Update #3-Behind the Scenes: The Long Island Parkway planning map in David’s new play starring Ralph Fiennes as Robert Moses
Following an acclaimed run this spring at the Bridge Theatre in London, Straight Line Crazy, a new play by celebrated British playwright David Hare, will have its exclusive 9-week engagement in October 2022 at The Shed in Hudson Yards in Manhattan.
Starring Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes making his Off-Broadway debut, the play delves into Robert Moses’s legacy and enduring impact on New York City and Long Island.
Straight Line Crazy presents an imagined retelling of the arc of Moses’s controversial career in two decisive moments: The first, a 1926 proposal to build parkways connecting the city’s working class to the beaches of Long Island, was staunchly resisted by wealthy seaside residents including a fictitious “Henry” Vanderbilt; the second, a 1950s scheme to run a highway through Washington Square, resulting in a public outcry.
VanderbiltCupRaces.com even plays a role in the staging of this play by providing Moses' planning map for Long Island parkways and parks, first posted on December 13, 2014. The map has a prominent place in Moses' office set throughout the first half of the play.
Update: October 23, 2022: CBS Sunday Morning: Robert Moses, the man who built America
Update: October 27, 2022: The New York Times review featured a photo of the Planning Map.
Update: October 29, 2022: Newsday article: "Never before have gigantic, beautiful old maps of the Northern and Southern State parkways played so pivotal a plot role on a professional stage."
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Here’s the “Behind the Scenes” story.
In February 2022 prior to its London opening, I received the following email from Jaime Todd:
“My name is Jaimie Todd and I am an Associate Designer for a theatre company in London called The Bridge Theatre. We are currently working on a production of a new play called "Straight Line Crazy", written by David Hare and it is about Robert Moses' life.
My job is to produce drawings for his onstage drawing office and in rehearsals, his 1931 planning map has proved very useful. On our internet searches, only your very interesting website has the picture and the good quality close ups.
My question or polite request is whether you can help me find a good quality image or copy of the map or point me in the direction of the owner of the map.”
Sincerely,
Jaime Todd
I informed Jaimie that I was owner of the map and immediately sent him several high-resolution images.
I must admit that I totally forgot about the correspondence until I received this email last week.
Dear Howard,
Your map was certainly the starting point for one of the main images of the production. In the end I used your map and hand drew it again, using it as a starter. Your name was popped in the programme too. The reason I am writing to you today is that you may have heard that the production has transferred to The Shed Theater in Hudson Yards. We open for previews next Tuesday … I was wondering if you would like a couple of tickets.
Hope you can come.
Best,
Jaimie Todd
It is wonderful that VanderbiltCupRaces.com has made it to Off-Broadway in a David Hare play starring Ralph Fiennes!
I cannot wait to see the show and my program credit.
Trailers
Scenes from "Straight Line Crazy"
Robert Moses meeting with "Henry" Vanderbilt.
The original Robert Moses' map
Robert Moses’ 1931 Planning Map for Long Island Parks and Parkways
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Howard, Roz and Laura Aswad, producer of The Shed and Straight Line Crazy.
CBS Morning News, October 23, 2022: Robert Moses, the man who built New York
New York Times, October 27, 2022
Newsday, October 29, 2022: Moses: A play on politics and planning"
Comments
Thanks for sharing, Howard. Great to the see the vanderbiltcupraces.com making it to Broadway (well at least to the Hudson Yards!).
This is wonderful. The map is such a great centerpiece to the setting of the play and such a part of our lives as those who grew up on the sidelines of the road that defined our cherished Long Island heritage.
This is a great way to elevate everyone’s awareness of the importance of the LIMP. Can’t wait for your backstage interviews? maybe a picture of Howard on the stage with the map, after the show?
Congratulations! “Your” map made it into the NY Times review of the play that was published on 10/27!
I’ve always had the impression that the Bethpage State Parkway was one of the originally proposed roads in 1931, and was guaranteed to reach the Northern State Parkway at the time. The Massapequa Preserve is visible enough, though.
Nice about the nap, great that they have such a superb actor playing the role of a man who had such a huge affect on so many neighborhoods and people for good or bad.