What happens when you combine a three decade old two hander by one of our greatest living playwrights with two of our finest stage actors? Magic at the Broadhurst Theatre, that's what. "Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune" is a passionate defense of reaching out for love against all odds. When co-workers from … Continue reading Review – Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune
Month: May 2019
#ATOBTTR Special Edition
You may have noted on my blog this year that after select postings (after each complete series) I've included a segment celebrating the call of announcer Marty Brenneman whenever the Cincinnati Reds win a ballgame - And This One Belongs To The Reds! Hasn't happened nearly enough this season. I provide a pep talk to … Continue reading #ATOBTTR Special Edition
National Hamburger Day
Today's National Day celebrates a ubiquitous American standard - the hamburger. From the humble slider to the fast food staple to the fancy shmancy deluxe versions, they exist in so many forms. Credit is claimed by many to have been the first, but many foundation myths start with cooked ground beef stuck between two pieces … Continue reading National Hamburger Day
Review – To She Who Waits
The American Renaissance Theater Company is presenting a new play at Theatre 54 at the Shetler Studios. It is the 2018 Jerry Kaufman Award winner "To She Who Waits" by Bob Clyman. The subtitle "God's Plan v. A Mother's Love; Winner Takes All" provides a clue to the plot. The play jumps back and forth … Continue reading Review – To She Who Waits
Review – Caroline’s Kitchen
Caroline's Kitchen is a transfer of a British farce that was very popular there. Maybe they will cling to anything to divert them from Brexit. It is certainly a manic comedy with characters keeping secrets from each other running in and out of the set. The concept is that TV cooking show host Caroline (Caroline … Continue reading Review – Caroline’s Kitchen
Review – The Archbishop’s Ceiling
Great playwrights create some less than great works in their career. Even though I admire many works by Arthur Miller ("A View From the Bridge" is in my top ten plays of all time) I had never heard of "The Archbishop's Ceiling." I am glad I had the chance to see it, but it remains … Continue reading Review – The Archbishop’s Ceiling
National Solitaire Day
Guess who established National Solitaire Day? Microsoft. Once they included it in Windows 3.0 (back in 1990 kids) it was used to train people how to use that new-fangled mouse on your desk. At least that was the excuse used. Now-a-days kids are coding at 5 years old which leaves us older folks in the … Continue reading National Solitaire Day
National Quiche Lorraine Day
Today's National Food Day celebrates a delicious French tradition of an egg custard pie with delightful flavors. This version originated in the rural Lorraine region and traditionally includes bacon and cheese. Why not be creative and make use of items you might very well have in your refrigerator right now? Preheat your oven to 375 … Continue reading National Quiche Lorraine Day
National “I Love Reese’s” Day
Harry Burnett Reese was born in 1879 to a Pennsylvania farming family. He married in 1900 and eventually had sixteen children. He took many jobs to support his family and in 1917 secured a job on the dairy farm of Milton S. Hershey. Yep, that Hershey. He later moved on to work in the chocolate … Continue reading National “I Love Reese’s” Day
Review – Curse of the Starving Class
Many directors and designers have chosen to tear apart a stage set as a physical mirror of the disintegration happening to characters on stage. This can happen as a steady erosion or a grand explosion. This production switches that up with the walls and shelves of the Tate family kitchen being rendered in one grand … Continue reading Review – Curse of the Starving Class
Chapstick EXPOSED! (or at least opened up)
I don't about you but I have never finished a Chapstick before it is used up. Those tubes always seem to disappear half used and I need to buy another. At the end of this cold weather season I realized the Chapstick I was using stopped pushing up that little beeswax stick. Time for an … Continue reading Chapstick EXPOSED! (or at least opened up)
National Apple Pie Day
Today is National Apple Pie Day and later today I plan to bake one just to honor this special day. I'll start with a Pillsbury Pie Crust unrolled and pressed into a glass pie baking dish. Before you get all persnickety about pre-made pie crusts, you can check out exactly why I do so with … Continue reading National Apple Pie Day
Review – BLKS
It is very good to hear new voices in the American Theatre and the play BLKS at the new Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space certainly represents new outlooks. This is poet Aziza Barnes' first play script and she doesn't hold back. It is a full bore buoyant bounty of Brooklyn people of color that … Continue reading Review – BLKS
National Lost Sock Memorial Day
Today is National Lost Sock Memorial Day. Who knows what exactly is splitting up your beloved foot coverings? Laundry bag? Washing Machine? Dryer? Alien creature socknapping? Hard to know (because if you did, you wouldn't have lost your sock, now would you?). But whatever caused it, the sock is missing and you are left with … Continue reading National Lost Sock Memorial Day
Review – Friendly’s Fire
In this blog I review lots of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. There are many readings and off-off-Broadway shows I attend and they must be addressed sightly differently. FRIENDLY'S FIRE by John Patrick Bray is just such a developing work. Productions like this are being formed and will hopefully develop into larger environments. This play addresses … Continue reading Review – Friendly’s Fire
Review – Sincerely, Oscar
Sometimes a theatre production makes an unfortunate decision that mars or hobbles a show. When a series of unfortunate decisions are made in one show you get "Sincerely, Oscar" at the Acorn Theater on Theater Row. It is certainly an earnest effort by Doreen Taylor, a singer with a strong set of pipes, who conceived … Continue reading Review – Sincerely, Oscar
Review – Pip’s Island – an entertaining place for children in NYC
If you have children between ages four and ten and will be visiting New York City (or live here already) you should pay a visit to Pip's Island. Located at 9th Avenue and 42nd Street on the island of Manhattan, it is very easy to find. An interactive group activity for child Explorers (and their … Continue reading Review – Pip’s Island – an entertaining place for children in NYC
National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
With all the National Days I feature on this blog, I like to say there is one for just about everything and everyone. Here is an odd one and the explanation: National Two Different Colored Shoes Day was created by Dr. Arlene Kaiser. Kaiser created this day to recognize and celebrate human diversity. According to … Continue reading National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
National Truffle Day
We're not talking savory here, we're talking chocolate. Filled with a chocolate ganache, it is usually coated in chocolate or perhaps chopped nuts or coconut. Mmmmm. I think I know what's for breakfast! As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes
Review – Nantucket Sleigh Ride
There is some self-indulgent frippery going on at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. But as the playwright is John Guare, he has certainly earn the right to be indulged. And because the playwright is John Guare, his frippery is far funnier than most. The plot is far too complicated and intricate to … Continue reading Review – Nantucket Sleigh Ride
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