Jukebox Jackie

Dedicated to the life and oeuvre of Jackie Curtis, Scott Wittman's new show Jukebox Jackie is a total trip. That it's playing at La MaMa, where Curtis created a lot of his stuff way back when, is the cherry on top. Click here for my review.

The Common Pursuit

I was ready to completely dismiss The Common Pursuit at the end of the first act, but the second one navigated some interestingly troubled waters. (Click here for my review.)
Incidentally, can we stop with the paper-thin female characters already? Don't insult us with that crap: If you're only interested in the male experience, go the John Woo way and dispense with women entirely.

My Children! My Africa!

Does Athol Fugard's My Children! My Africa get away with being dramatically inert because of its subject matter? Discuss. In the meantime, here's my review.

February House

A musical based on the house WH Auden, Carson MCullers, Benjamin Britten and Gypsy Rose Lee shared in 1940? Great idea! But what do you do once you have all these people in a room? That's where the show is stumped. My review’s here.

Old Jews Telling Jokes

You may say I'm not the targeted audience for a show titled Old Jews Telling Jokes, but that'd be a mistake: I'm a target for any funny show. I just wish this one was better.

Title and Deed

Will Eno's latest, Title and Deed, is an exercise in pointlessness. Full review here.

Cock

Not only is Mike Bartlett's play Cock wonderfully written, but James Macdonald's staging is tops and the performances never less than fully compelling. Well worth checking out, as I explain in my review.

Pool (No Water)

The New York premiere of Mark Ravenhill's Pool (No Water) isn't quite as daring as the play requires, but it's an encouraging production from the young One Year Lease company. My review's here.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Last week's Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was totally delish (click here for my review). I was amused by the critics who seemed surprised that Megan Hilty can sing and be funny. Didn't you guys see 9 to 5? All of her skills were obvious in that show.

An Early History of Fire

Oops, should have linked to this review earlier! David Hare's An Early History of Fire is currently at the Acorn in a New Group production. I didn't care much for it.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The latest take on A Midsummer Night's Dream often look smashing, but it's so wildly uneven as to try one's patience. My full review's here.

Don't Dress for Dinner

Of course I'm clamoring for more French farce on New York stages, but Don't Dress for Dinner isn't what I have in mind — at least not in the production currently at the American Airlines Theatre. Full review here.

Leap of Faith

Maybe it was a case of lowered expectations, but I enjoyed Leap of Faith. Something tells me my positive review will be in the minority, but so be it.

The Columnist

David Auburn's first big play since Proof is The Columnist, and it's a snooze. Recommended only if you just love shows where someone uses a typewriter and a cigarette-holder. My review is here.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Kathleen Marshall basically delivers Anything Goes, Part 2 with this Gershwin jukebox. It's fun, if you can block out Matthew Broderick's performance, or lack thereof. Full review here.

Ghost the Musical

I almost enjoyed Ghost the Musical on a car-crash level. But the bottom line is, this is a pretty bad show.

The Lyons redux

Linda Lavin & Co. move The Lyons to Broadway. I felt the play read broader than at the Vineyard, but Lavin's still well worth the trip.

A Streetcar Named Desire

I like a lot of what Nicole Ari Parker does in A Streetcar Named Desire. Blair Underwood, not so much. Full review of this Tennessee Williams revival here.

Clybourne Park redux

Two years after its run at Playwrights Horizons, Clybourne Park transfers to Broadway with its cast and bite intact. Good stuff.

Three Sisters

Lev Dodin and Maly Drama Theatre bring a particularly grim Three Sisters to BAM. You don't need to fasten your seatbelts, this ride is going to be slow. Full review here.