The Cottage Written by Sandy Rustin Directed by Jason Alexander The Helen Hayes Theater July 13, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
The Cottage was a simply fabulous evening in the theater. It has been a long time since I have seen a full-fledged farce in New York City. Everything about this show worked. The set was gorgeous and more than gorgeous, it had many fun farcical features that the cast exploited every moment that they could. For example almost every prop on stage became a cigarette lighter – – every single item. The casting was right on point. Eric McCormack and Laura Bell Bundy made for a perfect couple to spar back and forth – – – and every supporting actor down to the very smallest role all made a wonderful contribution to the story.
Grey House Written by Levi Holloway Directed by Joe Mantello Lyceum Theatre July 8, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Grey House is a terrific play. I had the most interesting first moment of a play ever. At what you presume is a realist world with a realistic set, and just as this crazy girl was crossing over to the kitchen, I saw a kitchen drawer open and close by itself. I thought was that an accident on stage because it was so small. Was I the only one who caught it? That made me curious. But the play only got more curiouser and curiouser as it went on. The premise of the play is straightforward. It involves a young couple out on the road, almost missing a deer, and needing to find shelter in a snowstorm. That part is clear. But from there, it’s anyone’s guess.
Lehman Trilogy Written by Stefano Massine Adapted by Ben Power Directed by Sam Mendes Nederlander Theatre January 1, 2022 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
This was simply perfect! It was a true story; an important story and told with the utmost economy of language, movement, and scenic support. The story of the Lehman’s is a story of American industry and wealth. The story starts with the great immigration from Europe, takes us through cotton and the anti-bellum South. It leads us through Civil War and its aftermath. Soon after, they create the middleman -the man who has nothing – but makes the connection between the creator and the buyer. It moves us from the fields to the city – New York City – – as the stock market is invented and creates new wealth and the sees the birth of the railroad, television, and even computers – finally addressing the ultimate wealth maker: the ability to convince people to spend money they don’t have on things that they do not need. Perfect wealth! The Lehman brothers also dealt poignantly with the stock market crash of the 29 and the market reset in the 1980’s. All this while telling the story of three very Orthodox Jews who work to maintain their beliefs in a world that constantly challenges faith.
Dana H Written by Lucas Hnayh Directed by Les Waters Lyceum Theatre October 15, 2021 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
This play took me on an amazing journey. On its surface, it is a true-life experience of a woman from Florida who works as a chaplain for a hospice. One day she is asked to tend to a prisoner who has tried multiple times to kill himself. As she visits him, she is drawn into his web of charm and threats – – so much so that he is soon able to abduct her and take her on the road with him traveling throughout Florida and neighboring states on a rampage of killings, bombings and fights. And, as member of the Arian Nation there is no shortage of evil to be done. Throughout the story the audience asks how is this man able to keep the woman from escaping. She tries but is often denied protection from police.
Pass Over Written by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu Directed by Dana Taymor August Wilson Theatre October 10, 2021 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5
This play was perfection. There was not a single word or gesture that was extraneous. Visually the play made sense on the bare stage to a stage full of smoke and affects. Very seldom have been so moved by a play.
In many ways Pass Over uses the play, Waiting for Godot and applies this story and its absurdist rules to an urban black culture. Gogo and Didi have been replaced with Moses and Kitch. The bare stage with a single tree has been replaced with a concrete median with a single imposing streetlight. Even the classic bowler hats of the hobos Gogo and Didi are replaced by baseball caps that become treasured props to them. I could go on and on with the comparisons and revaluations made in seeing Godot through this new lense – it was brilliant.
