The River

The River is an enigmatic psychological play written by Jez Butterworth. It roars to life in the Circle in the Square theater.
Hugh Jackman returns to Broadway as the Man. He is wildly passionate about fishing. The Woman, his company for the duration of the trip, is played by Cush Jumbo. Arguably, it is a love story that takes place across an obscure stretch of time.
The fourth wall is tactically and playfully prodded as the plot thickens from scene to scene. The props of the play are real, including a water valve secured on the left corner of the stage that has running water. Not only are the senses of sight and sound utilized, but the sense of smell is also incorporated. In one memorable scene, Jackman prepares a trout for dinner which is then baked in the stone oven on stage. The delightful smell of trout, fennel, leeks, and lemon rush into the air in a white cloud of billowing smoke as the oven door open. The dense aroma permeates the theater.
Butterworth’s beautifully constructed script is spell-​binding, poetic, and dark. The River is layered with metaphors and parables.
The theater itself is perfectly small, creating the advantageous illusion of intimacy. The play casts its bait and the audience becomes instantaneously hooked.
Some Pro Tips: They offer standing seats last minute at the ticket booth that line the theater for $ 30. Stay after the performance for the cast to stumble out of the theater. They are told by the staff to only interact with the fans that are on the inner row.