More Theater Monday - The Last Call

We received complimentary tickets to Last Call for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Last Call

Where: New World Stages

             340 W. 50th St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 13 and Up

When: Through May 4, 2025

Last Call is the story of the relationship between American, Leonard Bernstein and Austrian, Herbert von Carajans. The two men were celebrated conductors as well as bitter rivals. While it is known that they met for the last time in 1988 in the Hotel Sacher bar in Salzburg, Austria, the play dramatizes what their final meeting may have been like. 

In the play, the two men are played by women. Allegedly, the director chose to cast women in the roles to prevent people from spending the whole show comparing the performers to their real-life counterparts. However, that being said, Helen Schneider does a terrific job of channeling Bernstein. The way she talks and moves, and everything about her demeanor seems reminiscent of the great composer. The costume and the wig greatly add to the effect. 

Lucca Zuchner is great in the role of Von Karajan as well. However, since most people are less familiar with him, it is not as easy to tell how close her portrayal is to the real person.

The third member of the cast is Victor Petersen playing the bartender/waiter. He is fine in that role, but that performance is nothing compared to his brief transformation into another role. A turn which is as unexpected as it is astonishingly good. 

The set and lighting are both terrific. They really contribute to making you feel like you are a hotel bar. You almost want to go up to the bar and order a drink. 

The show is interesting. However, it is mostly just two men having a conversation which can be hard for some to sit through for an hour and a half straight. Even though, the two men do move around a little and the actors are very expressive with their whole bodies even when they are sitting at the table, it does a feel a bit draggy at times. Still, it is a fascinating portrait of two celebrated men. 

And that's our view. For more about Last Call or to order tickets, visit lastcalltheplay.com

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credits:

All Last Call production photos by Maria Baranova

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.