"If the strike continues," a spokesperson for both shows told Playbill.com, "the openings will be changed." If those dates are revised, the producers are asking critics to hold their reviews until the new opening dates.
The Farnsworth Invention, which plays the Music Box Theatre, is scheduled to officially open Nov. 14. The Seafarer, which plays the Booth Theatre, has a Nov. 15 opening. Both the Music Box and Booth are theatres affected by the strike.
The Farnsworth Invention follows the battle for the patent for the invention of the television set. The race pitted Philo T. Farnsworth, a young genius who came up with the idea as a high school student, against David Sarnoff, the head of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). Using direct address monologues and flashbacks, the two men narrate the retelling of each other's stories as the drama unfolds. Hank Azaria and Jimmi Simpson — facing off as Sarnoff and Farnsworth, respectively — head a cast that also features Michael Mulheren, William Youmans and Steve Rosen.
Billed as a "chilling new play about the sea, Ireland, and the power of myth," The Seafarer is described this way: "It's Christmas Eve and Sharky (Morse) has returned to Dublin to look after his irascible, aging brother (Norton) who's recently gone blind. Old drinking buddies Ivan (Hill) and Nicky (Mahon) are holed up at the house too, hoping to play some cards. But with the arrival of a stranger (Hinds) from the distant past, the stakes are raised ever higher. In fact, Sharky may be playing for his very soul." Playwright McPherson directs his play, previously seen at the National's Cottesloe. The Broadway company features Ciarán Hinds, Conleth Hill, Sean Mahon, David Morse and Jim Norton.