Purlie Victorious a Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Written by Ossie Davis
Directed by Kenny Leon
The Music Box
December 7, 2023
Production website
💉💉 out of 5.

I was just not “invited” to this play. From the very first moment, this play just roared on by.  Leslie Odom, Jr. just exploded on stage – – speaking and moving so fast that I could barely understand what he was saying and what was going on.  I really have no idea what was gained by this storm of behavior.  It took a good long time before the play settled down so that I could understand what was going on.  I just felt that everyone in the play was working too hard – and not to the betterment of the story.  They were squeezing each line to get just as much as they could out of each word – – which ended up making all words of equal importance.  It was truly hard to connect with any of the characters; they were so busy acting.

How to Dance in Ohio
Book and Lyrics by Rebekah Greer Melocik
Music by Jacob Yandura
Choreographed by Mayte Natalio
Directed by Sammy Cannold
Belasco Theatre
December 6, 2023
Production website
💉💉 out of 5.

Of my 10 shows that I saw on this trip I was most looking forward to seeing How to Dance in Ohio, but it was my least favorite show. I was so excited to witness a show that brought the inclusion of a cast of individuals who were self-identifying as people with autism. I thought it a great chance to give voice to people who would not normally be seen on Broadway. But, as the show made clear, no special exception, was to be given to any of them. They were going to be judged – – in fact, they wanted to be judged, on their own merits – – and it just didn’t work.