Cabaret

Barrington Stage Company
in ,

5 out of 5 Stars

Willkommen to the new and completely rejuvenated version of Cabaret, the beloved and poignant musical previously brought to life by the likes of Joel Gray or Alan Cumming depending on your age and/or perspective. I wondered if this giant show could be mastered in this small-town setting. Well, you can leave these concerns (along with your troubles) at the door. What awaits you at Barrington Stage is a completely refreshed and somewhat reimagined version of this story that rings the bell in every musical theatre category.

Beginning with the entrance of Nik Alexander as our Emcee, you are enthralled by the casting of every role in this production. Krysta Rodriguez is simply brilliant as Sally Bowles. Another stand-out is Candy Buckley as Fraulein Schneider. To describe these as Broadway-level performances is simply unfair to this ensemble in that they exceed any expectation you might have for a Broadway show. Labeling these performers as non-binary would be a constrained description of this beautiful and talented cast. Actors change roles and genders with extreme fluidity. Costumes, lighting, and set design all get the highest marks with the final product presented under the superb direction of Alan Paul. Placing the orchestra right on the stage further enhances the powerful punch of the music. Despite being freshly revived in its interpretation, the musical remains firmly attached to its core story by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Prior versions of Cabaret include the 1966 Broadway musical, a 1972 film version, and numerous revivals as recent as 2013. What these productions have in common is their historical nature. The Barrington Stage production however is every bit as much about the present and our current political landscape. It serves to supercharge the message of the show in a way that allows it to stand alone when compared to past productions.

Our access to Barrington Stage’s production of Cabaret underscores what is so wonderful about life in the Berkshires. Miss this production at your peril. After all, what good is sitting alone in your room? See the show.

Read More

Camelot

Lincoln Center Theater
in ,

4 out of 5 Stars

It has been 30 years since King Arthur, Queen Guenevere, and Sir Lancelot of Camelot fame have graced the Broadway stage, and Bartlett Sher, who has a knack for reviving classic mid-century musicals, took the opportunity to give this production a tune-up. The original Broadway show, with lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, has been refreshed with a new book by acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin. With those classic songs still intact, the show takes on fresh appeal and snap with the Sher and Sorkin treatment.

What really gets the show moving is the Phillipa Soo treatment. All three major characters are well acted with Andrew Burnap as King Arthur, Jordan Donica as Lancelot, and Soo as Queen Guenevere. Donica has a splendid bass voice and imposing stage presence and Burnap inhabits his role as king with an appealing mix of gravitas and humor. But it is Phillipa Soo who illuminates the stage with her clear, bright soprano, her light-as-a-feather dancing, and her on-the-mark acting skills. We were fortunate to see her as Eliza in Hamilton and as much as we loved her in that role, her appeal and talent as an actor and singer are on full display as Guenevere.

In the past Sher directed revivals we have seen, including South Pacific and My Fair Lady, the staging was lavish but this time the events take place on a cavernous and spare stage. Creative lighting effects set the tone and simple props set the stage. This sparse approach enhances the mystery and ephemeral nature of the Arthur legend. And it allows the gorgeous music floating up from the orchestra pit to truly engulf the viewer. The visual senses are not distracted by an elaborate set; therefore, more room is afforded for auditory appreciation.

Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater makes for a most congenial spot for this delightful and appealing revival. Although the ending leaves you with frustration over the foibles of human nature and the dashed hopes for Camelot, there is a glimmer of promise that today’s youth will find their way to a better tomorrow and that elusive happily-ever-aftering.

Read More

Summer, 1976

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
in ,


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.

Read More

Parade

Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
in ,

2 out of 5 Stars

Knowing the basic outline of the plot, as we found our way to our seats for the revival of Parade, there was a droning in my head of How can this story be made into a musical? We left the show with this question unanswered.

No spoiler alert - this is history - a Jewish factory owner is falsely accused of raping and murdering a 13-year-old. He is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. The sentence is then commuted to life in prison, soon after which he is kidnapped from his cell and lynched. Having trouble seeing the musical potential here? Sondheim turned down the opportunity to participate and so should have I.

Given the current uptick in antisemitic displays across the land, I hoped the show would offer at least some takeaway for counterbalance. Nothing. The musical provides no redemption - Is this perhaps the point? If so, leave me out of it. It would be remiss of me not to point out what in all likelihood filled the theater. The play stars Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond who provide extraordinary performances of what I consider unmemorable numbers. Additionally, the sound was muddy. You should be aware that it was well received by the audience - big Ben Platt fans, I presume. If this in any way piques your interest, keep your eyes out for Colombine, The Musical.

Read More

Prima Facie

Golden Theatre
in ,


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.

Read More

Medea

Harvey Theater at BAM Strong
in ,

4.5 out of 5 Stars

Medea is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides and first produced in 431 BC. The play is centered on a wife's relentless desire for revenge against her unfaithful husband, Jason. The role of Medea is so powerful that the play holds the American Tony award record for most wins for the same female lead character, with Judith Anderson winning in 1948, Zoe Caldwell in 1982, and Diana Rigg in 1994. As an undergrad at the University of Tennessee, I happened to see the 1982 adaptation starring Zoe Caldwell as Medea and Judith Anderson as the nurse. The production opened at the University’s Clarence Browne Theatre before moving to Broadway. To this day I remember the intensity of Dame Judith Anderson’s performance.

With that background established, let’s move to 2020 and this chilling update written and directed by Simon Stone and starring real-life husband and wife team Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne. Ancient Greece meets War of the Roses. We have seen Mr. Cannavale in numerous theater productions and he never fails to light the stage. I am fairly unfamiliar with Ms. Byrne’s body of work so when she took firm control of the stage and began hurdling the blood-soaked story toward its body-strewn conclusion, we sat up and took notice! The allure of mental illness can be quite compelling. Ms. Byrne’s Medea (named Anna in this production, the character Jason is now called Lucas) is in turn charming, seductive, remorseful, pleading, plotting, and ultimately fully unhinged. The visual volume is turned up with a closely shot, real-time video of the actor’s faces on a screen above the stage. Every nuance of their emotional hell is seen in high-def.

Read More

West Side Story directed by Ivo van Hove

The Broadway Theatre
in ,

5 out of 5 Stars

Great question: Do we need yet another version of West Side Story? Full disclosure – West Side Story is, in my opinion, the greatest Broadway musicals of all time – so if this were a middle school production performed in semaphore, my answer would probably be a resounding yes. But let’s go on.

This production is directed by Ivo van Hove, which to me simply means theater completely reinvented. In my opinion, his reimagination (as we saw in his Tony award-winning direction of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge and also The Crucible) represents complete genius. However having recently seen a note for note, dance step for dance step production of West Side Story by the Lyric Opera Company in Chicago that pinned the needles of satisfaction, I had concern regarding the very idea of a reinterpretation.

Read More

Oklahoma!

Circle in the Square
in ,

4 out of 5 Stars

“Oh, what a beautiful day” indeed in this innovatively updated production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, but this is the 2019 rendering, not the 1943 Broadway debut or 1955 film version. Yes, Oklahoma is still on the verge of becoming a US state, however this territory is now settled with folks dealing with gun violence, bullying, white privilege, law bending, stand your ground, and equality of the sexes – sound familiar? Directed by Daniel Fish, not one word of the script or one note of the music has been changed and yet this is a thoroughly modern production and the issues that trouble today’s society are brought into sharp focus through skilled acting, creative staging, and imaginative lighting.

Read More

Hamilton - The Tour

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
in ,

5 out of 5 Stars

What a surprise to find that the Hamilton touring company turned its sights on South Florida at the same time as our December timeshare week in Delray. With a little cunning and a lot of luck, we were able to score two tickets to the sold-out production at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

Full disclosure: we are full-fledged, over the top Hamilton devotees with multiple Broadway viewings. So obviously we were curious. Would the on-the-road production live up to the Broadway standards we are accustomed to? The answer is clear.

Yes!

Read More

The Lifespan of a Fact

Studio 54
in ,

4 out of 5 Stars

What is The Lifespan of a Fact? Our current political landscape brings lots of questions about facts to the forefront. The emergence of real “fake news” (we are not talking about you, New York Times) has truly undermined some of our faith in reality.

Read More

The White Album

Harvey Theater
in

Prepare to enter the time tunnel and be transported to the late 60s. The world was alive with a very different energy than it runs on today. It was the birth of the baby boomers entering and transforming the culture, the primal scream of which continues to echo today. There are few works that capture these moments as clearly and as vividly as Joan Didion’s The White Album.

Read More

The Waverly Gallery

Golden Theatre
in ,

4 out of 5 Stars

As some baby boomers begin to dwindle off into the twilight realm of dementia, the individual stories of mental decline have become so numerous. One might confuse the The Waverly Gallery as just another tale of this journey into mental oblivion. The real story in this well written, well-acted production is the performance of the main actor, Elaine May, and supportive family members.

Read More

West Side Story

Barrington Stage Company
in , ,

5 out of 5 Stars

The collection of geniuses that converged at the time of our nation’s birth is described in the Hamilton lyrics - - 
              "What are the odds, that the Gods, would put us all in one place?"
​​​​​​​A similar statement can be made regarding the creation of one of Broadway’s greatest musicals – West Side Story.

Read More

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..

Read More

My Fair Lady

Beaumont Theater - Lincoln Center
in ,

4 out of 5 Stars

Let’s get this straight; we’re talking about a Broadway production of My Fair Lady staged at Lincoln Center, directed by Bartlett Sher, featuring the original 1956 orchestration with a full orchestra. If the avid theatergoer finds this anything other than an extraordinary theatrical outing, perhaps you’ve picked the wrong field of entertainment. My Fair Lady is woven into the very foundation of so many Baby Boomers who grew up in a household with an appreciation for musical theater.

Read More

Harry Clarke

Minetta Lane Theatre
in ,

4.5 out of 5 Stars

It is unusual in the small Off-Broadway setting to see a show with dozens of characters, numerous transglobal locations, and almost continuous scene changes. Such is the magic of theater that all of this is accomplished on a small stage with two or three props and a single actor. Harry Clarke is powerhouse theater in every sense of the word. True, as stated this is a one-man show but what is clearly evident in its viewing is that we are seeing an extraordinary team performance – actor, playwright, and director.

Read More

The Children

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
in ,

4.5 out of 5 Stars

I’ll keep this brief because the fun part of The Children is answering all the questions that you might otherwise look to a review to prepare. Who are these people? What is their relationship? Where are we? (The curtain rises on a set that is truly mundane, with one twist that puts you on an edge you didn’t know you had for the whole show). WHEN are we?

Read More

Farinelli and the King

Belasco Theatre
in ,

4.5 out of 5 Stars

Mark Rylance is theater’s greatest living actor. Before I had ever even heard of him,  I was informed of this by a reliable source - our theater-going friend Margaret. Just before the start of the show, Mr. Rylance’s position in the pantheon of actors was spontaneously reconfirmed by the young woman serving me milk duds and scotch. Two rounds of Nice Fish at St Ann’s Warehouse and his Academy Award-winning performance in Bridge of Spies have only further served to support Margaret’s claim.

When you enter the Balasco Theatre, you are immersed in 18th century Spain with the costumes, the candlelight, and era-appropriate instruments setting the tone for this ethereal musical.  Farinelli and the King is based on the psychologically tortured life of King Phillipe the V and the castrato Farinelli. These two unlikely friends form a bond that spans nine years and brings respite to the King and the harried Spanish court.

Read More

Hello, Dolly!

Shubert Theatre
in

Guest Review

What better way to start the week in New York than a show!  We nabbed up tickets for Hello, Dolly!  And, what a delightful evening.  From start to finish, Bette Midler could not have been more perfect in the role, bringing her own sense of humor and timing.  Dolly Levi is a mensch and Ms. Midler brought her to life with her meddling, nosy, compassionate self.  And did I mention humor?  We laughed through the entire play...especially the scene of Dolly eating potato dumplings in the restaurant.  Pure Bette Midler!

Read More

Oslo

Lincoln Center Theater - Vivian Beaumont
in

Guest Review

Oslo, directed by Bartlett Sher, is a very interesting play. It examines the efforts of a few daring individuals who challenged conventional (and ineffective) diplomacy in 1993, creating a secret back channel through which representatives of Israel and the PLO - entities that until that point had either denied the other’s legitimacy or promised its annihilation to meet and negotiate.   They introduced the concept of gradualism versus totalism, fostered by the then-novel concept that the negotiators should actually know each other as human beings. 

Does that make it sound dry?  It does sound dry.  Yet however improbably, the play is riveting.

Read More