The Half-God of Rainfall Written by Inua Ellams Movement Direction by Orlando Pabotoy Directed by Taibi Nagar New York Theatre Workshop July 15, 2023 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
The Half God of Rain was a mighty interesting show to see. It is not often you get to see a story about the Greek gods’ intervention in the life of a Nigerian basketball player . . . I was lucky to see it on only its second preview performance, so the cast was discovering things right along with the audience. I did have a couple of observations of the show. To begin the play was set in a stage filled with small black gravel. I thought this was a terrific idea as soon as the cast came out at the beginning and started to walk out in unison you could hear the crunch of the gravel beneath them. It was wonderful sound effect. I only wish that they had used this gravel more often during the show it was such a spectacular possibility for the show I just wanted them to exploit it further.
The Saviour Written by Deidre Kinahan Directed by Louise Lowe Irish Repertory Theatre July 14, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
The Savior was a tough play to watch. The play is a one act in two parts. The first part involves an elderly Irish woman who has just had physical relationships with a much younger man who seems to bow to her every wish. The play opens with the woman in bed while the man is off stage getting her coffee. She has an extended monologue where she talks about how wonderful it is to find love and physical affection this late in her life. She attributes much of it to Jesus and how he has been looking after her for a long time. Then as we move into the second-half of this one act her son arrives with a birthday present for her. He also arrives with some bad news.
The Cottage Written by Sandy Rustin Directed by Jason Alexander The Helen Hayes Theater July 13, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
The Cottage was a simply fabulous evening in the theater. It has been a long time since I have seen a full-fledged farce in New York City. Everything about this show worked. The set was gorgeous and more than gorgeous, it had many fun farcical features that the cast exploited every moment that they could. For example almost every prop on stage became a cigarette lighter – – every single item. The casting was right on point. Eric McCormack and Laura Bell Bundy made for a perfect couple to spar back and forth – – – and every supporting actor down to the very smallest role all made a wonderful contribution to the story.
Goodnight, Oscar Starring Sean Hayes Written by Doug Wright Directed by Lisa Peterson Belasco Theatre July 12, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Goodnight Oscar packed one hell of a punch last night. I knew going in that Sean Hayes would be able to deliver all the comic moments of the show with aplomb. He is so good at those small sarcastic comments and finding a punch line to every single moment. I knew that the comedy would be great, but I was wondering if the night was going to hold any more to it. I am so glad to say it did. The show did start off a little slow and a lot of exposition was needed to take us back in time to the late fifties. It was important to understand the Jack Paar show and its tendency to bring celebrity guests on its show and exploit them for the sake of ratings.
Alex Edelman Just for Us Written and performed by Alex Edelman Directed by Adam Brace Hudson Theatre July 11, 2023 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
Most of the time when I go to New York to see shows, I purposely don’t do any research on the show. I like to be surprised. I like to have that experience for the first time. I held true to that in seeing Just for Us. I didn’t know a thing about the show other than it was a one-man presentation. It didn’t take me long to figure out that this was going to be stand-up comedy routine in a much, much larger space. I have seen this kind of format a few times before and it has worked – but at times the space fought the performance. This show felt to me like it was begging to be in a smaller space. I can only imagine what fun it was to see this piece when it was in various small clubs and experimental places around the world. I’m sure it had to be something to experience.
