Although still in previews, every seat for China Doll is breathlessly occupied by eager theater-goers, fans, and acolytes.  My seat was perfect for seeing and hearing everything: third row, center.  Pacino performed wonderfully – though it is essentially a one-man piece, but for Carson, the protagonist's assistant, he is onstage and gesticulating and talking for the whole two hours.  You expect someone else, perhaps his paramour, Francine, to appear, but he achieves a full stage-worth of activity and dynamism, all with his inflection and voice, his fluid posture and gait, his mobile facial expressions, and the acrobatics and suppleness of the Mamet river of words canon. Then, when we gave him a standing O, he smiled beatifically – really surprised, seemingly, and delighted that we were delighted.  It was sweet to see.  Carson also took his bows, but he stood back, as his role was much quieter than that of richie-rich...(Read Full Post)