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.