Carousel

Imperial Theatre
in ,

3.5 out of 5 Stars

Carousel - that Rodgers and Hammerstein classic with mesmerizing dance scenes and glorious songs that have stood the test of time. Carousel - with that wince producing storyline and bellicose, belligerent, bad-boy Billy Bigelow. I grew up listening to my mother’s OBCR (Original Broadway Cast Recording) of Carousel and "June is Bustin’ Out All Over" has always been one of my favorite catchy tunes, so the prospect of seeing this revival was thrilling. And, indeed, there were thrilling moments in this production..

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Vanity Fair

The Pearl Theatre Co.
in ,

3.5 out of 5 Stars

I am settling into my seat at the Pearl Theatre Co on 42nd street for a single reason - Kate Hamill. The production I am here for is written (adapted) for the stage by Ms. Hamill who also stars in the show. The persistent afterglow of her recent work in Sense and Sensibility (which I saw twice, Melissa, three times) urges our return to her stage. Our commitment was well rewarded. Ms. Hamill creates a unique style of theater that is right down the center of the plate of what I most enjoy in a theatrical outing. Titles like Sense and Sensibility and Vanity Fair (novel by William Thackeray, production directed by Eric Tucker) can potentially strike a fuddy/duddy chord in many minds. Once again Ms. Hamill reanimates famous but potentially stale classics into vibrant 21st-century works of wonder. Her shows mesmerize with contemporary rhythms.

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The Price

American Airlines Theatre
in ,

3.5 out of 5 Stars

Arthur Miller’s play, The Price, does something that most Miller plays don’t do; it will make you laugh.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t heavy moments, this is Arthur Miller after all, and there are no light moments in the likes of The Crucible, Incident at Vichy, Death of a Salesman, or A View from the Bridge. But this play has charm and wit to go along with the heavy bits.

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Small Mouth Sounds

Signature Theatre Company
in ,

3.5 out of 5 stars

What on earth is Small Mouth Sounds about?  I must confess as much as anything, the answer to the question is a large part of what drove me to purchase my tickets.  I think we have a right to know.  As it turns out, Small Mouth Sounds, written by Bess Wohl and directed by Rachel Chavkin, is barely about sounds at all.  It “speaks” far more about the human condition.

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