The Coast of Utopia
Tom Stoppard's ambitious trilogy, about the 19th century intellectuals whose ideas formed the seeds of the Russian revolution, was indisputably the theater event of the season, both a critical and boxoffice smash. I found the plays more admirable than involving. Though director Jack O'Brien pulled off some stunning coups de theater, he couldn't do much with the stretches of stodgy dramaturgy — the interplay of ideas represented by hyperventilating characters crying things like, "You must read Hegel!" I kept wondering if one good three-hour play might not have done the trick.
Tony Outlook: All but a lock for Best Play, and plenty of other awards.