works but don't have the talent to create the work themselves.  McNally has been awarded the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achivement Award ('11)  and was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame ('96.)  Some of his Tony winning plays are MASTER CLASS,  MOTHERS & SONS AND LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! to name but a few.  McNally is one of the greatest living playwrights.  This should make for an intriguing play; hearing what he has to say about critics, actors, agents, producers and the merits of TV, movies vs. the stage.  He has talented actors clamoring to be in his productions.  This star studded cast included Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, F. Murray Abraham, Stockard Channing (disappointedly played by the understudy) Megan Mullally & Rupert Grint (best known for the Harry Potter movies.)  The play takes place following the opening night of a play.  The set is the stunning master suite in the home of the show's producer.  All the characters are constantly coming, going & bemoaning the decimating reviews hinging the panned play on the precipice of closing.  The cast consists of wealthy producer (Mullally,) playwright (Broderick) TV actor & close "friend" to the playwright (Lane,) narcisstic, ankle-monitored leading actress (Channing's character,) critic & wanna be playwright (Abraham,) director (Grint) & a young, naive wanna be actor (Micah Stock.)  Who knew Abraham could do comedy?  No one - he can't.  Perhaps it's McNally's aims to parody the critic with the most vitriol.  Broderick plays a one note, whiny writer (perhaps directed to act with minimal conviction.)  Grint as the dir. of the play did add a splash of lively British wry humor.  Lane's over the top antics are winning and the best reason to see this production.  Unfortunately, the play's banter becomes tiresome & dated despite McNally's clever current references; "Potato, potatho, tomato, tomahto." Let's just call the whole thing off as the play is only somewhat entertaining but more often draining.  Of course, it's much easier for me to say rather than write a play.