Prayer for the French Republic written by Joshua Harmon Directed by David Cromer Manhattan Theatre Club February 13, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
In 1791 France became the FIRST European country to fully free its Jewish population, and for the for more than 200 years, French rabbis spoke a special sabbath benediction: “may France enjoy lasting peace, and preserve her glorious rank among the nations”. For centuries, Jewish identity in France, despite periodic waves of hate crimes, has been tightly linked to the state but in Prayers for the French Republic that contract shows signs of strain. In the first moment of the play, the son who insists on wearing a yarmulke to his school, enters the home, badly beating, having been accosted by an anti-Semitic group of men on his way home.
Jonah written by Rachel Bonds Directed by Danya Taymor Roundabout Theatre Company/Laura Pels Theatre February 2, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
Jonah is a quiet, frightening play that covers familiar territory for contemporary theatre with a new and rather fresh approach. Jonah tells the story of Ana who is leading multiple story lines on stage. In one story line, she is a college student that is striking up a beautifully innocent and simple relationship with Jonah – a relationship almost too simple and beautiful to believe that it is actually true. Then 30 minutes into the play we are introduced into another world for Ana in which she is the stepchild of a highly abusive stepdad that regularly and increasingly terrorizes her step- brother. These scenes get more and more brutal until incest and suicide raise their ugly heads.
Poor Yella Rednecks Written by Qui Nguyen Directed by May Adrales Manhattan Theatre Club December 2, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
Poor Yella Rednecks was best captured by a review that summarized it by calling it a “merry mashup of hip-hop, pop culture, cursing and kung fu.’ Yep, that just about sums it up – and really it was little more – and it could have been SO much more. Basically, it tells the story of a Vietnamese family that has been transplanted to the deep south of the United States to eke out a life in a world that doesn’t understand them and clearly dislikes them. Inside this insular family, there is a marriage that is in trouble due to the man being still in a marriage to a woman with two of his children back in Vietnam and pursuing a current love interest with a Vietnamese woman in the States. Most importantly, the Vietnamese woman in the deep south must decide if she is going to spend time with the man who has such a past. Add to this projections and rap music and comic kung fu scenes with puppetry, and lots of other added fun things and you pretty much got the whole play. Metaphorically the play seemed to be a lot of frosting without much attention to the cake.
The Gardens of Anuncia A New Musical by Michael John LaChiusa Directed and Co-Choreographed by Graciela Daniele Lincoln Center Theater at the Mitzi E. Newhouse December 1, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
The Gardens of Anuncia is an ode and celebration of the brilliant choreographer and director Graciela Daniela. It is perfectly staged at Lincoln Center – in that she was, at one time, the Director in Residence for the Lincoln Center Theater. Danielle has directed in choreographed eight shows on the stage – – this being her ninth. Her career is that of a theater legend. From her childhood as a baby ballerina in Buenos Aires to working as Bob Fosse dance, captain and Michael Bennett’s assistant to a collection numerous awards, and Tony Award nominations.
The Book of Mormon (seeing it a second time) Book Music and Lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone Choreography by Casey Nicholaw Directed by Casey Nicholas and Trey Parker Eugene O’Neill Theatre September 12, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
This was my second time seeing this show – – but this time almost a decade separated my first time seeing the show and my recent visit. As I recall, the first visit, this musical was so naughty, edgy, and avant guard. My how times have changed. Now, some ten years later, it has joined the ranks of other “tourist shows” with its tables of “merch” sold in the lobby. It’s “nastiness” now is handled with no more than a small reminder on the ticketing site that it does contact some adult language. What I noticed with this recent version is how much the production has missed Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells.
