Hollywood Icon Tom Hanks Faces Theatrical Test
One of the world's most beloved film stars, Tom Hanks, has discovered that cinematic fame doesn't always translate to stage success. The 69-year-old actor's latest venture, the play This World Of Tomorrow, has opened to decidedly mixed reviews at The Shed in New York, proving even Hollywood royalty faces scrutiny in the theatre world.
A Time-Travelling Romance Divides Opinion
Hanks plays leading man Bert Allenberry, a scientist from the future who travels 150 years back in time to the 1939 world fair in New York. There he encounters and falls for bookkeeper Carmen Perry, played by Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara, 49. The production, which premiered on Tuesday, sees Bert become so enchanted by Carmen that he repeatedly revisits the same New York day to be with her.
The play represents a significant creative undertaking for Hanks, who co-wrote the script with collaborator James Glossman, adapting it from his own short-story collection Uncommon Type. Directed by Kenny Leon, the production marks Hanks' return to the New York stage following his performance in Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy.
Critical Reception: From 'Dull' to 'Charming'
The critical response has been sharply divided, with some reviewers delivering particularly savage assessments. Vulture's Jackson McHenry branded the production "the dawn of a dull day," describing it as "play-shaped" rather than a proper theatrical work. He criticised the script as "rudderless" and suggested director Kenny Leon hadn't pushed the cast toward any specific idea.
The Washington Post's Naveen Kumar didn't hold back either, writing that the play "manages to create the uncanny feeling of being stuck in both the future and the past" and advising audiences to "save yourself now" if they wished to preserve their affection for Hollywood's most beloved leading man.
Tim Teeman from the Daily Beast declared simply: "Tom Hanks finally does something bad," while Peter Hempstead from Theatre Mania noted the production "feels very yesterday" and becomes "muddled in fuzzy scientific rigamarole."
However, not all reviews were negative. The Guardian's Benjamin Lee awarded the production three stars, calling it "breezily enjoyable" and praising how Hanks "develops real last-act chemistry with O'Hara."
Alison Considine of the New York Theatre Guide described it as a "touching love story" and declared Hanks "a marvel onstage," suggesting "this is a show worth traveling from any century for."
The New York Theatre acknowledged the production "fell short" in many ways but noted the "simple, unexpected pleasure" of watching Hanks' reactions on stage, calling the experience "almost homespun."
The opening night attracted celebrity attention, with Katie Holmes among those attending the gala event at The Shed, where the cast including Kayli Carter and Ruben Santiago-Hudson celebrated the premiere of this ambitious time-travel romance.
