Wednesday, November 25, 2015

City on Fire take-down

It's rare that a novel makes me angry but City on Fire did just that. I only refrained from throwing it across the room because 1. it's huge and I didn't want to break something or hurt someone and 2. it was a library copy. So instead, I vented about it here.

Monday, November 23, 2015

The Walking Dead blew it with Glenn

Basically The Walking Dead set itself up for a fail no matter what happened to Glenn. What makes it even worse is that the season's been otherwise stellar. Click here for my take.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

My weekend with Andrew Rannells

OK, so it's not literally my weekend with Andrew Rannells -- more like my chatting with Andrew Rannells about his weekend. Click here to see where his favorite spots are so you can happen to run into him.

Mudd Club rummage sale

The Mudd Club is using its iconic name for a good cause with a rummage sale to benefit the Bowery Mission Women's Project. More details here.

Misery

Broadway needs more fun genre exercises like Misery and less hand-wringing couch plays. Click here for my review.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Picks of the week: A View from the Bridge, Henry IV

It was a great week for British imports: A View from the Bridge on Broadway, Henry IV off. Now that's how you do the classics!

On the other hand, I recommend you skip the clunkily earnest Allegiance, as well as Dada Woof Papa Hot and Taylor Mac's surprisingly muddled and bitter Hir. Details here.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Why Walking Dead fans need to stop whining

The series is better than never -- yes, I'm going there -- and yet fans are whining. Too much philosophizing, not enough gore? And Glenn? What happened to Glenn?!? I address these pressing issues and more here.

Friday, November 06, 2015

Theater's having a senior moment

I couldn't be happier than theater is having a senior moment -- who'd complain to see a show where the stars are Marylouise Burke and Holland Taylor? (Yeah, I loved Ripcord.) More here.

On Your Feet!

Now this is a musical that earns its exclamation mark -- and then some. Just when I was thinking this Broadway season couldn't get any grimmer, the show perked me up. My review's here.

Thursday, November 05, 2015

Shonda Rhimes must do something right

In her new book, Year of Yes, super-producer Shonda Rhimes has plenty of advice based on her experience saying yes for a year. Admitted, few of us will have her problems: Should I accept Dartmouth's invitation to speak at its commencement? Should I guest-star on Mindy Kaling's show? (I have to say yes to my wife asking me to bring back more milk.) Anyway, the book should be especially fun to fans of Grey's Anatomy because it reads like one of Meredith's monologues. More here.

Tuesday, November 03, 2015

The British royals: off with their heads!

Of course I'd think that -- any French person would! But my colleague Johnny Oleksinski disagrees, and King Charles III sent us into a spirited debate.

Sunday, November 01, 2015

The Great British Baking Show

Why did PBS change the title of The Great British Bake Off to The Great British Baking Show? No idea, but it doesn't matter: This is the only reality-TV series I watch, and here's why.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Which movie stars have fared best on Broadway

Some of them tank, others navigate the stage with ease. Some will never back, others I can't wait to see again. Click here to see who's who.

Go see The Humans and Thérèse Raquin

The Roundabout has two very different versions of drama on offer, and they're both worthy in their own ways. Click here for my critic's picks.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Matthew Broderick: why?

Matthew Broderick's in Sylvia and I wondered why he keeps getting cast in comedies when he flounders in them. Might a drama suit him better? My reasoning's here.

Monday, October 26, 2015

The Walking Dead's Thank You

The Walking Dead's sixth season is up to a fantastic start with three terrific episodes in a row. My thoughts on "Thank You," in which a character died -- really, really died.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Interview with Peaches

What's in the teaches of Peaches? Still plenty, as it turns out. Click here for more.

Friday, October 16, 2015

A short intro to Mark Rylance

Hollywood is discovering Mark Rylance thanks to his scene-stealing turn in Bridge of Spies, but theater fans have known about him for a long time. Click here for my brief intro.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

The Gin Game

Man, The Gin Game is a mean-spirited play! Not that you'd know from the Broadway revival I reviewed here.

Eclipsed

Lupita Nyong'o makes a convincing NY stage debut in Danai Gurira's Eclipsed. Click here for the full review.