Digging for Gold and Good Times

There is a mystique that romanticizes the gold-digger.  Holly Golightly is an icon of that ambitious young woman. She is a naif, an innocent, a survivor.

Emilia Clarke as Holly Golightly with Vito Vincent in a photo by Nathan Johnson.

Fred, a writer whose success is not guaranteed, and whose charm is plentiful, comes on the scene in a torrential rain, reciting lines so poetic he sounds like Tennessee Williams reincarnate. In fact,there are many positively lyrical passages in Richard Greenberg's adaptation of Truman Capote's "Breakfast At Tiffany's,"  currently enjoying an open run at the Cort Theatre, with the young British star from "Game Of Thornes,"  Emilia Clarke, as Holly Golightly.

George Wendt as Joe Bell in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Photo by Nathan Johnson

Holly is an object of desire for men of all persuasions, even Joe Bell (George Wendt) the bartender with whom Fred (Cory Michael Smith) and I.Y. Yunioshi (James Yaegashi), both now prosperous, reminisce about the long lost Holly.

As a conceit, having breakfast at Tiffany's doesn't conjure the intended image of luxury. As a play, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" is a little like a tonic one takes in aid of sleep. Perhaps to enjoy that early meal amid gold and diamonds.

The staging, with scenic design by Derek McLane and projections designed by Wendall K. Harrington, and lighting by Peter Kaczorowski, is remarkably alive and vivid. The storyline and production is a bit dull, even though all the acting is excellent. Cory Michael Smith's lovestruck Fred is particularly outstanding.  Emilia Clarke is aflutter with the conflicting emotions and intelligence of her character.

Emilia Clarke as Holly with Cory Michael Smith as Fred. Photo by Nathan Johnson.

In the interest of complete honesty, not entirely in keepig with Holly's vaunted style, this reviewer is neither a fan of Truman Capote nor smitten by the film his novella inspired.

Don't expect to be humming "Moon River" on your way out of the theater.

To find out more about "Breakfast at Tiffany's," visit http://www.breakfastattiffanysonbroadway.com/