Category Archives: Off-Broadway

Long Lost

Long Lost
Written by Donald Margulies
Directed by Daniel Sullivan
Manhattan Theatre Club
June 19, 2019
Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

I so felt like I was in a theatre, watching acting, experiencing a play and sitting next to a most aging audience – and that ain’t good folks. Β I was never transported away. Β It looked like a play, moved like a play, and made me question my love of plays. Continue reading Long Lost

The Play That Goes Wrong

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
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

I have seen this play now for the third and, hopefully, the very last time.Β  The only fun left for me in this production was the joy of taking 16 young students who had never experienced the story.Β  I almost wished that my seat had faced them and not the stage.Β  I am sure that would been a worthy show.

I have little to say about the play that I haven’t said before:

http://nyctheatreaddict.com/play-goes-wrong-2/

Once you see a farce this many times it comes down to the mechanics and not to the joy.Β  Please do see it.Β  It is a brilliant play – but I am going to have to say β€œno” – been there and seen that.

The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees
Book by Lynn Nottage
Music by Duncan Sheik
Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead
Based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd
Directed by Sam Gold
Atlantic Theater Company
June 9, 2019
Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

The Secret Life of Bees was another experiment in taking a wildly popular novel and adapting it for the stage – but more than a play, they worked to transform this into a musical!Β  Here in Bees, the music was just breathtaking.Β  You had great music, great lyrics sung by some of the best vocalists theatre has working right now.Β  It was so moving to listen to. Continue reading The Secret Life of Bees

Safeword

Safeword
Written by S. Asher Gelman
Directed by S. Asher Gelman
American Theatre of Actors
April 20, 2019
Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

If only this play needed a β€œsafe word”  But it clearly doesn’tΒ  The play here is strictly vanilla and actually not very interesting vanilla.Β  I do believe that our playwrights intention here was to introduce the average audience member to the world of bandage, domination, and sadomasochism – but what we get is more housewife with a cute whip.

The play starts out with a most provocative scene at the top of a set where a leather clad β€œdom” is abusing his willing victim.Β  That got everyone’s attention – but it never back to that powerful first image.Β  Sad when your best moment is the very first one of the show. Β  Continue reading Safeword

The Play That Goes Wrong

The Play That Goes Wrong
Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields
Directed by Matt Dicarlo
New World Stages
April 19, 2019
Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

The Play That Goes Wrong just keeps on going strong. Β This zany, wonderful farce had a long full life on Broadway and has recently been planted at New World Stage for one last blast of life before heading out on the road to tour. Β I was fortunate to see the production in the first few weeks on Broadway and was eager to see what had happened to it – with the necessity of greatly shrinking everything about the show. Β Here is my take on seeing the show on Broadway: The Play That Goes WrongΒ 

Continue reading The Play That Goes Wrong