Kafka on the Shore
based on the book by Haruki Murakami
adapted for the stage by Frank Galati
Ninagawa Company
Lincoln Center Festival
July 23, 2015 Production website 💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Only in New York after a quiet cappuccino do you get a chance to see a play with talking cats, transgender librarians, truck drivers, a man named Johnnie Walker that cuts off he heads of cats and refrigerates them, and Colonial Sanders (yes, the one from chicken fame) hustling to get you laid for the night. All of this in an elaborate Peer Gynt-like story of finding yourself by taking the greatest journey. Crazy right? Continue reading Kafka at the Beach→
Ubu Roi
prestented by Cheek by Jowl
by Alfred Jarry
directed by Declan Donnellan
Lincoln Center Festival
Gerald W. Lynch Theatre
July 22, 2015
Production website 💉💉 out of 5
When a play begins with a live camera on stage projecting itself on the back wall – – I grow a bit afraid. How many times I have seen this gimmick and saw actors more worried about the image they are projecting on the back wall then making something happen between the people on the stage. Follow me for just the first few minutes of the play and you will see what I am talking about. The very monochromatic, beige stage features one man lounging on the couch playing with a live camera – – just looking into the lens and playing with the buttons. Cheerful French radio plays from the onstage radio. Then the play begins. Continue reading Ubo Roi→
starring Patti Lupone
written by Douglas Carter Beanie
directed by Jerry Zaks
Lincoln Center Theatre at the Mitzie E. Newhouse
June 21, 2015 Production website 💉💉 out of five.
Patti LuPone is the matriarch to a community theatre in the midwest. Does it get any betting then this?! Well perhaps. Shows for Days is all to familiar for any theatre geek. Don’t we all remember that first community theatre when we walked in totally in awe of the place and the beyond-over-the-top personalities and all of their sins of drinking, smoking and post-IHOP sleeping around. I so remember my first days in these broken down store front theatres! Also, remember that one matriarch that all worshiped and who gave her entire world to keep a troupe together and push out show after show after show fighting to keep money, personalities, and even the law at bay long enough to get the show on the boards. Continue reading Shows for Days→
At the Table
produced by Fault Line Theatre
written and directed by Michael Perlman
Here Theatre
July 19, 2015 Production website 💉💉 out of five.
The off-off-off-off-off world of NYC theatre produces a one-of-a-kind experience – – a play done completely out of passion! At the Table tells the story of a group of mis-matched acquaintances agreeing to spend a few days out in the country away from their busy city lives. It came off a bit like an episode of Real Life – where MTV would place a small group of people in a confined space with obviously pre-chosen types that will collide in fights and fits of passion all for the delight of the audience. What I love about At the Table is the very close proximity of the audience. I was literally closer to the dining table then some of the characters AT the dinner party! Continue reading At the Table→
Happy Days
written by Samuel Beckett
directed by Andrei Belgrader
starring Brooke Adams and Tony Shalhoub
The Flea Theatre
July 13, 2015
Production website 💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
You walk into the theatre of seventy-five seats and see nothing on stage but a large mount of dirt and an obviously painted scrim with clouds and sky. The lights go down and up and then we see our protagonist, Winnie (Brooke Adams) “planted” in the ground with only her head and torso above ground. A theatre shaking alarm blares off, Winnie opens her eyes and it’s “just another day.” Winnie spends all of act one trapped in this dirt mound with only a capacious bag full of toiletries, and a gun – – Brownie – – a gun – just in case . . Continue reading Happy Days→
Shows for Days
appy Days