Thursday, December 27, 2012

Flipside: The Patti Page Story

Innocuous songs and an innocuous life: not the best premise for a biomusical, right? That didn't stop the makers of Flipside: The Patti Page Story. My review's here.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Drats, how did I forget to link to this review? This show was one of the few musical highlights of the fall!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012

P.S. Jones and the Frozen City

Robert Askins' new play is both ambitious and low-flying. Weird mix, which doesn't always work. Still, what a great production design! My review's here.

A Chanukah Charol

Jackie Hoffman's bilious holiday special is a hoot. Recommended to anybody with an allergy to year-end schmaltz. Full review here.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

What Rhymes with America

Melissa James Gibson's latest, What Rhymes with America (answer: "nothing"), is one grace note after another. You'll laugh, but you'll also tear up. Full review here.

Working

The off-Broadway revival of Working hit several high notes, which make up for the sappy numbers. My review's here.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Volpone, or the Fox

I was so looking forward to this one — the play is very rarely done in New York — but what a crashing disappointment it was! Thataway for my review.

Glengarry Glen Ross

The latest revival of Glengarry Glen Ross is a bit meh, which isn't something you should be able to say about this play. Full review here.

Friday, December 07, 2012

Golden Boy

I love Clifford Odets so even the uneven revival of Golden Boy satisfies me on a primal level. My review's here.

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

A Civil War Christmas

A Civil War Christmas makes you wonder why Paula Vogel doesn't write more. Some may argue she's busy teaching, but I'd rather she give us new plays. Click here for my review.

Golden Age

Terrence McNally's newest play, Golden Age, can't quite decide what it's about, but I had a reasonably good time.

Monday, December 03, 2012

The Anarchist

Patti LuPone and Debra Winger star in The Anarchist on Broadway. That's all you need to know, really. Full review thataway.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Dead Accounts

Oh dear, what a bad, bad play Norbert Leo Butz, Katie Holmes and company are stuck in! My full review's here.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Much to my surprise, I was totally charmed by the musical version of A Christmas Story. My review's here.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Elf -- The Musical, redux

Elf is back and much improved from its debut two years ago. Goofy, stupid fun for the holidays. Thataway for my write-up.

The Twenty-Seventh Man

I can't say Nathan Englander's debut play is very theatrical -- it's more of a long conversation -- but it's set in a Stalinist prison and that alone goes a long way with me (the Gulag is one of my pet interests). My review's here.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Scandalous

It actually was a good idea for a musical: the life and times of starvangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. But the result is remarkably dull for being about someone who performed faith healing and brought Hollywood tricks to church. My review's here.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Giant

I love Edna Ferber's novel Giant, so I was particularly looking forward to Michael John LaChiusa's musical adaptation. It's a disappointment, but a valiant one. Thataway for my review.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Performers

What year is this, 1963? The Performers is oddly moralistic and prurient, like an old tee-hee farce. My review's here.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Christopher Durang looks sideways at Chekhov in his new play. As with Annie, a bit of casting undermines the show. My review's here.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Friday, November 09, 2012

Checkers

As Richard Nixon, Anthony LaPaglia gets to deliver parts of the infamous 1952 speech in the new play Checkers. My mixed feelings are here.

Annie

The revival of Annie that opened on Broadway last night is very good. But it features a real conundrum in Katie Finneran: so fun to watch, and so miscast. My review's here.

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Sorry

With the third installment, Sorry, Richard Nelson's Apple plays have officially turned into a great family saga. My review's here.

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

The Whale

Not sure if anybody's in the mood for a sad show right now, but Samuel D. Hunter's The Whale is very, very good. My review's here.

Friday, November 02, 2012

The Heiress

I'm only half-sold on Jessica Chastain in The Heiress, but the play is well made and chugs along. My review's here.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Bad Jews

Well this one's awkward. Because of Sandy, I'm not sure Bad Jews officially opened last night, but like several other news outlets, we ran our review today.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Big Apple Circus: Legendarium

The Big Apple Circus' newest show is one of its best — though I still miss the Wheel of Wonder (aka Wheel of Death). My review's here.

Friday, October 26, 2012

A Summer Day

We don't see plays by Jon Fosse too often in NY, so A Summer Day would stick out even without the presence of Karen Allen. My review's here.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Wild with Happy

Colman Domingo's latest as a playwright, Wild With Happy, is quite wonderful. My review's here.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Disgraced

They sure like their issue plays at LCT3, and here's another one: Disgraced. Thataway for my review.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Modern Terrorism

It's hard to be funny about terrorists. Possible, but hard. My review of Jon Kern's Second Stage debut can be found here.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

It's a mouthful of a title, so here's my suggestion for a catchier alternative: Best Musical of the Year. More in my review.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Him

Daisy Foote is Horton Foote's daughter. Her new play, Him, stars her sister, Hallie Foote. What happens in the family stays in the family. Thataway for my review.

Harper Regan

The Atlantic Theater company strikes again -- or not -- with Harper Regan. Bad play, bad production: enjoy!

Friday, October 05, 2012

Grace

Craig Wright's Grace is a nifty little surprise in this young Broadway season. Among them is the way it ties up love, religion and real estate -- which, of course, share quite a lot. My review's here.

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Marry Me a Little

Craig Lucas and Norman René's Sondheim revue is back, courtesy of the Keen company. Thataway for my review.

Monday, October 01, 2012

Through the Yellow Hour

Unlike some of my colleagues, I tend to like Adam Rapp's work. But even I was defeated by his latest, Through the Yellow Hour. let's just pretend that one didn't happen. Click here for my review.

Friday, September 28, 2012

An Enemy of the People

It's fun to watch Boyd Gaines, aka Mr. Normal, played a riled-up guy for a change, and in Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, he's the cuddliest fanatic ever. My review's thataway.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Red Dog Howls

Red Dog Howls is bad enough with Kathleen Chalfant in it. Without an actor of her caliber, that pompous play may be simply unwatchable. My review's here.

Friday, September 21, 2012

If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet

The weight of expectations (Jake Gyllenhaal's NY stage debut!) and an overblown staging (the stage is flooded!) crush this middling play. Thataway for my review.

Red-Handed Otter

I really liked Ethan Lipton's delightful new comedy, Red-Handed Otter, which opened last night at the Cherry Lane Theatre Studio. And tickets are only $30! Full review here.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Exonerated

The big mama of docu-theater returns for a tenth-anniversary run. If nothing else, catch it for Stockard Channing. Click here for my review.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Detroit

Lisa D'Amour's Detroit is so so good! And I'm not saying that just because it ends with an awesome bacchanal set to blaring hip-hop. See for yourself -- if you can get a ticket. In the meantime, my review's here.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Crossing the Line

Click here for my piece about the Crossing the Line festival, with a special focus on Brian Rogers' Hot Box, which I caught on Friday.

Einstein on the Beach

Einstein on the Beach is just a bit more common than Halley's Comet -- the last NY revival was in 1992. So I'm glad to have been at BAM on Sunday for the latest sighting. My review's here.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Fly Me to the Moon

Marie Jones' sweet and sour comedy Fly Me to the Moon opens at 59E59, and my review's in today's paper.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Fall preview: the musicals

When it comes to new musicals on Broadway, this fall season is a stinker -- so much so that I find myself looking forward to the revival of Annie. Oy! Thataway for my preview in the Post.

Mary Broome

The Mint Theater picked a tricky play with Allan Monkhouse's Mary Broome, and its revival comes up short. Full explanation thataway.

Chaplin

Summarizing the big plot points of a decades-long career in a biomusical isn't necessarily a good idea, as the new Broadway show Chaplin demonstrates. My review's here.

Monday, September 10, 2012

The Train Driver

Signagture's Athol Fugard season ends with a whimper, aka The Train Driver. My review's here.

Friday, September 07, 2012

Forbidden Broadway

I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised that my colleagues seem to think the new Forbidden Broadway is mean. If only! My lukewarm review is here.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Harrison, TX

A belated link to my review of Harrison, TX, an anthology of three one-act plays by Horton Foote. He works the short format particularly well, and that's not as easy as you'd think.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Tail! Spin! preview

Unfortunately I'll be on vacation and won't be able to review the new play Tail! Spin! So I wrote a preview instead.

Richard III

The lean, efficient production of Richard III at the Public is so gripping that it made a young woman in my row gasp loudly a couple of times. Cool! My review's thataway.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Summer Shorts Series B

Neil LaBute's piece in Summer Shorts B is such a fun little spitball! Meanwhile Paul Rudnick's offering isn't up to his high standards, but the middle musical led me to a composer of promise, Sam Davis. More here.

Into the Woods

Into the Woods isn't out of the woods at the Delacorte. Will anybody ever solve this show? Is it even solvable? My review's here.

Thursday, August 09, 2012

Bullet for Adolf

Woody Harrelson's playwrighting and directing debut, Bullet for Adolf is the kind of bad show I love because you never know where it's going. I'd take it over any of those snoozy well-crafted plays that litter off-Broadway. Full review here.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

My Mind Is Like an Open Meadow

Erin Leddy's solo show just opened at 59E59. A small, unprepossessing summer gem. Full review here.

Sunday, August 05, 2012

The Last Smoker in America

The Last Smoker in America is bad — but not in a fun, demented way like, say, In Masks Outrageous and Austere. No, this is more the painfully bad type. Full review here.

Friday, August 03, 2012

In Paris

Alas, it's not me who's In Paris, but Mikhail Baryshnikov, via the Lincoln Center Festival. Full review here.

Summer Shorts Series A

A one-act play can feel very long indeed, as demonstrated by the new anthology Summer Shorts Series A. Click here for my review.

Thursday, August 02, 2012

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth

I never thought I'd see the day -- or rather, the night -- when I'd spend two hours in a Broadway theater watching Mike Tyson talk about his life. And yet. Thataway for my review.

Bring It On

Boo, Bring It On -- The Musical has very little to do with the movie of the same name, other than them both being about cheerleading. And I so wanted to love this show! Oh well, it's still ok. Full review here.

Friday, July 27, 2012

New Girl in Town

Bob Merrill's 1957 musical New Girl in Town gets revived at Irish Rep. Thataway for my review.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Warrior Class

I like that Second Stage is producing young playwrights at its uptown location, but the returns have been disappointing since Leslye Headland's Bachelorette exactly two years ago. Warrior Class is yet another not too bad, not too good offering. Full review here.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Uncle Vanya

Here it is again, Uncle Vanya! I enjoyed the Sydney Theatre Company's production even more than when I saw it last year, at the Kennedy Center. Someone give Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving a rom-com, stat! Full review here.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Hand Stories

I was pretty excited to see a hand-puppet show, as opposed to a bunraku one, but Hand Stories deflated me pretty quick. Why it's at the Lincoln Center Festival is beyond me. Full review thataway.

Re-Animator: The Musical

Because musicals based on The Toxic Avenger and Evil Dead, weren't enough, here comes one based on Re-Animator. B-grade horror movies live! Of course that's a particularly apt sentence when it comes to Re-Animator. I got tired of the splatter shtick after a while though. Full review here.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Monday, July 16, 2012

Fela! redux

Fela! comes back for a limited summer engagement. The first act still kicks major butt; the second is still a mess. More here.

Nymph Errant

The obscure Cole Porter tuner Nymph Errant gets the revival nobody had been clamoring for. Thataway for my review.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

DruidMurphy

In case you were wondering what I was up to this past Sunday: In the morning I wrote my review of Alan Cumming's take on Macbeth; then at 1pm I rushed off to John Jay for nine and a half hours of DruidMurphy (review here). Granted, there was a 90-minute dinner break, but that still leaves quite a bit of theater.

Monday, July 09, 2012

Macbeth

Not just any Macbeth, but one with Alan Cumming in all the parts — he plays a mentally ill man who retells the Scottish play inside his loony-bin room. I'm not entirely sold.

Sunday, July 08, 2012

Terminator Too -- Judgment Play

After Point Break Live! get ready for Terminator Too -- Judgment Play. That it's staged not in a theater but at Santos Party House should give you an indication of the overall vibe. My review's here.

Friday, July 06, 2012

Why do people hate 3C so much?

David Adjmi's 3C has turned out to be quite a divisive little show. I asked him, director Jackson Gay, and stars Anna Chlumsky and Hannah Cabell what they thought about the hoopla. Click here for my feature in today's paper.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Triassic Parq

Unsurprisingly, Triassic Parq -- The Musical originated at the Fringe Festival. Full review of the remounting here.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Broadway revisits

I returned to Memphis, Anything Goes and Sister Act to check out the new leads. Click here for the verdict.

7th Monarch

Middling thriller 7th Monarch is Rain Man with a dash of The Miracle Worker. Full review here.

Friday, June 22, 2012

As You Like It

Shakespeare in the Park's As You Like It is so, so fun. Among other delights, it confirms that Lily Rabe is one of our most vibrant actresses. I realize she has to pay the bills and all, but I hope she doesn't land a time-consuming TV gig anytime soon. My review's here.

3C

I loved David Adjmi's 3C, at the Rattlestick, but I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to be in the minority on that one. My review's here.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Bad and the Better

The Amoralists strike back with The Bad and the Better. Sucker punch? My review's here.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Love Goes to Press

Until a couple of months ago, I had no idea Martha Gellhorn had co-written a play with fellow war correspondent Virginia Cowles. Love Goes to Press played five performances on Broadway in 1947, and now it's back thanks to the Mint company -- who else? My review's here.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Uncle Vanya

Here comes yet another Uncle Vanya, this time from adapter Annie Baker and director Sam Gold. And what a disappointment it is.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Harvey

It's so uncool it's…still uncool. Yes, it's the revival of Harvey and it's not bad entertainment for the whole family. Review here.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Tiny Dynamite

Rising screenwriter Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady, Shame) makes her full-length off-Broadway debut with Tiny Dynamite. It's not quite there yet, but promising — after all, it's from 2001. Full review here.

We Play for the Gods

The Women's Project gets ambitious, gathering a small army of playwrights and directors for We Play for the Gods. Unsurprisingly, the show lacks focus. Click here for my review.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Rapture, Blister, Burn

Gina Gionfriddo's latest, Rapture, Blister, Burn, is as good as Becky Shaw, albeit in a very different way. And it's the rare show that improves after intermission. Full review here.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Storefront Church

John Patrick Shanley's latest, Storefront Church, is shambolic and likable. My full review's here.

Friday, June 08, 2012

Medieval Play

It's not often I feel bad for actors, but Josh Hamilton and Halley Feiffer have to do such a drecky sex scene in Medieval Play that I wanted to crawl under a rock. The rest of Kenneth Lonergan's latest isn't much better. My review is here.

Food and Fadwa

There's a thin line between well-meaning and corny, and Food and Fadwa crosses it repeatedly at NY Theatre Workshop. Full review here.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

The Bad Guys

There's a lot of guys in Alena Smith's The Bad Guys -- in fact, there's only guys -- and they all land somewhere on the spectrum of badness. Full review of this promising new play (yes, another one) here.

Monday, June 04, 2012

Chimichangas and Zoloft

Yes, there are jokes about both in Chimichangas and Zoloft, a new play at Atlantic 2. I've never taken Zoloft and am not too keen on chimichangas, those fried Mexican-American gutbombs, but the play shows promise. Full review here.

Potted Potter

If you're 12 and have read all of the Harry Potter books, Potted Potter is the show for you. Adults with sophisticated theatrical tastes and parents with little interest in wizards can either ignore the show entirely or wait for their brood at the diner next door. My review's here.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

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.

Friday, May 25, 2012

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.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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.

Monday, May 21, 2012

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.

Friday, May 18, 2012

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.

Monday, May 14, 2012

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.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

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.

Monday, April 30, 2012

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.

Friday, April 27, 2012

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.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

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.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

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.

Monday, April 23, 2012

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.

Friday, April 20, 2012

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.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

One Man, Two Guvnors

As a big fan of farce — duh, I'm French! — I had a great time at One Man, Two Guvnors. Had the second act held up the pace, it would have been a four-star review for sure. Still, a very positive one in today's paper.

Ionescopade

An old review of the Ionescopade, a "musical vaudeville" based on Eugene Ionesco texts — oh blogger, why don't I ever check your drafts folder?

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

In Masks Outrageous and Austere

Only one playwright could have come up with In Masks Outrageous and Austere, and that's Tennessee Williams. It's a compendium of his themes and obsessions, minus the need to make sense. Which is pretty awesome if you're into Williams. My review's here.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Friday, April 13, 2012

Massacre (Sing to Your Children)

The least I can say about José Rivera's "Massacre (Sing to Your Children)" is that it's not your regular off-Broadway drama. Which doesn't mean it's good, but it's certainly trying for something different. My review's here.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Magic/Bird

Magic/Bird is about just that: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. And the show's not bad for Broadway hoop dreams.

Federer versus Murray

Those who know me are aware of my all-consuming passion for tennis. Although I prefer playing it to watching it, I was looking forward to Federer versus Murray. Alas, tennis plays second fiddle to a grief drama. My review's here.

Friday, April 06, 2012

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

End of the Rainbow

I like Judy Garland but I'm far from obsessed with her. I don't know if this made me more or less inclined to enjoy Tracie Bennett's performance in End of the Rainbow -- but I enjoyed it I did, as outré as it is. Details here.

The Taming of the Shrew

I have to admit, I wasn't too keen on Theatre for a New Audience's latest batch of Shakespeare productions, but this new one hits the spot -- which is especially sweet since The Taming of the Shrew is so easy to mess up. Read on for my review.

Monday, April 02, 2012

The Best Man

Gore Vidal's 1960 play The Best Man returns to Broadway, in sync with yet another presidential cycle. Lots of bold names in this one, and among them I thought the women fared best. Full review here.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Pipe Dream

The title of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1955 musical Pipe Dream is a rare case of a literal metaphor: The heroine literally moves into a boiler pipe. I won't forget the sight of Will Chase crawling out of a pipe to visit Laura Osnes. Still, this is an enjoyable entry in the Encores! canon. My review's here.

Newsies

Disney's 1992 movie musical Newsies has made the transfer to the stage. Fans rejoice! My review of the new Broadway show can be found here.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Elephant Room

Trust Steve Cuiffo, Trey Lyford and Geoff Sobelle to put a fun twist on the hoary magic show. It's called Elephant Room, it's at St. Ann's Warehouse, and I liked it.

Now. Here. This.

I'd liked [title of show] but Now. Here. This., which is basically more of the same, really annoyed me. There's a thin line between introspective and narcissistic. Full review here.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Friday, March 23, 2012

Tis Pity She's a Whore

BAM brings us a rocking take on John Ford's 'Tis Pity She's a Whore. Fans of sex and gore, head to Brooklyn, stat! Full review here.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Des McAnuff's revival of Jesus Christ Superstar opened last night. It's not all great but I loved that it's really loud. Click here for my review.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Monday, March 19, 2012

Once redux

Once has reopened on Broadway, and I loved it just as much the second time around.

The Voice judges

I had a lot of fun writing about the four judges on The Voice for the Post's TV section this weekend. Check it out here.

Friday, March 16, 2012

The Maids

The reliably stylish Red Bull company brings back The Maids, and I say yay!

Death of a Salesman

Attention must be paid -- but not to the new Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman. My full review's here.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

An Iliad

Oops, forgot to link up to my review of An Iliad, starring Denis O'Hare and Stephen Spinella on alternate nights.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

The Lady from Dubuque

David Esbjornson makes a good case for Edward Albee's The Lady from Dubuque, a flop back in 1980 (click here for my review). And yes, it's yet another show currently playing the Signature Center.

Friday, March 02, 2012

Carrie

I'm in the camp that thinks that the musical Carrie can work on stage, but it needs a visionary director. Stafford Arima, who handles the new revival, isn't that director — though admittedly the show itself, as revised, has problems. Sigh. My full review's here.

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Rated P for Parenthood

A new musical revue about parenting, Rated P for Parenthood, just opened at the Westside Theatre, and my review's here.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Assistance

Loved loved loved Leslye Headland's latest comedy, Assistance. It's a short run, so head to Playwrights Horizons, stat. In the meantime, you can read my review of it here.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Hurt Village

Katori Hall follows the not-so-good Mountaintop with Hurt Village. Show's uneven but there are enough good scenes and characters — and actors — to make it worthy. Plus, you can never get enough Tonya Pinkins. Full review's here.

Rutherford & Son

The Mint presents yet another great obscure yarn with Rutherford & Son, from 1912. Well worth the trip, especially for Anglophiles. Full review here.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Galileo

If the CSC's revival of Galileo accomplish one thing, it's to show that you can have a subject as dramatic as Galileo's fight with the Church, and end up with tepid theater. My review's here.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Early Plays

The Wooster Group and Richard Maxwell team up for a trio of Eugene O'Neill's Early Plays, at St. Ann's Warehouse. I'm not entirely sold.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Blood Knot

Hot on the heels of The Road to Mecca, still playing on Broadway, comes another Athol Fugard play, Blood Knot (review here). There's two more on the way, so these are good times for Fugard's NY fans.

Shatner's World

William Shatner returns to Broadway with Shatner's World -- We Just Live in It, which is to the one-man show genre what cozies are to thrillers. Full review here.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

CQ/CX

Gabe McKinley's CQ/CX dramatizes the Jayson Blair story, and makes it boring. How is that even possible? My full review's here.

Monday, February 13, 2012

The Ugly One

Marius von Mayenburg's The Ugly One is at Soho Rep. While it's not quite as great as the buzz from Germany and England would suggest, it's still an interesting work. Full review here.

Rx

Catching up with my latest reviews, we've got Rx, a spry little comedy at Primary Stages. Full appraisal here.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Look Back in Anger

Director Sam Gold strikes again with a revival of Look Back in Anger for the Roundabout. Me liked! Full review here.

Monday, January 30, 2012

These Seven Sicknesses

Seven plays, five hours: It's These Seven Sicknesses, Sean Graney's adaptation of Sophocles' surviving works. And it's a slog.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Yosemite

Two reviews of plays with one-word titles in today's paper! Brief titles is all that Wit and Yosemite have in common, though.

Wit

Manhattan Theatre Club brings Wit to Broadway, with Cynthia Nixon in the lead. I'm not sold on Nixon's performance, but found the play even better than I remembered it.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Gob Squad's Kitchen (You've Never Had It So Good)

God Squad returns with a tribute to Andy Warhol's 1960s movies, including Kitchen, Kiss and Eat. The show is absolutely terrific. More detailed reasons to go here.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Richard III

Kevin Spacey bulldozes his way through Richard III at BAM. I'm a big fan of the way he usually portrays villains, all smooth maliciousness, but he goes over the (big) top here, with almost cartoonish results. My review's here.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Road to Mecca

Athol Fugard's The Road to Mecca is worth a gander, especially since it's headed by Rosemary Harris and Carla Gugino. The play drags a bit, but it does pay off. Full review here.

Monday, January 16, 2012

LEO

A cool piece of physical theater, LEO does extend its welcome somewhat. It's always hard to know when to stop. Review here.

Classic BAM shows

I had another piece this weekend, about some classic 1970s productions at BAM: article or slide show. Check out my NY Post blog as I'll publish leftover goodies from the interviews I conducted for the article.

some cool arts tours

Catching up with some linkage, follow this one to my piece about backstage and behind-the-scenes tours -- Lincoln Center, the Met, Radio City Music Hall, etc.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Outside People

Another tale of a hapless American man struggling in China hits the boards with Outside People at the Vineyard. You may want to check out Chinglish instead, but in the meantime, here's my review.