McNeal

McNeal is in performances at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater through November 24.

By Elazar Abrahams

McNeal, the new play by Ayad Akhtar, has all the buzz of a Broadway must-see: a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, direction by the acclaimed Bartlett Sher, and the New York stage debut of Robert Downey Jr., one of the biggest stars on the planet. However, despite those few glimmers of potential, the play itself is a dud — at best intriguing and, at worst, completely incoherent.

RDJ embodies Jacob McNeal, a lauded novelist struggling with his next work while becoming increasingly obsessed with artificial intelligence. Downey’s performance is often captivating, and his energy on stage is what we’ve come to expect from the charming yet tortured roles he’s pigeonholed himself into. Unfortunately, even his presence can’t save a script that seems unsure of what it wants to say.

The show touches on some interesting themes, such as the nature of artistic integrity in the digital age and the conflict between human creativity and AI. But rather than diving deep into these questions on authorship, McNeal skims the surface. It’s all very faux-intellectual. The one act affair is a frustratingly disjointed experience that never quite manages to tie its threads together, and the vignettes of sorts aren’t strong enough without the closing ribbon that never comes.

McNeal’s staging is technically impressive. The set design is sleek and modern, reflecting the futuristic themes of the play. There’s some “deep fake” video work that is sort of clever as well. Yet it is all wasted on a show that lacks clarity and focus. The ambitious visual effects and polished aesthetic aren’t enough to distract from the shortcomings.

The supporting cast, which includes crowd favorites Ruthie Ann Miles and Andrea Martin, delivers solid performances, but again, it isn’t enough. Often, and perhaps on purpose, the dialogue seems to actually have been written by some sort of ChatGPT-like tool. The interactions between McNeal and his estranged son (Rafi Gavron) are meant to be poignant but feel underwritten, leaving little emotional impact despite the intensity of the subject matter.

Any excuse to spend some time on the Lincoln Center campus is a welcome one, but McNeal is a huge disappointment.

Finds more information and tickets HERE.