The Good Thief isn't just good, it’s extraordinary....

For all those theater fans that either were too young to attend, or hadn't discovered the art of the live one man performance the first time Brian d'Arcy James stepped foot on the stage to portray The Good Thief at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, one was instantly reminded last night at the Keen Company benefit what an outstanding talent Brian d'Arcy James truly is.

Now I'm not saying this because I'm his publicist, I'm saying it as a fan of true, emotionally charged theater that leaves you speechless.

My words may not be as poignant as Ben Brantley's were back in the day, or of any of the paid critics or amazing people in New York or Los Angeles who awarded Brian the first time around with incredible reviews as well as him garnering awards such as The Obie, Outer Critics Circle, the Drama Desk Awardm Backstage Garland Award and the LA Weekly Award among many others.

But this one does come straight from the heart.

When I was first introduced to the work of Brian d'Arcy James, it was after I had moved to New York and started my own company in 2003. Shortly after he was nominated for a Tony for Sweet Smell of Success and continued on through amazing shows like the off Broadway production of Apple Tree, Next 2 Normal, and Port Authority, and others... but I didn't get to actually meet him until we sat down to discuss my representing him for SHREK. Out of all of the amazing work he had done over the years he was ready to let the world know who he was behind the green prosthetics and costume that fans would soon come to know him by. After seeing The Good Thief, I completely understand. Actors may go from play to play, musical to musical and get to the point where they are sought after for all the key theater projects, but it all starts somewhere. And although by the time he did "The Good Thief" he was already starting to get a name for himself, he always said that role was and may always be "his most memorable role to date." So to look back at all the work we did together during Shrek, to know how much he put into that character and how he made this Ogre his own, it’s no surprise sitting in the theater tonight why being known as Brian, the actor behind this costume was so important. It is truly the same incredible actor that stood up on that stage tonight and took your breath away as he took us on this remarkable journey about a Thief with a heart and a soul.

Conor Mc Pherson's play has been performed numerous times. It is a piece that moves people to tears as you hear about a man who pines for his ex- love, about a "job" gone bad, a "job" that changes his life forever and leaves him with his life, or what's left of it and haunting questions that in the end would never be answered and love gone unrequited.... Of a situation he found himself in, that went completely awry.

There were funny moments, but the kind of funny when you laugh because something is ironic, or just doesn't seem fair or right. And then silence. His portrayal had the audience so quiet, even breathing couldn't be heard. It was as if the audience stopped breathing all together in complete awe, watching and listening to this sad man's tale.

Moment by Moment I wasn't sure if he was asking us, the audience for our forgiveness or for his salvation or for perhaps nothing more than he just needed someone to talk to. It seemed to be so long since he had anyone to talk to.

But talk he did for over an hour and with each hit mark, and each moment, you grew to truly ache for this man's life. The choices he made and what could have been different had he never met "Greta" she had never left him, he never took that job or ever stepped foot in the "mitchell's home."

For all of you who had something else to do, you missed a riveting performance that reminds people why they became actors and inspires those who have yet to achieve to dream, to run to the nearest class to become one.

I leave you with this, as Brian prepares to leave Shrek the Ogre behind this week (November 8th is his last performance) although I am saddened that he will no longer run outside the stagedoor of the Broadway Theater every day around the block in his Shrek costume waiving at fans as he re-enters to run down the aisle, or sing the lovely "fart song" "I've got you beat" with Princess Fiona, or makes "snothers" in the swamp, or sits for 2 hours in hair and makeup each evening, there are new pastures to farm for this actor.

And with this one night performance of The Good Thief, I am reminded that there is a lot of Brian d'Arcy James left to come...

So look forward to Time Stands Still in January at the Manhattan Theater Club with Laura Linney, Alicia Silverstone and Eric Bogosian where again, the brilliance that exists inside Brian d'Arcy James that captures audiences in costume or not proves that he is one of the defining actors of his generation.

The Good Thief - may everyone be treated to this at one time or another- may it be a PBS special in Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall...one can dream!

And yes, I do truly love my clients. May you too be lucky enough to become one....


Amy