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.