Third Row, Mezzanine

Outside People

2012-01-10T22:54:00.000-05:00

"Outside People" at Vineyard Theatre, January 7, 2012 Playwright Zayd Dohrn brings another tale of a stranger in a strange land to the NY stage with his Outside People. It's an earnest and awkward effort, much like its main character, Malcolm (Matt Dellapina), a recent college graduate with no job or direction in his life. His former roommate David, (Nelson Lee) has returned to his native

Relatively Speaking

2012-01-03T19:06:00.000-05:00

"Relatively Speaking" at Brooks Atkinson Theatre, December 20, 2011 As the graphic indicates, this is an evening of 3 unrelated one-act plays. First up, Talking Cure by Ethan Coen. Mr. Coen, you make very interesting movies. Please return when you have an interesting play to show us. Of all the work I have seen you produce for the stage (Offices, Almost an Evening), none have met

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

2011-12-15T23:28:00.001-05:00

"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" at St. James Theatre, December 15, 2012 Why? Why change the focus of the story from Daisy, now David (David Turner) to the psychologist Mark (Harry Connick, Jr.) Why hire Mr. Connick to perform on Broadway and not let him do what he does best? Did none of the producers and/or creative team see Pajama Game? "Hernando's Hideaway" turned that show on

The Cherry Orchard

2011-12-09T20:28:00.001-05:00

"The Cherry Orchard" at Classic Stage Company, December 2, 2012 (photo: Carol Rosegg) Classic Stage puts up The Cherry Orchard, the last production of its Chekhov Initiative, that included The Seagull, Uncle Vanya and Three Sisters in a new and very casual translation by John Christopher Jones. Mr. Jones reportedly worked directly with the cast during rehearsals to make the vocabulary

Lysistrata Jones

2011-11-19T00:07:00.001-05:00

"Lysistrata Jones" at Walter Kerr Theatre, November 18, 2011 Transferring from off-Broadway run downtown, Douglas Carter Beane takes on the Greeks again in this re-telling of the Aristophanes classic. Tongue remains firmly in cheek, much as it did with Xanadu a few years ago. From one perspective, it's an extended episode of "Glee." But that's slightly dismissive and I did have a great

Private Lives

2011-11-17T22:37:00.000-05:00

"Private Lives" at The Music Box, November 15, 2011 This London transfer brings Kim Cattrall back to the Rialto for the first time in 25 years, leading this production of the Noel Coward classic. Her Amanda was hailed in London and she arrives in New York with a new Elyot in the very handsome Paul Gross. The crossing seems to have had an impact on the production. I will confess that there

A "Burning" Quandry

2011-11-14T23:25:00.000-05:00

I can't call it a review I have to write about today, though it is about a new play I attended over the weekend. Let's put some things on the table first, stipulations, if you will: Getting a new play produced, particularly in New York, particularly by a company of the reputation of The New Group, is an incredible feat of effort. Provocative topics and situations are excellent fodder for

In the Family

2011-11-06T00:15:00.001-04:00

This film by Patrick Wang opened at Quad Cinemas last night with a pretty strong review from the NY Times. Check the review out here. There's not much I would add to Mr. Brunick's observations. Leaving the theatre, Mr. Wang was standing shyly on the sidewalk, waiting to get some direct feedback about the film. Within minutes, Stone Phillips (who looks even better since he stopped

Milk Like Sugar

2011-10-24T23:10:00.001-04:00

"Milk Like Sugar" at Playwrights Horizons, October 21, 2011 A few years ago, there were news reports of unhappy high school girls who formed pacts to all get pregnant and drop out of school. Playwright Kirsten Greenidge has written this concept into the premise of Milk Like Sugar, in which Talisha (Cherise Boothe), Margie (Nikiya Mathis) and Annie (Angela Lewis) are planning their gift list

Man and Boy

2011-10-09T23:37:00.000-04:00

"Man and Boy" presented by Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theatre, September 10, 2011 Back to reviving classic American theatre, the Roundabout has scored Frank Langella to lead Terrence Rattigan's 1963 story of a corrupt, big-money, business mogul. Set in 1934 New York, Gregor Antonescu (Mr. Langella), who single-handedly saved the the Franc in 1926, is viewed as the

Playwrights Horizons - Discount on "Milk Like Sugar"

2011-10-06T17:56:00.000-04:00

The good folks at Playwrights Horizons have made the following offer. DISCOUNT TICKETS TO MILK LIKE SUGAR for BLOG READERS: Order by October 25 and use the code MILKGR $35 (reg. $55) for Fri, Sat, and Sun evenings, Oct. 14-16; Oct 21-23 $40 (reg. $55) for all other performances Oct. 13-Nov 20 Online: www.TicketCentral.com Call: (212) 279-4200 Noon to 8PM daily

Lemon Sky

2011-09-29T22:56:00.000-04:00

"Lemon Sky" presented by the Keen Company at the Theatre Row, September 24, 2011 (photo by Richard Termine) My experience with the Keen Company has usually been very good - solid productions and strong scripts. This production is a tribute to the late Lanford Wilson in this autobiographical play. This is the first time they have missed the mark for me. 17 year old Alan (Keith Nobbs) has

The Submission

2011-09-29T22:10:00.000-04:00

The Submission, presented by MCC Theatre at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, September 11, 2011 Writing a play is a daunting task. Getting a new play produced takes "daunting" to exponential levels. Danny (Jonathan Groff) has been writing for a couple of years, trying to get established on the new play festival circuit. In a unexplained fit of inspiration, he writes a fresh, powerful and highly

Follies

2011-09-22T23:06:00.001-04:00

"Follies" at the Marquis Theatre, September 8, 2011 Stephen Sondheim's 1972 musical returns to Broadway via the Kennedy Center transfer from a successful run this summer. It's got star power with Bernadette Peters and Jan Maxwell as Sally and Phyllis, respectively. There's some depth in the cast as well, with Danny Burstein, Jayne Houdyshell and featuring Elaine Paige as Carlotta.

I lived through Hurricane Irene, and I'm here

2011-09-16T19:03:00.001-04:00

I've finally ended a period of travel and have gotten back to the theatre. Reviews are coming of: Follies Man and Boy The Submission Stay tuned...

Discount Offer - Playwrights Horizons

2011-08-26T15:37:00.000-04:00

COMPLETENESS by Itamar Moses — Discount Tix! How does a computer scientist hook up with a molecular biologist? He blinds her with science, of course. When Elliot builds a computer program to help Molly with her research project, the variables in their evolving relationship shift as rapidly as the terms of their experiment. This deft and imaginative new ROM-comedy, also featuring Brian Avers

Side Effects

2011-07-08T23:24:00.000-04:00

"Side Effects" presented by MCC Theatre at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, June 30, 2011 (photo by Joan Marcus) Michael Weller returns to MCC Theatre with the other side of the story from 2008's Fifty Words. He's got a little more to say this time around, but it's the performances that make the visit worthwhile. Bipolar Melinda (Joely Richarson) doesn't like to take her medicine, which

Master Class

2011-07-07T21:26:00.002-04:00

"Master Class" presented by Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, June 26, 2011 Terrence McNalley's 1995 fantasia of Maria Callas conducting a master class at the Julliard School in the 1970s returns to Broadway courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club. Playing La Divina is an unlikely Tyne Daly, whose Callas simmers and seethes through the thinnest of skins, bristling at the

Unnatural Acts

2011-06-23T21:29:00.002-04:00

"Unnatural Acts" at Classic Stage Company, June 18, 2011 This new dramatization by the Plastic Theatre chronicles the events leading up to the "secret court" hearings conducted by Harvard University in 1920, following the apparent suicide of Cyril Wilcox. Amit Paley, a student journalist for The Harvard Crimson, discovered a reference to the incident in university archives. Harvard eventually

ITBA 2010 - 2011 Patrick Lee Theater Blogger Awards

2011-05-26T16:48:00.001-04:00

The Independent Theater Bloggers Association (the “ITBA”) is proud to announce the 2011 recipients of the Third Annual Patrick Lee Theater Blogger Awards. Patrick Lee was one of the ITBA's founding members. Patrick passed away suddenly last June, and was an erudite, passionate, and tireless advocate for theater in all its forms. Patrick was also the ITBA's first awards director, and

Catching Up the Backlog

2011-05-08T21:35:00.001-04:00

It's been a busy spring. Here's a collection of summaries on what I've seen of late. "The House of Blue Leaves" at the Walter Kerr Theatre, April 11, 2011 This revival was a big hit in its 1986 production at Lincoln Center Theatre with John Mahoney, Swoosie Kurtz and Stockard Channing. I wish I'd seen it. Instead we get Ben Stiller, who was also in the 1986 production, with Edie Falco and

The School for Lies

2011-05-05T22:12:00.000-04:00

"The School for Lies" at Classic Stage Company, April 30, 2011 David Ives returns to CSC with another update of a classic. This time it's a fresh interpretation of Moliere's The Misanthrope. And fresh, indeed. Mr. Ives manages to combine the French salon of the empire with a hilarious farce entirely in verse and using quite contemporary and usually anachronistic language. It's a similar feat

Seance on a Wet Afternoon

2011-04-30T16:30:00.001-04:00

"Seance on a Wet Afternoon" presented by New York City Opera at the David Koch Theatre, April 28, 2011 I always find it exciting when established artists attempt a new direction with their art. Case in point, the new ballet that Paul McCartney is composing for New York City Ballet announced this spring. Similarly, Stephen Schwartz, composer of musical theatre works Godspell, Pippin and Wicked

Born Yesterday

2011-04-24T22:46:00.000-04:00

"Born Yesterday" at the Cort Theatre, April 7, 2011 Garson Kanin's classic spin on Pygmalion has returned to Broadway in a gorgeous, but uneven production directed by Doug Hughes. This vehicle, which made Judy Holliday a star, provides a similar opportunity for Nina Arianda, making her Broadway debut as Billie Dawn. Ms. Arianda certainly has earned the chance with her turn in the title role of

Love Song

2011-04-24T22:03:00.000-04:00

"Love Song" at 59E59 Theaters, April 19, 2011 (Photo by Jeff Larkin - provided by 59E59) There are times when I forget that getting nominated for an award isn't necessarily an indication of worth. Love Song was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2007. I'm pretty sure it didn't win. Playwright and director John Kolvenbach presents his play in its New York debut with an energetic, if largely

High

2011-04-19T22:55:00.007-04:00

"High" at the Booth Theatre, March 29, 2011 Matthew Lombardo returns to Broadway from last season's so-so Looped with story of sin, redemption and weakness. Sister Jamison Connelly (Kathleen Turner) is a well-respected counselor at a Catholic-sponsored rehab facility. Her supervisor, Father Michael (Stephen Kunken), convinces her to take on 19 year old Cody (Evan Jonigkeit) whose addiction

Go Back to Where You Are

2011-04-18T23:18:00.000-04:00

"Go Back to Where You Are" at Playwrights Horizons, April 10, 2011 David Greenspan returns to off-Broadway with a new play at Playwrights Horizons. It seems to be a combination of The Sound and the Fury, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, and Title of Show. Bernard (Brian Hutchison), a high school English teacher and erstwhile playwright, is off to visit his

Catch Me If You Can

2011-04-10T21:50:00.001-04:00

"Catch Me If You Can" at the Neil Simon Theatre, March 21, 2011 Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have mined Hollywood to create another excellent stage musical adaptation from the 2002 film of the same name. This time around, wisely, they've taken a bit more of a conceptual approach to tell the story of con man Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Aaron Tveit), who scams his way around the globe amassing and

Tomorrow Morning

2011-04-09T23:27:00.000-04:00

"Tomorrow Morning" presented by The York Theatre Company at Theatre at St. Peter's, April 2, 2011 In a slimmed down one-act version, following its US premiere in Chicago, Tomorrow Morning has arrived in New York, courtesy of The York Theatre Company, an off-Broadway troupe which focuses exclusively on producing musicals, both new and revivals. The story follows two couples on the eve of large

Benefactors

2011-04-07T00:25:00.001-04:00

"Benefactors" presented by Keen Company at Theatre Row, April 2, 2011 Photo: Richard Termine, Theatremania Once again, Carl Forsman and Keen Company prove that producing off-Broadway with a limited budget doesn't have to look like community theatre. Their current revival of Michael Frayn's Benefactors is a well-paced and thoughtful presentation of two couples in semi-urban London, struggling

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

2011-04-01T22:28:00.000-04:00

"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, March 31, 2011 When the last revival of Guys and Dolls was announced a couple of years ago, my reaction was, "Why?" I didn't see the revival, but based on its limited run, that seems to have been a general consensus. Then, the announcement came last year that How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

2011-03-31T22:10:00.002-04:00

"Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, March 27, 2011 Rajiv Joseph is having a terrific season in New York. His Gruesome Playground Injuries recently ended an Off-Broadway run at 2nd Stage. Now Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo gets a production on Broadway starring no less than Robin Williams. Mr. Joseph's effort here is better, in this story of a tiger killed by a

Anyone Can Whistle

2011-03-31T11:46:00.001-04:00

"Anyone Can Whistle" presented by Encores! at New York City Center, April 11, 2010 (Looking back for a link to another review, I discovered that this one never got published. A year later, here it is! - M) Playing along the Sondheim tributes of the season, Encores! presents Mr. Sondheim's biggest flop, which ran for 9 performances in 1964. Originally written and directed by Arthur Laurents,

Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes

2011-03-25T22:27:00.000-04:00

"Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes" presented by Signature Theatre Company at the Peter Norton Space, March 17 and 22, 2011 This revival, which opened last fall, was the hard-to-get ticket and I can see why. The cast has evolved a bit, some changes more successful than others, but in the end, this production confirms the strength of Tony Kushner's writing about the height of

The Book of Mormon

2011-03-24T22:14:00.092-04:00

"The Book of Mormon" at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, March 7, 2011 In their first outing on Broadway, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of the Southpark TV series and movies, have teamed up with Avenue Q's Robert Lopez. For any of you who have seen the Southpark films, you know restraint is not a feature of their writing style. In an interview on The Daily Show this week, they confessed

Ghetto Klown

2011-03-22T22:59:00.001-04:00

"Ghetto Klown" at the Lyceum Theatre, March 3, 2011 John Leguizamo returns to Broadway with another biographical show, taking us from his childhood to the present. Much feels like a retread from previous efforts, though we get a bit more about his parents this time around, including the contentious relationship with his emotionally detached and dismissive father and his self-centered mother.

Arcadia

2011-03-19T10:38:00.000-04:00

"Arcadia" at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, February 28, 2011 I've got to say, after my last two exposures to the work of Tom Stoppard, I had some hesitations about seeing this revival of his 1993 Arcadia. Its Broadway debut in 1995 included Billy Crudup, who returns in a new role this time around. Mr. Stoppard's skill for construction is at its height here in a double tale of scholars in the

Kin

2011-03-09T21:46:00.001-05:00

"Kin" at Playwrights Horizons, March 5, 2011 Playwrights Horizons continues to bring interesting new plays to their stages. Bathsheba Doran's new play, Kin may not be as high up the quality list as previous productions like Circle, Mirror, Transformation, but it's a respectable effort if a little unfocused. Anna (Kristen Bush), an English poetry researcher, is heavily involved with an Irish

Molly Sweeney

2011-02-22T23:27:00.000-05:00

"Molly Sweeney" at The Irish Repertory Theater, February 5, 2011 I haven't had much exposure to the work of Brian Friel, other than the revival of Faith Healer with Cherry Jones and Ralph Fiennes in 2006. I remember that piece primarily because of the excellent performances turned in by Mr. Fiennes and Ms. Jones, as well as Ian McDiarmid. For that reason and that I had yet to see a production

Gruesome Playground Injuries

2011-02-21T21:13:00.003-05:00

"Gruesome Playground Injuries" at Second Stage Theatre, February3, 2011 Despite some excellent make-up effects, Rajiv Joseph's two-hander about two friends who spend their lives meeting up at the emergency room with injuries ranging from nausea to sprained angles to missing teeth and eyes doesn't quite find a focus. (I could practically hear Darren McGavin saying, "You'll shoot your eye out,

The New York Idea

2011-02-20T15:32:00.001-05:00

"The New York Idea" presented by Atlantic Theater Company at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, January 30, 2011 I'm not sure if it's the play itself, or just this latest adaptation by David Auburn, but Langdon Mitchell's premise of a divorced woman, newly engaged to a divorced man was better told by the prolific Phillip Barry in The Philadelphia Story, which premiered on Broadway some six years after

Playwrights Horizons Discount Offer - Kin

2011-02-03T23:15:00.000-05:00

Special KIN offer for Third Row, Mezzanine blog readers! Order by March 21 with code KINGR and tickets are only: $40* (reg. $70) for the first 16 perfs (Feb. 25 – March 10) $55 (reg. $70) for all remaining performances March 11 – April 3 HOW TO ORDER: Order online at www.ticketcentral.com. Use code KINGR. Call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily) Present a printout of this blog post

A Small Fire

2010-12-22T13:45:00.000-05:00

"A Small Fire" at Playwrights Horizons, December 21, 2010 Adam Bock returns to Playwrights Horizons' main stage with this story of a callous construction contractor as she deals with unexplained health issues. Emily (Michelle Pawk) thrives in the rough and tumble world of commercial construction. She seems most comfortable with her employee Billy (Victor Williams). Her connection with her

Playwrights Horizons Discount Offer - A Small Fire

2010-12-18T23:23:00.000-05:00

Special A SMALL FIRE offer for Third Row, Mezzanine blog readers!Order by December 31 with code SMGR and tickets are only: · $40* (reg. $70) for all performances December 16-30, 2010 · $55 (reg. $70) for all performances January 1-23, 2011 HOW TO ORDER: · Order online at www.playwrightshorizons.org. Use code SMGR. · Call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm

Colin Quinn: Long Story Short

2010-11-17T20:01:00.001-05:00

"Colin Quinn: Long Story Short" at the Helen Hayes Theatre, November 15, 2010 Transferring after a relatively successful off-Broadway run earlier this year, Colin Quinn spends a little more than 75 minutes tromping through the history of the world. Skipping around the globe, his attempt at a sardonic, cynic's view of how we got to where we are boils down to a simple concept. There are two

Notes from Underground

2010-11-13T23:15:00.000-05:00

"Notes from Underground" presented by Theatre for a New Audience at Jerome Robbins Theatre, November 13, 2010 Adapted from the Dostoevsky novella by actor Bill Camp and director Robert Woodruff, Russian existentialism returns to the New York stage. In this production, the unnamed Man (Mr. Camp) has withdrawn from society resigning his civil service job after receiving a sizable inheritance.

After the Revolution

2010-11-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

"After the Revolution" at Playwrights Horizons, October 29, 2010 Amy Herzog's tale of a family's struggle between ideal and reality centers around the legacy of the late Joe Joseph, a Communist Party member who stood up to the McCarthy hearings, refusing to name names during one of the darker political periods of our nation's history. The story explores idealism vs. reality, truth vs. money. (

Playwrights Horizons Discount Offer - After the Revolution

2010-10-17T21:38:00.002-04:00

Order by November 9 with code ARGR and tickets are only:· $40* (reg. $55) for the first week of performances Oct. 21 – Oct. 28· $45 (reg. $55) for all performances Oct. 29 – Nov. 28 HOW TO ORDER:· Order online at www.playwrightshorizons.org. Use code APGR.· Call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily)· Present a printout of this blog post to the

The Divine Sister

2010-10-10T16:24:00.000-04:00

"The Divine Sister" at the Soho Playhouse, September 20, 2010 Charles Busch returns to the NY stage with his latest effort, leading his mash-up tale of nuns in a Pittsburgh convent. The Divine Sister plumbs the borders of The Sound of Music, Agnes of God, Doubt, Song of Bernadette, and Nunsense wrapped up in a strong dose of Where Angels Go Trouble Follows. The jokes are broader than the

Orlando

2010-09-28T23:56:00.000-04:00

"Orlando" at Classic Stage Company, September 21, 2010 (photo by Joan Marcus) Virginia Woolf's tale of an Elizabethan nobleman, who lives as a man until age 30, then wakes from a 6 month coma to find he has become a woman who lives another 370 years without aging comes to Classic Stage Company care of Sarah Ruhl. It's an aggressive challenge to take on a work that Ms. Ruhl herself describes

American Idiot

2010-09-20T00:15:00.000-04:00

"American Idiot" at the St. James Theatre, September 12, 2010 Green Day comes to Broadway with this staging based on their 2004 album of the same title, broadening the original concept into a story of three friends, Johnny (John Gallagher, Jr.), Will (Michael Esper) and Tunny (Start Sands) who plan to abandon their small-town, suburban upbringing for the bright lights of the big city. Will gets

Cabfare for the Common Man

2010-09-10T17:18:00.000-04:00

"Cabfare for the Common Man" at The Crowne Theatre at The Producer Club, September 16-18, 2010 I'll be appearing in the last act of the first half, a piece called "Passed Hordes" with the lovely and talented Sandy Trullinger, directed by the lovely and talented Brad Caswell, courtesy of Sweet & Tart Productions. Tickets available at www.theatermania.com. Bring your friends and neighbors!

NY International Fringe Festival, 2010

2010-09-03T19:58:00.000-04:00

New York International Fringe Festival, August 2010 I managed to get to three offerings in this year's Fringe, Rites of Privacy, 3boys, and Open Heart. True to Fringe form, they were all very different, both in premise and quality. Rites of Privacy, at the Here Arts Center, August 28, 2010 Written and performed by David Rhodes, this one-act series of confessions patches together a range of

Canned Ham

2010-08-16T00:23:00.001-04:00

"Canned Ham" at The Art House, Provincetown, MA, August 15, 2010 Like every good actor in New York, Tom Judson has written a one-man show based on his life as an actor in New York. He does have a good gimmick, particularly suited for this summer run in Provincetown, that he spent a number of years as a gay adult film star under the suitably butch name of Gus Mattox. There are elements of Mr.

The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side

2010-08-12T19:00:00.001-04:00

"The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side" presented by The Amoralists Theatre Company at PS 122, July 31, 2010 (photo: Larry Cobra) Returning to the NYC stage after an earlier successful run, The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side tells a tale of a poly-amorous foursome led by an ersatz Che Guevera wannabe, Billy (James Kautz). His housemates/lovers include Wyatt (Matthew Pilieci), Dawn (Mandy

A Little Night Music (revisit)

2010-08-05T18:45:00.000-04:00

"A Little Night Music" at the Walter Kerr Theatre, July 30, 2010 (photo: Joan Marcus) With an impressive pair of replacements, I returned to see ALNM. I'm so glad I did. As much as I enjoyed the original cast (review: here), it is so nice to see how a change of actor can enhance a show. Taking on the mantle of Madame Armfeldt from Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch gives a two-level performance

Banana Shpeel

2010-05-24T00:41:00.001-04:00

"Banana Shpeel" presented by Cirque du Soleil at the Beacon Theatre, May 23, 2010 Cirque du Soleil, having turned the concept of circus on its head, creating a international brand and establishing permanent productions around the world, has finally opened its production of Banana Shpeel for an open-ended run at the gloriously restored Beacon Theater on the upper west side in New York. Cirque

Restoration

2010-05-21T18:00:00.001-04:00

“Restoration” at New York Theatre Workshop, May 18, 2010 (photo: Joan Marcus) Claudia Shear’s latest play is a funny and thoughtful story of an art conservator who restores more than just the appearance of the objects on which she works. Returning to NYTW, where her last success “Dirty Blonde” began its journey to a 2000-2001 Broadway run, Ms. Shear’s new protagonist is quite the polar

The Burnt Part Boys

2010-05-16T23:47:00.004-04:00

"The Burnt Part Boys" at Playwrights Horizons, May 14, 2010 Playwrights Horizons brings their first new musical since 2008 and it's a welcome offering.. This new musical tells the emotional story of Jake and Pete Twitchell, brothers who lost their father in a coal mine explosion in 1952, the titular "burnt part." Ten years later, 18 year old Jake (Charlie Brady) has dropped out of high school

NYTW Discount Offer - Restoration

2010-05-11T17:58:00.000-04:00

Two-time Tony Award-nominee, playwright and actress Claudia Shear reunites with acclaimed director Christopher Ashley to create and perform in her new play Restoration. Shear plays the lead role of Giulia, a down-on-her-luck art restorer from Brooklyn who receives the possibly career-reviving job of “refreshing” Michelangelo’s sculpture David in time for its 500th birthday celebration in

The Forest

2010-05-06T20:07:00.014-04:00

"The Forest" at Classic Stage Company, May 1, 2010 Early Russian dramatist Alexander Ostrovsky's time spent translating Shakespeare is evident in Kathleen Tolan's adaptation of his play, The Forest. It captures the classic elements of Russian drama - money, class structure and romance, combined with the Shakespearean elements of misrepresentation and star-crossed lovers. This is the story

Family Week

2010-04-28T20:57:00.000-04:00

"Family Week" presented by MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, April 9, 2010 Beth Henley has revisited this work from 2000 courtesy of Jonathan Demme, making his theatrical directing debut. It is familiar ground for Ms. Henley, this high-estrogen tale of an emotionally shattered mother Claire (Rosemarie DeWitt), self-admitted to "the best facility in the country" to come to terms with the

Sondheim on Sondheim

2010-04-28T20:34:00.000-04:00

"Sondheim on Sondheim" presented by Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54, April 3, 2010 In a continuing year of celebration of Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday, the Roundabout presents a new revue of his life and works. Frequent collaborator James Lapine conceived and directed the event, including songs from his earliest to the most recent efforts, combined with a series of recorded video

The 39 Steps

2010-04-10T23:23:00.000-04:00

"The 39 Steps" at New World Stages, March 27, 2010 The transfer from it's two-year run on Broadway, including stints at the Roundabout's American Airlines, to the Cort, to the Helen Hayes is starting to show its wear now that Maria Aitken's skillfully and cleverly directed farce has moved off-Broadway to New World Stages. I had hoped to find this production as tight as the transfer of Avenue Q

Time Stands Still

2010-04-10T23:06:00.000-04:00

"Time Stands Still" presented by Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, March 24, 2010 Donald Margulies continues his successful relationship with MTC in his latest work, Time Stands Still, an exploration of two war journalists trying to survive the aftermath of recording the gore and horrors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jamie (Brian D'Arcy James) brings home long-time girlfriend

All About Me

2010-04-10T22:51:00.000-04:00

"All About Me" at Henry Miller's Theatre, March 25, 2010 It's as odd as you might imagine. Michael Feinstein and Dame Edna Everage have combined forces for an evening of music and Dame Edna. Mercifully, it has closed, but one can't help but wonder if Max Bialystock was a part of this bizarre mash-up. The wannabe Vegas style set, complete with 12 piece band and a white grand piano filled most

Lend Me A Tenor

2010-04-04T20:08:00.021-04:00

"Lend Me A Tenor" at the Music Box, March 13, 2010 I have always thought Stanley Tucci was a very smart actor. Making his directorial debut on Broadway, he has only proved that theory by reviving a war horse of a play, Ken Ludwig's Lend Me A Tenor. On top of that he has assembled, for the most part, a most excellent and talented cast to carry out this farce of egos and ambitions courtesy of

Red

2010-04-01T20:59:00.001-04:00

"Red" at the Golden Theatre, March 18, 2010 The Donmar Warehouse has transferred its latest London hit to Broadway, creating the story behind Mark Rothko's creation of the murals commissioned for The Four Seasons restaurant in 1958. In this two-hander dramatization by John Logan, Rothko (Alfred Molina), once l'enfant terrible of the modern art world has just accepted the commission and hires

Playwrights Horizons Discount

2010-03-20T18:38:00.003-04:00

A COOL DIP IN THE BARREN SAHARAN CRICKBy Kia CorthronDirected by Chay Yew Blog reader DISCOUNT! Use code “CDGR”Limit 4 tickets per order. Subject to availability. Order by March 28 with code CDGR and tickets are only· $30 (reg. $50) for all performances through March 21st · $40 (reg. $50) for all performances March 23 – April 11HOW TO ORDER: Order online at

Looped

2010-03-14T20:30:00.003-04:00

"Looped" at the Lyceum Theatre, February 24, 2010 Tallulah Bankhead is the center of Matthew Lombardo's play about a recording session to correct one line from Ms. Bankhead's final movie as it goes through its final editing stage in 1965. At this late stage in her life (Ms. Bankhead died in 1968), she has ruined her career with drugs, alcohol and sex. Her film has all signs of being a flop

The Pride

2010-03-08T22:56:00.000-05:00

"The Pride" presented by MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, February 28, 2010 (photo: Joan Marcus) The Pride tells two stories of Oliver, Philip and Sylvia, the first set in 1958 London and the second fifty years later. The play opens in the earlier time when Sylvia (Andrea Riseborough) has invited her boss, Oliver (Ben Whishaw) over for drinks with her husband Philip (Hugh Dancy)

Race

2010-03-06T22:59:00.000-05:00

"Race" at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, February 25, 2010 (Photo by Robert J. Saferstein) David Mamet's latest effort in provocation is now running on Broadway in the form of Race. The story swirls around the law firm hired by a very rich, white man to defend him against charges of rape, leveled by an African American woman. The defendant, Charles (Richard Thomas) has already fired his

Signs of Life

2010-02-25T20:40:00.087-05:00

"Signs of Life" presented by Amas Musical Theatre at The Marjorie S. Dean Little Theater, February 21, 2010 (Photo: Joan Marcus) The horrors of the Holocaust are again fodder for a new musical that explores the lives of the Jews sent to Terezin. Composer Joel Derfer sums it up as: Signs of Life is the story of a young girl who comes of age in the Czech ghetto Terezin, rechristened

Next Fall

2010-02-24T18:54:00.000-05:00

"Next Fall" at The Helen Hayes Theatre, February 20, 2010 (Photo: Francesco Carrozzini) Transferring from an Off-Broadway run last summer, Geoffrey Nauffts' play is a touching and provocative story of religion and homosexuality. Working back and forth in time, we learn the tale of how Adam (Patrick Breen) and Luke (Patrick Heusinger) met, fell in love and struggled to work through the issues

The Boys in the Band

2010-02-24T17:52:00.004-05:00

"The Boys in the Band" presented by Transport Group Theatre Company, February 17, 2010 (photo: Carol Rosegg) Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall at someone's party? That's exactly what director Jack Cummings, III has done with this revival of Mart Crowley's 1968 play. Mr. Cummings has furnished a loft space in the Flatiron District and seated the audience all around the large room

Ages of the Moon

2010-02-17T18:39:00.000-05:00

"Ages of the Moon" at Atlantic Theater Company, February 17, 2010 Sam Shepard's newest play comes to New York after its London premiere, a rambling, almost stream of conscious, 80 minute, two-hander. The premise is that of Byron (Sean McGinley) arriving to comfort Ames (Stephen Rea), whose wife has just walked out on him after discovering a recent act of infidelity. Slowly we learn that Byron

Clybourne Park

2010-02-12T00:11:00.006-05:00

"Clybourne Park" at Playwrights Horizons, February 6, 2010 Bruce Norris' new play tells the tale of an urban neighborhood, specifically one house as it suffers and recovers from white flight over the course of 50 years. (Spoiler alert) In 1959, Bev (Christina Kirk) and Russ (Frank Wood) are fleeing the pain of losing their Korean War veteran son to suicide following accusations of war crimes.

A Little Night Music

2010-02-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

"A Little Night Music" at the Walter Kerr Theatre, February 3, 2010 (photo by Joan Marcus) Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music first bowed on Broadway in 1973. Tales of potential Broadway revivals have floated for years until a tiny theatre, The Menier Chocolate Factory in London, started a string of stripped down revivals that have transferred over the last couple of years. Among them,

Betty Buckley "For The Love of Broadway"

2010-02-09T18:36:00.000-05:00

Betty Buckley: "For the Love of Broadway!" at Feinstein's at Loew's Regency, February 2, 2010 Kicking off a month-long run at Feinstein's, Miss Buckley is back to singing a more familiar book from the Broadway canon. Apparently, she has steered into a very significant jazz mode over the last few years. Based on her performance last week, she hasn't left that path. While the titles are all

the picture of Dorian Gray

2010-02-03T18:08:00.001-05:00

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" at the Kirk Theatre at Theatre Row, February 1, 2010 The source material is a compelling tale of "be careful what you wish for" a la Oscar Wilde. It's a cautionary tale, much like attending the evening of theatre it presents. This anachronistic interpretation of Wilde's only novel, with a beautiful cast and an overly aspirational concept, drones for over 90

As You Like It

2010-02-02T18:06:00.003-05:00

"As You Like It" presented by the Bridge Project at Brooklyn Academy of Music, January 26, 2010 (photo: Joan Marcus) This is my first opportunity to see a production by the Bridge Project, a three-year partnership between the Old Vic Theatre in London, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Neal Street (Sam Mendes' film and theater production company). Last season's offerings were Chekov's The

Venus in Fur

2010-02-01T18:44:00.000-05:00

"Venus in Fur" at Classic Stage Company, January 23, 2010 A tale of lust, domination and submission, based on a German novel from the late 1800s, David Ives has adapted Leopold von Sacher Masoch's Venus in Furs into a contemporary, clever, 90 minute two-hander. The theatricality is heightened as he juxtaposes the tale into the setting of a playwright conducting auditions for his own stage

The Myopia, an epic burlesque of tragic proportions

2010-01-25T20:48:00.002-05:00

"The Myopia, an epic burlesque of tragic proportions" Atlantic Theatre Stage 2, January 19, 2010 What is the dividing line between self-indulgence and masturbation? David Greenspan's two-act monologue walks that line with occasional steps in either direction, weaving an existential web around a tale of his father's attempt to write a show based on the life of Warren Harding, tying in an

Nine (the movie)

2009-12-29T17:38:00.000-05:00

When I heard that the tale of Guido Contini was coming back to film, I was excited. Having seen the revival of Nine on Broadway in 2003 (even with the replacement cast), I had high hopes. With Rob Marshall at the helm, following his great success with "Chicago" in 2002, the potential was great. Casting announcements were also pretty exciting - - Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench,

The Jew of Malta

2009-12-20T16:03:00.000-05:00

"The Jew of Malta" presented by The York Shakespeare Company at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, December 17, 2009. (Photo by Michelle Sims) Christopher Marlowe's sixteenth century tragedy is presented as a farce in this barebones production by The York Shakespeare Company, running in repertory with Shakespeare's later "Merchant of Venice." It's an interesting concept, but

A Christmas Carol: Scrooge & Marley

2009-12-20T14:36:00.000-05:00

"A Christmas Carol: Scrooge & Marley" Barefoot Theatre Company presented by Horse Trade Theater Group at The Kraine Theater, December 16, 2009 As part of their 70/70 Horovits Project, celebrating playwright Israel Horovitz' 70th birthday with 70 of his plays presented around the world, Barefoot Theatre company presents his adaptation of the Dicken's short story. The 85 minute piece, performed

Altar Boyz

2009-12-20T01:02:00.000-05:00

"Altar Boyz" at New World Stages, December 10, 2010 After an almost 5 year run, "Altar Boyz" is closing January 10, 2010, having played over 2,000 performances. I've seen the show on two other occasions during its run, as it evolved from a full two-act production, to a 90 minute one-act. Hatched from a successful premiere at the New York Musical Theater Festival in September, 2004, it moved

Noel Coward's Brief Encounter

2009-12-20T00:23:00.001-05:00

"Noel Coward's Brief Encounter" presented by Kneehigh Theatre at St. Ann's Warehouse, December 8, 2009 (photo by Pavel Antonov) In a lovely production mixing film, theatre and British music hall style numbers, the tale of two noble lovers comes to life in Brooklyn. Director Emma Rice has adapted the classic 1945 film, which actually began as part of Noel Coward's cycle of ten one-acts, "

Didn't I say this was a good idea?

2009-12-20T00:17:00.000-05:00

See? Let's hope it happens!

Ragtime

2009-12-18T00:49:00.000-05:00

"Ragtime" at the Neil Simon Theatre, December 6, 2009 In its first Broadway revival, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's epic tale of three very different American families makes a triumphant return, focusing on their excellent score. I count myself fortunate for having seen the original production, at what is now the Hilton Theatre, even if it was late in the run (none of the original leads

In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)

2009-12-14T23:34:00.002-05:00

"In The Next Room or the vibrator play" presented by Lincoln Center Theatre at the Lyceum Theatre, December 5, 2009 (photo: uncredited from Theatremania.com) Sarah Ruhl's first play on the Great White Way Is a story of people, not so long ago. Dr. Givings' new treatments are the talk of the day. (He treats ladies' "hysteria," you know.) The treatment releases congestion, you see, not the head

Private Lives Revealed: The Letters of Noel Coward

2009-12-09T00:37:00.000-05:00

"Private Lives Revealed: The Letters of Noel Coward" at St. Ann's Warehouse, December 7, 2009 (photo from Library of Congress collection) An evening of highlights from his book The Letters of Noel Coward, Barry Day (looking a bit like a Springer Spaniel with his Dickensian sideburns brushing his collar) narrates as Anna Bergman, Patricia Conolly, Edward Hibbert, and Dana Ivey read as Mr.

Loaded

2009-12-04T23:44:00.001-05:00

"Loaded" at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row, December 3, 2009 This is at least the third time I've seen this story - two men, supposedly very different from each other, hooking up and then trying to take the time to get to know each other. The result is a series of miscommunications, competitions, disagreements, potential violence, all with a bit of nudity tossed in to keep the audiences'

Orpheus X

2009-12-04T16:37:00.001-05:00

"Orpheus X" presented by Theatre for a New Audience at The Duke, December 3, 2009 I was fascinated by Greek Mythology as a child and couldn't get enough of the stories of gods and mortals, all courtesy of the Scholastic Book Club at school. It would be much later in life when I realized just how homogenized and sterilized were the tales I pored over in those slim paperbacks. Mythology is a

Is Someone Out There Listening?

2009-11-20T11:32:00.002-05:00

Finally!I have thought this was a good idea since May of 2008.

This

2009-11-17T17:37:00.007-05:00

"This" at Playwrights Horizons, November 17, 2009(photo by Joan Marcus)Jane (Julianne Nicholson) doesn't like games, particularly since her husband died almost a year ago, leaving her with a precocious child and no energy or ambition to expand her world. Long-time college friend Marrell (Eisha Davis) has found a sexy French doctor, Jean-Pierre (Louis Cancelmi) for Jane, sublimating her own lust

Wolves at the Window

2009-11-16T21:11:00.006-05:00

"Wolves at the Window" Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters, November 14, 2009Toby Davies has adapted 10 short stories by Saki, a/k/a Hector Hugh Munro as part of the Brits Off Broadway 2009 festival. The result is an evening of Wildean sitcom vignettes as if presented by Monty Python.Subtitled "(and other tales of immorality)" some segments land better than others. More successful are the

A Steady Rain

2009-11-14T16:34:00.004-05:00

"A Steady Rain" at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, November 12, 2009Wolverine meets James Bond onstage in Keith Huff's two-hander, A Steady Rain. Interweaving two monologues of a pair of police partners, Messrs. Jackman and Craig don Chicago-style accents with mixed results in this intermissionless event.Mr. Huff's tale of friendship, betrayal, corruption and devotion provides great opportunities

Alexander Pushkin's Little Tragedies

2009-11-13T23:28:00.008-05:00

"Alexander Pushkin's Little Tragedies" at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, Howard Gilman Theatre, November 10, 2009Julian Henry Lowenfeld translates, directs, composes and appears in the four stories written by the 19th century Russian author.IMHO, that's at least two jobs too many.Mr. Lowenfeld provides 5 pages of program notes about Mr. Pushkin and an analysis of his writing - all very interesting,