Sean Hayes is best known for his Emmy & SAG winning role on TV in the long running comedy "Will and Grace". His Tony winning performance in this year's "Good Night Oscar" is a dramatic turn demonstrating his diverse acting talent. Hayes is a Broadway veteran having starred in the musical "Promises Promise" earning a Tony nomination and the drama, "An Act of God." Hayes portrays pianist /composer/conductor/actor and radio personality, Oscar Levant (b. Amer. 1906-1972). Levant appeared in movie classics like "An American in Paris" with Gene Kelly. As a composer for more than 20 movies his compositions were highly regarded by Aaron Copland and Arnold Schoenberg. However, little is garnered of the man in "Good Night Oscar" other than his admiration for Gershwin and his creative suffocation resulting from their association. This biopic drama portrays a seriously unhinged individual still able to pull it together for a TV audience, with irreverence and a brilliant performance on the piano of "Rhapsody in Blue." Hayes is playing the piano himself, with an over scored accompaniment. This fortunate critic admits to knowing Hayes personally and having had the pleasure of him entertaining us at the the piano. The play is written by Pulitzer and Tony winning playwright Doug Wright ("I am My Own Wife" (2004). Wright has also wrote the books to Broadway musicals "Little Mermaid" (2007) and "Grey Gardens" (2006). The plot is constrained to one evening within the confines of the NBC studio for the "Jack Parr Tonight Show" in 1958. Levant is a favored talk show guest for his quick wit and skills at the piano. The night Levant is to appear on the show, the network executives have yet to hear from Levant and showtime is approaching. With the deadline reaching its final two hours till showtime, NBC Pres. Sarnoff is about to sign off on Levant when June, Levant's wife (an excellent Emily Wise) arrives in Parr's office. Parr (Ben Rapport, B'wy "Fiddler" and "Picnic") has a momentary reprieve hearing June assure him her spouse will be here. But, Parr is shocked to learn Levant has been in a mental hospital for the past several months and is required to return immediately following his appearance. Hayes tour-de-force performance is undercut by watching how precarious is Levant's manic state and his obsessive demand for obtaining medication. The show is a credible examination of neurosis made all the more unpleasant for a convincing version of a person's shaky grasp on sanity. While Hayes and the entire cast are all outstanding, I didn't find the play entertaining or substantive in regards to understanding mental illness. Furthermore, there was a missed opportunity to learn more about an interesting individual who was one of the great pianists and fearless commentators from the 20th C.
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