Smiley
Written by Guillem Clua
Directed by Ismanuel Rodriguez
Repertorio Español
June 28, 2019 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
I was a bit worried when I bought tickets to RepertorioEspanol’s production of Smiley.After all, it was all in Spanish and beyond a few niceties, Spanish is all Greek to me.Two things swayed my opinion though.They offered live subtitles above the proscenium, much like an Italian opera AND the play was brought out in the press as one of the most interesting offerings for World Pride Month.I took a chance andwent.It was so damn fun and interesting.Continue reading Smiley→
The Happy Sad: We Need to Talk
Written by Ken Urban
Directed by McKenna Perry
The Producer’s Club and Applecor
June 27, 2019 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
Warning:Whis will be a bit bias of a review in that one of my prized former students is part of this eager young group of actors working to stage this play in a tee tiny theatre.It was just such a joy to see him and really, such a wonderful time just experiencing the story.
The Happy Sad is all about being a twenty-something and facing the dating world of New York City.Most of the show is about trying to find your label or your definition when it comes to dating.Are you gay, straight or bi?Are you interested in an open relationship?What really is an open relationship?Does race or age play into the formula? Continue reading The Happy Sad: We Need to Talk→
Life Sucks
Written by Aaron Posner
Directed by Jeff Wise
Theatre Row – Acorn Theatre
June 23, 2019 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
Life Sucks – totally sucked in the first 10 minutes but then moment by moment totally become one of my most memorable plays of the summer.Life Sucks is “sort of adapted from ‘Uncle Vanya,’” as playwright, Mr. Posner puts it. (He had already gone to the Chekhov well three years ago with his well-received “Stupid _____ Bird,” based loosely on The Seagull. Here in Uncle Vanya land, the forlorn Vanya still shares a home with the plain Sonia but now we appear to be in the United States since there is talk of student loans and American money.Both Vanya and the brooding Dr. Aster still pine for Sonia’s stepmother, Ella. Continue reading Life Sucks→
Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Written by Taylor Mac
Directed by George C. Wolfe
Booth Theatre
June 12, 2019 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
I love this short gross, over-the-top mess of a play.The idea of tacking on a coda to Titus Andronicus, one of Shakespeare’s bloodiest plays is really novel and compelling.When the curtain comes up and you see a pile of life-size puppet bodies piled up to the top of the proscenium arch, you know that you are not going to be in for a subtle evening at the theatre! Continue reading Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus→
The Play That Goes Wrong
Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields
Directed by Matt Dicarlo
New World Stages
June 10, 2019 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
I have seen this play now for the third and, hopefully, the very last time.The only fun left for me in this production was the joy of taking 16 young students who had never experienced the story.I almost wished that my seat had faced them and not the stage.I am sure that would been a worthy show.
I have little to say about the play that I haven’t said before:
Once you see a farce this many times it comes down to the mechanics and not to the joy.Please do see it.It is a brilliant play – but I am going to have to say “no” – been there and seen that.
Smiley
