The Front Page
Written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur Directed by Jack O’Brien
Broadhurst Theatre
January 4, 2017 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
I think that I could just leave the theatre right now and nobody would know that I have gone. This is the feeling I had for the first hour or two of Front Page. After seeing so many shows that worked to bridge the distance between the actor and the audience, it was a shock to see a good ol’ fashioned realistic play where that fourth wall was truly being respected. To be honest it felt like I was watching really good TV. Continue reading The Front Page→
Bright Colors and Bold Patterns
Written and Performed by Drew Droege
Directed by Michael Urie
Barrow Street Theatre
December 23, 2016 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
I am in Palm Springs for a wedding of someone I have only heard of. I am in my mid-twenties and in the prime of my life. An older man – I guess we can call him my boyfriend – brought me along because every party needs some eye candy. I have no interest in attending the wedding, but I am digging the attention I am getting floating around this pool in my impressive tan and speedo. [Okay, this is not me – not me now, not me then, and regretfully, not me ever.] Continue reading Bright Colors and Bold Patterns→
A Life
Written by Jordan Seavey
Directed by Mike Donahue
Labyrinth Theatre company
November 25, 2016 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
I have walked into many, many theatre and have seen directors play with small and big spaces, with water and light, with benches and bleachers, with rocking chairs and grass terracing. I have sat in circles and squares, been inside and outside of the playing area – – but have never walked into a theatre in this configuration. The room was VERY small – perhaps only 300 square feet. There were raw wood platforms haphazardly placed around poles, furnace flumes and supporting walls. THERE WAS NO STAGE. Continue reading Homos or Everyone in America→
Falsettos
Music and lyrics by William Finn
Book by William Finn and James Lapine
Directed by James Lapine
Manhattan Theatre Club
October 14, 2016 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
I have been looking forward to seeing this play since I was a wee high school lad and SO excited to see a musical about an actual gay couple. I must have listened to the soundtrack a thousand times in college. Continue reading Falsettos→
The Layover
Written by Leslye Headland
Directed by Trip Cullman
Second Stage Theatre
September 2, 2016 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
This play was so downright wonderful in its first half. I was so worried that the cliche of two lost souls picking each other up while on a layover between cancelled flights was going to be too much. What was so wonderful was that the hustle here was so original, clever and fresh. I was kept glued to the stage as a bit of a referreee watching each of the partners score points with each other only to loose them with the next reference. They were beautifully imperfect but clever. You just never knew if they were going to get their joint act together and get some action for the night! Continue reading The Layover→
The Front Page
The Layover