Tom Stoppard is one of my favorite playwrights. The intellectual twists and turns come pouring at you as from a fire hose. His plays are incredibly crafted, carefully assembled tours de force that are a mental workout that I absolutely love. Travesties was written in the 1970's and sprang from Mr. Stoppard's discoveries that an … Continue reading Review – Travesties
Broadway
Review – Children of a Lesser God
You would think that having seen as many stage productions as I have that by now I would have seen just about everything. Not quite. I did not see earlier mountings or the movie of Children of a Lesser God but I saw the most recent Broadway version last night. Of course I knew about … Continue reading Review – Children of a Lesser God
Last Chance to Dance on Broadway…
... at least to still be eligible for the 2018 TONY Awards! This is always a crazy time of year when producers vie to open shows before the eligibility deadline (This year April 26). That means six openings will occur between now and then, including Summer: The Donna Summer musical (and hence my title). They … Continue reading Last Chance to Dance on Broadway…
Review – Once on this Island
Don't miss this joyful expression of love and loss at one of my favorite Broadway venues. Once on the Island is a remounting of a Lynn/Flaherty story taking place in one of the French Antilles. Accordingly the stage is covered in sand and the entire theatre is dressed in poor but vibrant environment of the … Continue reading Review – Once on this Island
World Theatre Day
Today is World Theatre Day, an opportunity to celebrate every facet of this very human storytelling medium. Theatre has defined my life since I caught the bug in high school and so I am featuring a photo of my high school auditorium below. Or at least it feels that long ago. With the inspiration of … Continue reading World Theatre Day
Review – Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika
I saw the original Broadway production of "Angels in America" in the early 90's. While clearly an important work by a talented playwright at the time I felt it too self-indulgent and wildly unedited as work for the stage. At the same time it was clearly an important work and I was never bored or … Continue reading Review – Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika
Review – The Band’s Visit
Some people going to a Broadway show simply need to see chandeliers crashing or big brass bands playing to believe they got their money's worth. They should not go to see The Band's Visit currently at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Band's Visit is a simple story of human longing and desires, living and loving, … Continue reading Review – The Band’s Visit
Review – Escape to Margaritaville
I am always dubious about jukebox musicals and a new one has washed ashore based on songs by Jimmy Buffet at the Marquis Theatre. Scripts for these affairs have to be twisted around the canon being celebrated to fit lyrics never intended to be linked into a storyline and in this case is twisted into … Continue reading Review – Escape to Margaritaville
Review – Farinelli and the King
My only regret about seeing the new play at the Belasco Theatre - Farinelli and the King - is that I didn't see it earlier in its run so that I could give you more time to see it based on my recommendation ( it closes March 25). Playwright Claire van Kampen has written a … Continue reading Review – Farinelli and the King
Review – Hello Dolly!
Thorton Wilder's play THE MATCHMAKER is the foundation for the musical HELLO DOLLY! Mr. Wilder's work is wonderful and the musical adapted from it was a big hit right from its premiere in the 1960's. The current re-incarnation features the very talented Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber. I've seen each of them previously on Broadway … Continue reading Review – Hello Dolly!
Review – Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Jukebox musicals are usually not my thing. "So this happened to me and then I wrote this and then I did this and out poured this song." Some are better than others both because the quality of the songbook varies and the life of the artist(s) is more or less interesting.. Beautiful: The Carol King … Continue reading Review – Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
My Super Bowl plans
Hosting a Super Bowl? Going to a party or bar to enjoy? Hunkering down in your man cave? I'm going to Broadway. I don't really care which team wins this year's Super Bowl nor do I enjoy watching grown men giving each other brain injuries as much as I used to. I was fortunate to … Continue reading My Super Bowl plans
Review – John Lithgow: Stories by Heart
John Lithgow is a talented actor now performing a precious one man show at Roundabout's American Airline Theatre on Broadway. I have heard a number of complaints that not only is the show boring but has no place on Broadway. It is true that it is a quiet, intimate show with no helicopters or chorus … Continue reading Review – John Lithgow: Stories by Heart
Put on your PARTY FACE!
Tonight we have the opportunity to attend the first public performance of PARTY FACE, a new play at Manhattan Theater Club at New York City Center. I will not review this show until opening night has passed but I have a special offer for my readers below. A discount offer and if you read this … Continue reading Put on your PARTY FACE!
Looking forward to Spring 2018 Theater Events
As the spring theater season looms there are some events I am looking forward to: Two Edward Albee events: I already have tickets to Home Life and The Zoo Story being presented at the Signature Theatre. In addition his Three Tall Women will be presented on Broadway with Glenda Jackson, Laurie Metcalf and Alison Pill. … Continue reading Looking forward to Spring 2018 Theater Events
Shout out to the FINDING NYC Blog
I am still learning about this whole blogging thing. One thing I have enjoyed is reading blogs written by others. Today I start an occasional and irregular series highlighting some of those blogs I follow that you might sample. The first is FINDING NYC, part of the WordPress family and I think you can find … Continue reading Shout out to the FINDING NYC Blog
Quick review of 2017 Blog
As the new year starts, a quick look back at my blog in 2017. As you may imagine the majority of posts were about live theater, shows I saw and scripts I wrote. My favorites that I attended and are now gone in 2017: The Glass Menagerie with Sally Field - a fresh take on … Continue reading Quick review of 2017 Blog
Review – THE CHILDREN on Broadway
The Manhattan Theatre Club is introducing playwright Lucy Kirkwood to our shores in a transfer of the successful British production of her play The Children in their Broadway space The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. This is one of those reviews I hate to write. The performers Francesca Annis, Ron Cook and Deborah Findlay are terrific. … Continue reading Review – THE CHILDREN on Broadway
Review – JUNK on Broadway
The Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center has become my go to place to have complicated concepts explained in riveting theater pieces. On my last visit I was thrilled by J.T. Roger's play OSLO which captivated me as it led me through the now doomed negotiations toward the two state solution between Israel and Palestine. … Continue reading Review – JUNK on Broadway
Review – The Parisian Woman
Uma Thurman is a luminous presence on stage who draws your interest without fail and without limit. She is an amazing performer who should return to Broadway on a regular basis. Sorry, that's all the good news. I had looked forward to this production because the playwright is Beau Willimon. He is the originator of … Continue reading Review – The Parisian Woman
Review – Home for the Holidays
Two caveats for this review: I do not watch TV reality singing contests at all and so have no idea who these people are (old-timer Danny Aiello was a minor part of the evening and the only face I recognized). The other is that I saw the first preview and the sound mix was not … Continue reading Review – Home for the Holidays
Review – M. Butterfly
When David Henry Hwang's play M. BUTTERFLY opened in 1988 I did not see the original production. Several years later a group of actors, including myself, participated in a reading and discussion where I then lived in Florida. We were all enchanted by the work and the script has been one of my favorites ever … Continue reading Review – M. Butterfly
Review – Time and the Conways
"There is a great devil in the universe and we call it time." One of the defining lines from the Roundabout Theatre's Broadway production of TIME AND THE CONWAYS. Sometimes I can be a lazy theater goer. Back in 1994 I saw a production of AN INSPECTOR CALLS by J.B. Priestly on Broadway. One of … Continue reading Review – Time and the Conways
A visit from my niece
Technically she wasn't visiting me, she was visiting New York City. I understand that. Before I moved to this town I did the same thing. She rode the bus with a young friend from the Mary Baldwin University Theater Department just to see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. They were in town less … Continue reading A visit from my niece
Review: WAR PAINT on Broadway
Right off the bat I must tell you that I was skeptical of how much I would like WAR PAINT. After all it was about 20th Century make up tycoons and their business battles. Luckily it was better than I expected. I entered and won a lottery ticket contest and plunged in. The score, music, … Continue reading Review: WAR PAINT on Broadway
