4 out of 5 Stars

The title alone of Summer, 1976 sets the stage for the joyful, consuming experience awaiting you at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. For many of us, it is easy to dial back to precisely the time of our lives when this story sets sail. Adding to the delight of this tale is that we theatergoers get to spend this summer afternoon in the company of theater royalty - Jessica Hecht and Laura Linney.

For 90 minutes, the pair volleyed back and forth with their perspectives on the relationship that developed that summer. It is ordinary in that we have all felt or witnessed many of the components of their experiences, yet extraordinary in the cleverness of their storytelling. Many times during the course of this play you will have the “oh, I can see where this is going” moment only to be surprised and delighted by the unexpected twists and turns. It also evokes a time when the unpolished veneer of youth allows us to dream big before adult experiences begin grinding into our reality.

This stage is mostly bare, with the actors providing everything you need to be fully engrossed and dare I say mesmerized. These two actors effortlessly pivot whenever additional characters are needed to fill the required roles. In the end, you will have had a profoundly satisfying experience of what Bob Dylan would describe as “life and life only”. See the show.

5 out of 5 Stars

Sometimes you can trudge your way through a theater season wondering if there is something else you might be doing with your time and money. To bring those concerns to a complete halt, get tickets to Prima Facie starring Jodie Comer at the Golden Theatre. 

Ms. Comer, known to many for her knockout performance in the TV series Killing Eve, provides Broadway magic at its finest. This show hits its mark in every category of theater production. It is the most powerful thing I have seen in the last five years. The issues of #MeToo, sexual assault, and no-means-no are presented and brought to life in a form that is purely visceral. In the way a girl’s simple diary can tell the entire story of the Holocaust, this story encapsulates the awakening of our collective consciousness to the realities faced by women since the beginning of time.

Despite this being a one-woman show there is no shortage of depicted characters provided by Ms. Comer in her Broadway debut. Following the arc of this story is simply electrifying with equal credit given to playwright Suzie Miller who won the 2023 Olivier Award for Best New Play. Lighting, Direction, and Sound all fall perfectly into place making this an unparalleled theatrical experience you may need to see more than once. I believe it is a Tony Award shoo-in for at least Best Play and Best Actor. If I have one recommendation this year it is - do not miss this show! An extraordinary experience awaits you. The buzz is big so get your tickets soon.

3 out 5 stars

The Front Page is fun! My usual trepidation in approaching theater such as this is based on an aversion to zaniness . . . and The Front Page is zany.    The depth of this star-studded cast served to quell my concerns . . . and the cast is star-studded.