Junk
Written by Ayad Akhtar
Directed by Doug Hughes
Lincoln Center Theater
Vivian Beaumont
December 31, 2017
Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.

Usually my first criteria in looking at a play is to see if I cared for any of the characters on stage.  I want to be able to identify with at least someone and follow them through some struggles.  I want to see them suffer and learn/feel something from their suffering.  However in Junk, I could care less about any of the character on stage – and this play had well over a dozen characters on stage.  Usually that would be the end of the story for me when it comes to a play.  But Junk is different – Continue reading Junk →

The Pariasian Woman
Written by Bill Willimon
Directed by Pam McKinnon
Hudson Theatre
December 27, 2017
Production website
💉💉 out of 5.

Kill Bill does a bit of a political thriller – or so I thought. . . .  well, a bit more of Kill Bill would have helped.   The Parisian Woman is based 19th-century French farce by Henry Becque.  They obviously took this political farce and “updated” it with as many pseudo-Trump references as they could.  “Let’s say everything we can about Trump without saying his name.”  And clearly this was the response of the audience.  From “locker room talk” to “fake news”, the audience giggled with delight every time they could make the connection.  Continue reading The Pariasian Woman →

The Children
Written by Lucy Kirkwood
Directed by James Macdonald
Manhattan Theatre Club
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
December 26, 2017
Production website
💉💉 out of 5.

This is my kind of play – certainly that’s what I thought.  I was expecting some combination of a Martin McDonough’s blood and guts kind of a play with a bit of an intellectual warning of the dangers of atomic energy.  Some of that happened.  The idea is so provocative.  What would happen after a nuclear power plant had a problem and poisoned a community?   Who would go back into this danger zone to clean up and try to get the plant back on line – – because we certainly cannot do without that electricity and we certainly cannot explore any other more natural ways of making electricity.  Who should go back and clean up that plant? Continue reading The Children →

Farinelli and the King
Written Claire Van Kampen
Directed by John Dove
Belasco Theatre
December 23, 2017
Production website
💉💉💉💉 out of 5.

Mark Rylance rules the world!   AND for this particular production I was gifted with seats right on the stage.  It felt almost like being part of a private audience in some courtly manor.  This was going to be one of my favorite theatre memories in a long list of productions.

Mark Rylance – – There is no way he can be on stage without all eyes being riveted to his work.  It is hard to explain this stage charisma.  The best that I can explain it is that he is SO very present on stage that you really believe he has NO idea what is going to happen in the next moment.  He is like a small child playing in the now and hearing the words coming out of his mouth for the first time.  It is ALL discovery. Continue reading Farinelli and the King →

Hello Dolly!
Book by Michael Stewart
Musical and lyrics by Jerry Herman
Choreographed by Warren Carlyle
Directed by Jerry Zaks
Sam S. Shubert Theatre
June 24, 2017
Production website
💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.

I have seen Bette Midler in concert in her Las Vegas show, and last night I saw Bette Midler’s Hello Dolly – without Bette Midler.  I think this was the smartest choice to see this musical.  I have heard from my friends the Bette Midler as Dolly Levi was terrific.  She commanded the stage and you couldn’t take your eyes off of her.  I am sure that is true.  But I saw Donna Murphy as Dolly Levi and THAT was perfect for me. Continue reading Hello Dolly! →