Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Written by Terrence McNally
Directed by Rain Arbus
Broadhurst Theatre
June 6, 2019 Production website
πππππ out of 5.
It is an accomplishment to make a two-handed play like Frankie and Johnny work on the big stage on Broadway.Β But of course, when you have the rough, masculine and unique Michael Shannon, who can do anything, and Audra McDonald, who can do anything while looking gorgeous – – anything is possible.Β Continue reading Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune→
King Lear
Starring Glenda Jackson
Written by William Shakespeare
Music by Philip Glass
Directed by Sam Gold
Cort Theatre
March 11, 2019 Production website
πππ out of 5.
This is a major chew for an audience. Β For a crowd that is going to the theatre expecting all to be would up in a 90 minute intermission-less night, Lear coming in at almost three hours and thirty minutes is a test. Β Of course to see the incandescent Glenda Jackson take on this role of lifetime at the age of 82 is worth the wait!
American Son
Written by Christopher Demos-Brown
Directed by Kenny Leon
Starring Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale
Booth Theatre
January 3, 2019 Production website
πππππ out of 5.
This was by FAR the best play that I have seen in many months.Β In only about 75 tight moments on stage this play prepares you for a kick in the gut that my entire row in the theatre AUDIBLE recoiled at the playβs conclusion.Β It started with a slow wind-up as the mother (Kerry Washington) paces around the stage in complete agitated silence checking her cell phone again and again.Β It seems like forever.Β The lady next to me actually thought someone had forgotten to enter.Β But the pain of the wait was oh so necessary. Continue reading American Son→
Choir Boy
Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Directed by Trip Cullman
Manhattan Theatre Club
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
January 1, 2019 Production website
ππππ out of 5.
I loved this play, and I NEVER realized the power of gospel music in igniting passion and brining an audience in.Β Choir Boy centers on the tensions in a prestigious prep school for African American boys when a flamboyantly gay youth is named leader of their celebrated gospel choir.Β Essentially is a coming-of-age story for a gay student surviving and thriving in a mostly straight prep school with the strongest and most stringent of values to create βethical black men.βΒ Continue reading Choir Boy→
Mike Birbiglia’s The New One
Written and performed by Mike Birbiglia
Directed by Seth Barrish
Cort Theatre
December 23, 2018 Production website
ππππ out of 5.
How does a successful stand-up comedian who has spent a life traveling through the midwest in townβs where βeverything centers on the action at the local Applebeesβ translate to the Great White Way?Β How can one man fill he stage when he is used to filling a few square yards of staging shoved in the corner of some bar pushing a two drink minimum? Β Β Mike Birbiglia is how you do it!