'Dog Day Afternoon' on Broadway: A Disastrous Adaptation of the Film Classic

Reviews of the Broadway adaptation of Sidney Lumet's 'Dog Day Afternoon,' directed by Rupert Goold and written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, have been scathing.

Critic Vincent Canby, in his original review of the 1975 film, praised Lumet's ability to intertwine comedy with desperation, but this new version seems to have missed that subtlety. The play, starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, is described as a crude comedy that lacks the immediacy and emotion of the original film.

The stage adaptation transforms the characters and situations of the original film into caricatures.

The review notes that the play focuses on cheap humor and jokes, stripping the characters of their complexity and humanity. Significant changes in the characters are mentioned, such as the transformation of Sal, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, into a simplified and predictable character. In addition, the way the relationship between Sonny and Leon, Sonny's transgender wife, is approached is criticized, reducing it to a gag.

Rupert Goold's direction and Stephen Adly Guirgis' writing are considered inadequate for the adaptation of 'Dog Day Afternoon'.

The direction is described as clumsy and noisy, with unconvincing action scenes and exaggerated performances. Guirgis, known for his plays that portray working-class New Yorkers, seems to have lost the connection with the story, opting to make fun of the characters instead of showing compassion. The production, which had tone problems during rehearsals, has been described as a failure in capturing the essence of the original film.

The theatrical production includes moments that distort the social criticism of the original film.

The iconic 'Attica! Attica!' moment is transformed into audience participation, diluting its original meaning. In the film, the cry is a spontaneous reaction to police brutality, while in the play it becomes an empty slogan. This change, along with the lack of depth in the characters and plot, has led critics to call the adaptation a major mistake.

Despite the criticism, some outstanding performances are recognized, although insufficient to save the production.

Jon Bernthal, as Sonny, manages to convey some of the character's desperation, and Jessica Hecht delivers a worthy performance. However, these performances cannot compensate for the overall problems of the production. Spencer Garrett, in the role of the FBI agent, is praised for capturing the tone of the time, but overall, the play fails to convey the essence and social criticism of the original film.