July sci-fi

 July sci-fi: hey, it rhymes! My latest batch of streamable nuggets is here.

A Quiet Place Day One

A Quiet Place is emerging as one of my favorite franchises and even when a movie has problems, like the new prequel, I have a good time. More, please! I reviewed A Quiet Place: Day One for the Times.

A trip to the Jimmys

The Jimmy Awards have become a major scouting ground for casting directors, and the 15th edition did not let anybody down. Check out my report and see what the kids are up to.

Babylon Berlin primer

The great German historical series is finally back to the US with new episodes! It's been a while since the last time we met with Gereon, Lotte et al., so I wrote a primer to prep viewers for Season 4. Click here.

Find Me Here

Crystal Finn's play is middling but its cast is absolutely sterling so I'd say it's a go. My review is here.

Musicians on Broadway

Please, let's have more stories about musicians on Broadway! Not biomusicals — stories about made-up musicians. They give writers, directors and actors a lot more leeway than the hagiography and mimicry required by biographical material. I wrote about a positive new trend for the Washington Post.

R.I.P. Françoise Hardy

I took that loss hard. It was hard to pick just eight songs to trace Françoise Hardy's career arc but you can find my YouTube picks here. I also wrote the intro to a wonderful gallery put together by the photo department, and that's here.

How Suffs changed for Broadway

I wasn't crazy about Suffs at the Public Theater but the Broadway version may well be my favorite musical of the year, tied with Dead Outlaw. I talked to Shaina Taub and Leigh Silverman about the changes they made to their show over the past two years. Click here for my story. 

What to see during Pride month

I rounded up some theater performances of interest for Pride month. Some of them are settled on Broadway but others have short runs so don't sleep on them. Go for it! 

Godzilla leads the sci-fi pack this month

Godzilla Minus One is finally streaming so of course I had to lead the latest installment of my sci-fi column with it! What a great movie. The column can be found here.

The Watchers

Ishana Shyamalan's debut feature has a lot of issues but Dakota Fanning is, as always, a compelling screen presence. Click here for my review.

Becoming Karl Lagerfeld

I became interested in the intersection of fashion and nightlife in 1970s Paris after reading Alicia Drake's great book The Beautiful Fall a few years ago. Many of the same characters, events and settings pop up in this Hulu series. I talked to a few of the principals and recommend watching the show. My feature is here.

The Great Lillian Hall

Catching up with a lot of stories so get ready for a link dump! 

I reviewed this HBO production starring Jessica Lange as an aging theater star, and wow is the movie tailor-made for her. It really made me want to see Lange do The Cherry Orchard, as she does in the film. Thataway for the review.

Usus

Clubbed Thumbed's Summerworks is one of my favorite theater series and even when a show doesn't entirely work, like Usus, I enjoy going. My review is here.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Julia Masli's Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha is impressive in many ways, which is why I wanted it to cut so much deeper. She stops just short of where it becomes really interesting. My review is here.

Nobody Cares

Yes, that title sounds a bit like Laura Benanti is fishing for compliments but she pulls off a really fun show at Minetta Lane, produced by Audible. Click here for my review.

Dungeons and Dragons

I went to Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern and wow, it really brought me back to my role-playing days! It's fun to see the game enjoy a resurgence and extending to new mediums like the theater. Click here for my review.

Crying at Broadway shows

Have you been crying at Broadway shows this season? It's ok — so have I, and a lot of other people too. Click here for my Washington Post story.

Science fiction for May 2024

Here's another batch of under-the-radar sci-fi movies that are new (or at least newish) to streaming and VOD this month.

Eurovision 2024

Once again I joined the New York Times team covering Eurovision. World news have really intruded on that pop stage in the past few years, even more so at this year's edition. You can find our live commentary at this link. I also had separate articles touching on some specific aspects: a guide to the 2024 contest,  how the voting works, the pop powerhouse known as Sweden.

The Miser

I ventured — and by that I mean that I walked —to Prospect Park to check out Molière in the Park's production of The Miser. Like pretty much everybody who grew up in France, I read Molière in school, so I'm always excited to see one of his plays here in the US. You can check out my review here.

Stars on Broadway

Four screen stars, four Broadway shows: I wrote about Rachel McAdams, Steve Carell, Jessica Lange and Eddie Redmayne for the Washington Post — article here.

Orlando

Signature brought back Sarah Ruhl's adaptation of the Virginia Woolf novel, now directed by Will Davis. "Wildly uneven" is the quickest way to describe the production. My review is here.

The Heart of Rock and Roll

Okay, let's face it: Huey Lewis isn't the heart of rock and roll. But the new jukebox drawing from his songs is a lot of fun. Yes, I had a good time. Click here for my review.

Hell's Kitchen

After a middling premiere at the Public Theater, the Alicia Keys musical is now on Broadway. Happy surprise: just like Suffs, it's really improved and now I can wholeheartedly endorse it. My review is here.

Suffs

Having seen its previous version at the Public Theater, I was frankly flabbergasted that Suffs was transferring to Broadway. But the creative team did the hard work and while I still have reservations, I'm happy to report that the show is now very good. Thataway for my review in the Washington Post.

The Outsiders

It's hard to oversell S.E. Hinton's book The Outsiders, which is really remarkable — especially knowing she wrote it when she was 16. I got to review the musical adaptation for the Washington Post, and found the visuals a lot more striking than the music and book. You can read my piece here.

Science fiction for the spring

Under the radar no more: I've unearthed another quintet of obscure or semi-obscure sci-fi movies for you to enjoy this month. The list is here.

It's Only Life After All

I've never really been into Indigo Girls but I loved the new doc about them — which is a sign of a movie well made. The director was incredibly lucky that Amy Ray is such a pack rat! Click here for my review.

An appreciation of Christopher Durang

We lost a good one this week. I threw a few thoughts together for the Washington Post, and you can find them here.

Yannick

Quentin Dupieux strikes again! I got to review his latest, Yannick, for the Times. And by "latest" I mean latest to be released in the U.S.: one more came out since, and his next is premiering at Cannes. I just love him. Click here for the review.

The Who's Tommy

I got to tackle the Broadway revival of The Who's Tommy for the Washington Post. Come for Pete Townshend, stay for the Daft Punk joke! Click here for the review.

Water for Elephants

My first byline in The Washington Post! I am beyond psyched, and honored. It's a review of the new Broadway musical Water for Elephants and I liked the production a lot. Click here for the review (gift link).

Limbo

Simon Baker gives a terrific performance in this new movie by Ivan Sen — a director I quite like. Check it out, but first check out my review for the Times.

March sci-fi movies

My latest sci-fi column is out! 

Meet Elsbeth…again

Longtime viewers of The Good Wife and The Good Fight are familiar with Elsbeth Tascioni, and now this fan favorite is getting her own show! I went to the set on two different days and talked to a whole bunch of people, including Carrie Preston, of course. Click here for the story.

The Hunt

I tend to like Rupert Goold's work but oof — this one is on the nose. Good performance from Tobias Menzies but the show is so overwrought. My review for the Times is here.

A Sign of the Times

I actually love Petula Clark songs, especially the ones she recorded with the brilliant Tony Hatch, but if you're going to do a jukebox of her hits, just do one and not this mishmash. My review is here.

Juliette Binoche interview

Juliette Binoche is of a generation and a personality with no patience or interest in media training, which makes her a wonderful person to interview. As you can read in my piece here.

Science fiction for February

 The latest installment of my science-fiction column is out, with more under-the-radar flicks. Thataway!

I Love You So Much I Could Die

Lucas Hnath's staging is inventive and bold but Mona Pirnot's play and songs just aren't sturdy enough to support it. My review of the New York Theater Workshop production is here.

Interview with Nina Conti

Happy to back on the ventriloquist beat! At long last, I got to interview Nina Conti! I've been a fan of this brilliant comedian for years and the Times finally let me talk to her. Click here for Nina (Monkey was otherwise engaged, I suppose). 

Some mighty fine Chita Rivera videos

As part of the Times's multi-pronged tribute to Chita Rivera, I pulled nine videos from YouTube. They will keep you entertained for while — a mini hommage to topflight American entertainement. Click here for the goods. 

Once Upon a Mattress

Call it typecasting if you will: Sutton Foster, Harriet Harris and Michael Urie are terrific in this Encores! production. It was a pleasure to review it for the Times.

Skiing Wolf Creek

It seems fitting to post this report from Wolf Creek, Colorado, as I wait to board a flight to another ski trip. Come for the photos of magnificent powder and scenery, stay for the reporting about plans that could change Wolf Creek forever. Click here for the article.

Super-duper late post about my return to Creede

I had to look at some of my old articles for a project and realized I hadn't posted my piece about returning to Creede, Colorado, in the summer of 2022! Better late than never, so here it is.

Our Class

I have a few reservations about Igor Golyak's staging of this play, but overall I recommend seeing the show — it's what we need right now. My review is here.

For All Mankind

I talked to Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert, the For All Mankind showrunners, about the series's fourth season. I've got to say, Apple TV+ is making some of my favorite sci-fi series right now: For All Mankind, Halo and Invasion — good stuff. Click here for the interview.

Time to settle down with some sci-fi movies

My latest column is out with five sci-fi movies. The least expected one is probably Meet Cute, starring Pete Davidson and Kaley Cuoco, which is definitely not cute. Click here for the goods.

Why women love Reacher

Jack Reacher, we meet again! I looked at some of the reasons women love reading Reacher books and watching the "Reacher" series. It's not what you think. Click here for an article I had a lot of fun writing.

Edited to add a link to the audio story!

Waitress The Musical The Movie

 It's not called that but it should be. Click here for my review of the live capture of Sara Bareilles in her own musical, Waitress.

My favorite sci-fi movie of the year

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it sneakily smart? Yes. Does it creep up on you? Absolutely. No One Will Save You is my favorite science-fiction movie of the year by far — and I watch a lot of movies in that genre. I wrote about it in my sci-fi column for the Times then again as my year-end pick. Thataway for my blurb and those of the other three genre columnists.

Science-fiction to stream in December

The latest installment of my science-fiction column is out, with five more indie and under-the-radar movies to stream this month. Go get 'em here. 

Best theater moments of 2023

It's always interesting to look back at the year in theater and see what stuck with me. Others shared some of my favorites (Laura Collins-Hughes on Jessica Chastain's exiting the stage at the end of A Doll's House, for example), and I got to write a few of my own. Head to the compilation, which is over here.

Sleeping Beauty

 ONEOFUS and Abrons are teaming up for another panto! This year they're doing Sleeping Beauty and I wrote a preview for the Times. I could not have been happier at that rehearsal. Thataway for the naughty fun.

Holiday movies of 2023

They're baaaaack! My annual roundup of streaming holiday movies is back. The winner this year: Candy Cane Lane. That one and more are here.

Panto is back at Abrons Arts Center

 It's that time of the year: The Panto Project is back at Abrons! I wrote a preview of Sleeping Beauty for the Times and after watching a rehearsal, I can't wait to see the actual show with a roomful with screaming kids. Click here for the article.

Science fiction for November

Here's a link to my November sci-fi column. They keep coming! 

Interview with Qui Nguyen

I've long been a fan of Qui Nguyen's work so it's always a pleasure to catch up with him. Click here for the goods — and yes, it's a gift link.

Florencia en al Amazonas

I love sitting in at rehearsals and frankly the Met Opera is right up there in terms of sheer delight. I got to watch them run through the entirety of their production of Florencia en el Amazonas for this preview feature. Total treat.

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea

OK, I have been completely terrible about posting links to my articles! Here's a whole batch to catch up. And I'm going to do my darnedest to remember to include gift links.

First off is my review of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, starring Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott. Mixed, as they say.

Watch Night

Regardless of the content of Watch Night, there's a real problem when it feels as if a creative team did not watch its own show from the audience's perspective. How else to explain the dead spots and how hard it is to read the surtitles and watch the actors at the same time? Click here for my review.

Nosferatu, a 3D Symphony of Horror

Joshua William Gelb and his Theater in Quarantine tackled the classic Murnau movie in 35 minutes and entirely livestreamed from within a small East Village closet. And it worked!!!

Another batch of sci-fi movies

A little late posting this one, but I closed October with more streaming science fiction! Click here for my latest list. 

Graciela Daniele and Priscilla Lopez

For a good time, I highly recommend sitting down for a chat with Graciela Daniele and Priscilla Lopez. They have dedicated their lives to theater, particularly of the musical persuasion, and they have stories to tell. A few of them made it into my preview of their show together, The Gardens of Anuncia. Click here for the article.

Adèle Haenel

I drove up to Chatham (my first time there, and it was great) to see L'Étang and talk to Adèle Haenel and Gisèle Vienne. I highly recommend a chat with these two if you want a bracing conversation, and I have the biggest respect for their commitment. Click here for the story.

My 10 with Tituss Burgess

One of my favorite parts about Zooming with Tituss Burgess was watching one of his dogs clamber all over him. Click here for the list of 10 things he loves.

Stereophonic

Could this show have been hatched just for me? It covers so many of my interests. David Adjmi is finally back with a new play in New York, and what a doozy it promises to be! My preview of Stereophonic for the Times is here.

Solo shows for the fall

I rounded up solo offerings for the New York Times. And there are quite a few of good ones to hit the NYC stages this fall. Click here for the list.

Dicks — The Musical

This movie is what happens when people try way too hard. But hey, we get Nathan Lane and Megan Mullally together, and they looked to be having more fun than in It's Only a Play! My review is here.

October sci-fi

Headlining this month's sci-fi column is No One Will Save You, which I love. See it on Hulu! That movie and more in the new batch here.

Dmitry Krymov at La MaMa

The Russian writer and director Dmitry Krymov is presenting a pair of new shows at La MaMa and I would urge anybody interested in theater to attend. I expand on that notion in a critic's notebook for the Times.

Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors

Based on multiple experiences, I'm going to theorize that vampires do a lot better onstage when they intentionally make us laugh. My review of the new play Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors is up.

Death, Let Me Do My Show

Let's just say that the "Death" in the title of Rachel Bloom show is not metaphorical. Well, it is, but also not, which I obliquely address in my review. Thataway for my take on Bloom's almost-solo show.

Jerry Harrison

Talking music and production with Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads (and more) is a sound nerd's dream come true — even if a lot of his techie explanations flew right over my head. My interview for Tidal is here.

Rotting in the Sun

There is something rotten in the state of Mexico, and it might just be an American influencer. Or maybe a Chilean director. Hard to tell in Sebastián Silva's latest, which I reviewed for the Times. 

Enjoy some sci-fi movies in September

My latest batch of science-fiction streaming movies has some doozies, including the latest version of the Ultraman character. So good! Thataway for the list.

Simon Kinberg and Invasion

I'm a sucker for alien-invasion stories so the Apple TV+ series Invasion has been right up my alley. I talked to the co-creator and showrunner Simon Kinberg about the new season, which is unfurling right now. Click here for our chat.

Bottoms

The bottom line on Bottoms: the movie's just not as subversive or funny as it thinks it is. Click here for my review.

Bad Things

If someone invites you to spend a weekend in the snowbound, deserted hotel they just inherited, you might want to think twice before accepting. It was a total treat to chat with the director Stewart Thorndike about her take on horror. Click here for my preview of Bad Things, which is streaming on Shudder. 

A Eulogy for Roman

I can't say I'm the biggest fan of interactive theater but this solo show has a sweet way about it. Click here for my review.

Science fiction for August 2023

It's baaaaaaaack! More science fiction to stream, more nuggets to discover! Click here for the latest installment of my month column.

Paul Reubens and Pee-wee streaming

The late Paul Reubens was more than Pee-wee (though admittedly Pee-wee was a very big part of him), and I was delighted to pick 8 of his finest performances for the Times. Click here and have fun!

The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer is turning out to be a big hit for Netflix, and as a Michael Connelly fan, it was a pleasure to talk to showrunner Ted Humphrey. Thataway! 

A chat with Liz Kingsman

Liz Kingsman's One Woman Show is one of my favorite shows of the year and Parlement, in which she stars, is one of my favorite series of the year. So obviously I had to talk to her. Enid Blyton came up. Click here for the chat.

Summer Stock

My first trip to the Goodspeed Opera House — for a stage adaptation of the MGM musical Summer Stock — was well worth braving traffic on I-95! My review is here. 

Orpheus Descending

Tennessee Williams is one of my favorite playwrights so I was really looking forward to this production of Orpheus Descending, especially since it starred Maggie Siff. What a letdown — as you can read in my review.

RIP Jane Birkin

It was worth rescheduling my matinee of Flex so I could write this tribute to Jane Birkin for the Times.

Gray Matter

The films in Project Greenlight are literally designed by committee. No surprise: My review of the series' latest production, Gray Matter, is not positive. 

Steven Soderbergh and Ed Solomon

There are few directors I admire as much as Steven Soderbergh, and Full Circle grew my love for Ed Solomon, too. Talking to both of them was such a treat. My Q&A can be found here.

Some science-fiction movies for July

The latest installment of my streaming column is out. Bring on the AI! Or not — it never turns out well in sci-fi movies. Click here for the column.

Joy Ride

It usually helps to watch a comedy with a crowd but I saw Joy Ride at a screening with only 5-6 other people and I laughed a lot. Thataway for my review of the movie.

Exit interview with Sarah Benson

Some of my wildest theater memories of the past 15 years are from Soho Rep shows, so obviously I had to talk to Sarah Benson as she leaves the company. Click here for my exit interview with her.

Blackbraid

Blackbraid plays black metal, and here's my story.

Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music

Watching this documentary about Taylor Mac's grand project took a lot less time than attending the 24-hour version — which I did, and I'll never stop gloating! Click here for my review of the new Max doc.

The Gospel According to Heather

The problem with Heather is that she can't decide if she wants to be a normie teenager or if she wants to stand out. Considering that she seems to be a new messiah, she might not have a choice. Click here for my review of this new musical, whose cast includes Katey Sagal in a small but key role.

The Perfect Find

Gabrielle Union is one of the few actresses who can go head to head with Julia Roberts in terms of rom-com charisma. Case in point: this new movie, which I got to review for the Times.

Once Upon a One More Time

Right now there are Britney Spears songs playing key parts in three different Broadway musicals: Moulin Rouge, & Juliet and Once Upon a One More Time — the last being wall-to-wall Britney, and I got to review it! Thataway.

Rock & Roll Man

I'm just not sure why you would want to cast Constantine Maroulis in a rock-themed show and not give him some rock numbers? That's just one of my issues with this new musical. Click here for my review.

A whole bunch of reading links

I have fallen way behind in updating this log of my writing updated, which obviously defies the purpose (or at least the purpose as it has evolved since I switched to full-time writing in 2009). So here's a big dump of links for your enjoyment. 

First off is my review of the rickety Gerard Butler vehicle Kandahar. You know an action movie is going to be dull when one of the most exciting scenes involves the main characters getting a flat tire.

Lorna Courtney is one of my favorites in the new crop of musical-theater performers, and she landed a well-deserved Tony nomination for her performance in & Juliet. She turned out to be a lot of fun to talk to.

I can't say I was the prime demographic for the International Male catalog but the doc about it, All Male, is quite interesting. My review is here.

Of course, June also delivered a science-fiction column so check out the latest installment.

I trekked to the Wild Project — a theater I love but boy, is it far from my subway stop — for Deep Blue Sound, part of Clubbed Thumb Summerworks series. Ensemble of the summer? Possibly.

The Tony Awards were kinda weird this year, but overall the show went well. I have a couple of entries in the New York Times's best/worst list.

I reviewed Catherine Cohen's new show, Come For Me, which is at Joe's Pub. By far the funniest thing I've seen in the past year and beyond.

And hot off the presses as of now, my preview of the musical Good Vibrations at Irish Arts Center!