Monday, December 21, 2015

Fiddler on the Roof

The peanut gallery was up in arms about one minute of added material to Fiddler on the Roof -- respectful, silent material! Can you imagine if some truly radical director took a stab at it? Whatever: I loved the respectful new revival. My review's here.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

My chat with Mary Berry

If you're as in love with The Great British Baking Show — and even its spinoff, The Great Holiday Baking Show — as I am, you'll get a kick out of my chat with Mary Berry.

The year's best theater flops

Some were atrocious, other simply dull dull dull. Have a look to my top 5 list of theater's worst moments in 2015.

Friday, December 18, 2015

K-pop group Oh My Girl was detained at LAX because...

...well, let's just say this may have been a case of mistaken identity, at least according to the band's management company. Less charitable spirits say it was a stupid lack of visa. Click here for some K-pop fun.

2015's top ten

My favorite shows of 2015 are the ones that surprised me, that made me reconsider what I thought I knew about a play, its characters, their and my emotions, the story -- and storytelling itself. Maybe that's why Hamilton isn't included: It's a very good show, but it never caught me by surprise or made me question things. Here are the finalists.

What to see and skip this week

This week's picks are the Shakespeare-Beatles hybrid These Paper Bullets! along with the revival of Once Upon a Mattress and Staceyann Chin's new solo, MotherStruck!
I was less impressed by Marjorie Prime than my colleagues, though any show with Lois Smith has something going for it. Click here for more details.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

review of Luther

I used to love Luther but the show's sick fascination with perverted serial killers is getting old. Still: Idris Elba! My review's of the fourth installment is here.

Monday, December 14, 2015

I tried broomball and lived to tell the tale

The only disappointment is that no spell-casting is involved in broomball. Click here for my exploits on the Prospect Park ice.

Friday, December 11, 2015

This week's picks and pans

This week I recommend Nick Kroll and John Mulaney's Oh, Hello, as well as School of Rock. You can skip Lazarus, unless you're a huge David Bowie fan.

The Color Purple

Jennifer Hudson sings great but has little presence as an actress. Still, the show works as a massager of tear ducts. My review's here.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Is The Good Wife doomed?

I've been a huge fan of The Good Wife from day one, but this season has been trying. Not bad so much as not exciting -- sorry, show, you've trained us to expect a lot! Here's my take on the first half of season 7 before this Sunday's winter finale.

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Skiing at Portes du Soleil

My ski trip to the French Alps in January coincided with the non-blizzard that cancelled all the flights in and out of NYC. I'm not complaining: I got extra days in Savoie, which, frankly, I'll take anytime. You can read about my adventures at Portes du Soleil here. This is a follow-up to my adventures at Paradiski.

Lazarus

Statistically you don't have a ticket for Lazarus, which sold out in hours. If you do, chances are you're a huge David Bowie fan and you'll get a kick out of it. Somehow. My review's here.

School of Rock

Great big return to form for Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose School of Rock is a delight. I have some quibbles, sure, but overall I'd recommend this one. My review's here.

Sunday, December 06, 2015

The Walking Dead Experience

What's better than watching The Walking Dead? Experiencing its zombie-apocalypse world — for a little while. Also, without getting bitten. Click here for my preview of this immersive new show.

The Great Holiday Baking Show

The first episode of ABC's remake of The Great British Baking Show was surprisingly enjoyable — you could see them trying very hard to capture the original's unique tone. Too bad local baker Grace Langan didn't make the cut. At least she gave us a recipe.

Friday, December 04, 2015

Meet Broadway's latest hunks

I love all four of them! Don't make me choose! Click here for the goods.

This week's picks and pans

This week I recommend Gigantic and Important Hats of the 20th Century (at least the latter's first act). You can skip Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, Invisible Thread and New York Animals -- though the last boasts some gorgeous Burt Bacharach melodies. More details here.

The Wiz Live!

NBC got it largely right with its live telecast of The Wiz. The solution was simple: get people who can sing! Still, I wish the network would just shoot its next musical in front of a live audience. It'll do wonder for the energy. My review's here.

China Doll

Will the debacle known as China Doll mark the end of David Mamet's teflon years? Because I'm not sure how his already damaged reputation could recover. My review's here.

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Lin-Manuel Miranda scores the new cantina

Lin-Manuel Miranda's turf has just expanded to a galaxy far, far away: He scored the cantina scene in the new Star Wars movie. Miranda for President 2030!

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

A Very Murray Christmas

I'm not that into Christmas but I do love variety specials, and Netflix's new A Very Murray Christmas hits the sweet spot. Click here for my review.

Evaluating The Walking Dead midseason finale

Except for the handling of Glenn, I've been loving season 6 of The Walking Dead. But all good things must come to an end, and so they did with an utterly mediocre midseason finale. My take's here.