'Good Night, and Good Luck' Broadway review — George Clooney takes the stage and the airwaves

Read our review of Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway, a new play adapted from Clooney's Oscar-nominated 2005 film featuring the actor in his Broadway debut.

George Clooney fans who are fond of seeing his face up close on screen will get plenty more of that in Good Night, and Good Luck, a topical yet tepid drama that marks the Oscar-winning star’s Broadway debut.

Hair Brylcreemed, chin set, brow furrowed, and voice geared for gravity, Clooney makes a reasonable facsimile of renowned journalist Edward R. Murrow. In the 1950s, the celebrated newsman famously clashed with Senator Joseph McCarthy, challenging the politician’s anti-communist witch hunts.

The war of words played out on Murrow’s CBS program See It Now, where he, alongside producer Fred Friendly (Glenn Fleshler) and CBS president William Paley (Paul Gross), exposed McCarthy’s tactics. Murrow’s risky broadcast helped diminish McCarthy’s influence and marked a turning point in television journalism.

It’s a provocative slice of history. At the Winter Garden Theatre, the production directed by David Cromer (The Band’s Visit) is earnest and movie-star handsome (thanks to great work by set designer Scott Pask), but unexciting. It simply fails to catch fire, save for all the cigarettes. Both the play and Clooney click most effectively during reenactments of Murrow’s broadcasts, fitting for a drama about a TV showdown.

The conclusion of Murrow’s famous 1958 speech about TV news and its responsibility to avoid sensationalism caps the play. The creators can’t resist hammering home how that speaks to today. Expect them to trust the audience to put two and two together on their own? Good luck.

Good Night, and Good Luck summary

The play premiering on Broadway is based on the 2005 movie of the same title written by Grant Heslov and Clooney, who also directed and played Friendly opposite David Strathairn as Murrow on screen. It’s a drama about the power as well as the vulnerability of TV, the news, and the truth. It centers on the ethical struggles and courage of journalists who risked their careers to expose McCarthy’s tactics and how they aimed to uphold journalistic integrity and defend democracy in a time of intense political and social pressure.

What to expect at Good Night, and Good Luck

The play’s focus is squarely on Murrow, but it also includes other journalists whose stories add personal and historical dimensions to the story. They include Palmer Williams (Fran Kranz), whose wife’s link to the Communist Party is a source of anxiety; anchor Don Hellenbeck (Clark Gregg), who faced extreme pressure after the hearings; and Shirley Wershba (Ilana Glazer) and Joe Wershba (Carter Hudson), whose secret marriage ran afoul of CBS’s strict policy prohibiting relationships between employees.

In a curious device, a singer and band situated on an elevated side platform periodically performs standards like “When I Fall in Love.” These musical interludes mimic the underscoring in the movie, but they don't enhance the narrative on stage.

What audiences are saying about Good Night, and Good Luck

Good Night, and Good Luck has an audience approval rating of 89% on the review aggregator Show-Score.

• “The true story behind this play took place in the 1950s but it is, sadly, 100% applicable to our world today. This is a must-see and should be required viewing for everyone – and hopefully will serve as a wake-up call.” Show-Score user Molly 4158
• “If you know the history, there weren’t any surprises, but a solid script with solid actors. Worth the visit. Was this the beginning of slanted journalism we now see in the all-opinion news channels. Makes one think.” Show-Score user Mama Rose
• “The fight between Murrow and McCarthy as depicted in the 2005 movie gets abbreviated to allow for songs of the era by a jazzy band, as well as the on-the-nose comparisons to our current conundrum. And there lies the problem – the similarities are so clear that a hint would suffice.” Show-Score user aka

Read more audience reviews of Good Night, and Good Luck on Show-Score.

Who should see Good Night, and Good Luck

• Fans of Clooney’s work in such vehicles as ER and Syriana will want to see him in action for his New York stage debut.
• Moviegoers who enjoyed the film version of Good Night, and Good Luck will be interested in seeing how the famous story takes shape on stage.
• Newshounds and history buffs will be keen to watch a slice of the past unfold in the morality play that is as relevant as today's headlines 70 years later.

Learn more about Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway

Despite its flaws, Good Night, and Good Luck is a newsworthy event of the season thanks to George Clooney’s dual role as star and co-writer.

Photo credit: Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway. (Photos by Emilio Madrid)