The Climbers | michaelhardart

The Climbers by Clyde Fitch, Metropolitan Playhouse (2017)

“Given an elegant, absorbing production by director Michael Hardart, The Climbers with its pungent satire may just be the most devastating exposé of the American Dream – and greed – written for the Broadway stage up to that time… Under Hardart’s assured and polished direction, the cast appears to the manner born in a drawing room drama… Director Hardart uses some interesting meta- theater techniques as having the off-stage actors in full view of the audience generate needed sound effects, as well as having actors return as the many servants immediately before and after appearing in major roles… Michael Hardart’s superb production makes an excellent case for this as a turn-of-the-last-century American classic. The play’s relevance has returned in our own era, and also demonstrates that the corruption of the American dream through greed and ambition has been going on for over 116 years.” Victor Gluck, Theatrescene

“Rich and compelling… A good deal of the play's success must be credited to director Michael Hardart and his excellent company of actors, who do double and triple duty in multiple character roles, as stagehands, and as Foley sound effect artists. They work effectively as an ensemble and mine the characters for their inherent silliness and pathos without resorting to caricature… I have seen more than a dozen productions at the Metropolitan Playhouse, and this is one of the best uses of the intimate space that I recall… With this production of The Climbers director Hardart and Metropolitan Playhouse artistic director Alex Roe make a convincing case for salvaging Clyde Fitch from the dustbin of theatrical history.” James Wilson, Talkin’ Broadway