New 'Moon' rises for Spacey at the Old Vic.(A Moon for the Misbegotten)(Theater review)

A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN

(OLD VIC; 1,033 SEATS; 45 [pounds sterling] ($85) TOP)

LONDON An Old Vic, Elliot Martin, Nica Burns, Max Weitzenhoffer presentation of a play in two acts by Eugene O'Neill. Directed by Howard Davies. Set, Bob Crowley; costumes, Lynette Mauro; lighting, Paule Constable; original music, Dominic Muldowney; sound, Christopher Shutt; production stage manager, Dominic Fraser. Opened, reviewed Sept 26, 2006. Running time: 3 HOURS.

 
Josie Hogan              Eve Best 
Jim Tyrone           Kevin Spacey 
Phil Hogan           Colin Meaney 
Mike Hogan          Eugene O'Hare 
T. Stedman Harder    Billy Carter 

If there's one idea coursing through Howard Davies' incandescent Old Vic revival of "A Moon for the Misbegotten" it's that naturalism is not the answer. The clue is in the language. Eugene O'Neill's dialogue is unyielding, poetic, even …