Merchant of Venice
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed & Adapted by Igor Golyak
Classic Stage Company
December 22, 2024
Production website
💉 out of 5.

This was just a horrible night in the theatre and it was made even more horrible in that just a few months prior to this production it was this very same director (Igor Golyak) and same company of players (Arlekin Players) that turned in for me what was the finest piece of theatre of the entire year, Our Class.  I thought that since both pieces deal the plight of the Jews and anti-Semitism, I was going to be in for a real treat seeing this fresh take on The Merchant of Venice which has long been regarded as one of Shakespeare’s so-called “problem” plays.  Classically, it is called a “problem” play in that it’s both a comedy and tragedy; and the villain, the Jew, Shylock, is portrayed with the worst anti-semitic tropes. But the “problem” in this HORRIBLE  adaptation is far more basic than anything cited by scholars. The messaging is muddied, and almost every line of the Bard’s text is just an excuse to do stupid stuff!

The Fires
written and directed by Raja Feather Kelly
Soho Repertory Theatre
June 13, 2024
Production website
💉 out of 5.

The story focuses on 3 black men who live in the same claustrophobic “shotgun apartment” (a very shallow apartment that spans the entire width of the stage).  The time happens over three different decades- but rather than tell the stories in different acts the stories overlap and brush up against each other.  The principal character, Jay, owns the apartment and shares it with his lover, Jay.  This relationship and story is set in 1974 as Jay struggles with mental illness and fills mountains of journals with stories of love and other obtuse family matters. 

Titanique
book by Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue
Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements by Nicholas Connell
Directed by Tye Blue
Daryl Roth Theatre
April 9, 2024
Production website
💉 out of 5.

This piece was a TRUE let down! I came to the piece with high expectations and a handful of excellent recommendations from theatre friends and critics. Basically, Titanique is a spoof of the James Cameron movie in which Celine Dion re-writes the story with her as a participant and she sets out to poke fun at all of the classic scenes from the movie. It really could have been a workable premise for a fun evening but . . .

Days of Wine and Roses
Book by Craig Lucas
Music & Lyrics by Adam Guettel
Choreography by Sergio Trujillo & Karl Puno Garcia
Directed by Michael Greig
Atlantic Theatre Company
July 9, 2023
Production website
💉 out of 5.

Days of Wine and Roses was truly a disappointment. It is so crazy to think that with the star-studded pairing of Brian d’Arcy James and Kelli O’Hara could produce something so lame. First off, I think the story is too dated to be presented. The dynamics of addiction, and how you can’t change anyone and the advent of Alcoholics Anonymous just seems to be from old, old news – and nothing new is brought to the conversation.. What necessitate the retelling of the story? On top of that, the show had just terrible music. I always think that it’s a bad sign when you leave the theater and are not humming at least one song as you go. I can’t imagine the cast album!