Category Archives: Off-Broadway

Good

005787E756Good
PTP/NYC
Atlantic Stage 2
Written by C.P. Taylor
Directed by Richard Jim Petosa
Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

Good by C.P. Taylor is a wonderful exploration into justification taken to its extreme. Set against World War II, John Halder, a German college professor is played upon to leave his family and cozy teaching job and join the Nazi party. The play is wildly theatrical as Hitler dances himself in and out of this semi-expressionistic play. John’s mother cries to go the bathroom over and over. John’s wife moans and moans with self-pity. John’s life is clearly and literally going to hell. Continue reading Good

Privacy

Privacy The Public Theater PRIVACY A New Play Created by James Graham & Josie Rourke Written by James Graham Directed by Josie Rourke In a co-production with the Donmar Warehouse Scenic Design by Lucy Osborne Costume Design by Paul Tazewell Lighting Design by Richard Howell Sound Design by Lindsay Jones Projection Design by Duncan McLean Original Music by Michael Bruce Featuring De’Adre Aziza, Raffi Barsoumian, Michael Countryman, Rachel Dratch, Daniel Radcliffe, Reg Rogers

Privacy
Created by James Graham & Josie Rourke
Written by James Graham
Dircted by Josie Rourke
Starring Daniel Radcliffe
The Public Theatre in association with Donmar Warehouse
July 20, 2016

Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

My mind is blown. What the hell just happened? It was a technological β€œtake me to church” experience.

Example: Take out your cell phone. Do it now! Open Google. In the search box type only the following – and do not hit enter. β€œIS IT WRONG TO”. What you will see is a half a dozen possibilities that Google is assuming that you want to see. But how is this assumption made? Hum? It has been watching and recording every single thing that you have done on your phone and – – it knows. It knows. Continue reading Privacy

No End to Blame

no_end_of_blameNo End to Blame: Scenes of Overcoming
PTP/NYC [Potomac Theatre Project]
Atlantic Stage 2
Written by Howard Baker
Directed by Richard Romagnoli

Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

God it is great to see a good play with actors that work WITH each other and CARE, CARE, CARE about what they are saying. No End to Blame is that play. After a string of weak plays, I was thrilled. I kicked off my shoes, curled up in my seat, and β€œwillingly suspended my disbelief.” Continue reading No End to Blame

2 by Tennessee Williams

TW_website image2 by Tennessee Williams
by Tennessee Williams
starring Katheryn Luce Garfunkel
directed by Marilyn Fried
St. Lukes Theatre
July 17, 2016
Production website

πŸ’‰ out of 5.

I am caught in a vortex of bad theatre. I am rethinking my whole idea of checking tdf.com for discount tickets. β€œYou get what you pay for.” >> I am truly learning it this week! Β The motivator to see this production was that I have taught the one act plays that are part of the collection of Tennessee Williams one act anthology, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton for over 20 years. It is my favorite group of short plays that teach good sound playwriting structure. The kids do NOT think they will love these β€œold” plays – but after a bit of study – they love them. I was excited to see these seldom done gems by pros! Continue reading 2 by Tennessee Williams

Incognito

IncognitoIncognito
written by Nick Payne
directed by Doug Hughes
Manhattan Theatre Club
June 26, 2016
Production website

πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

I need to apologize to all upfront – I had trouble being attentive to this story. Rack it up to age or the being the 15th show in a week – but some of this story just slid on by me. Β Β The brain is no easy story – and this play is all about the brain. (I found it ironic that my first play on this trip to NYC was The Effect and my last show of this trip was Incognito: one trying to medicate the brain and the other walking around and taunting it. Continue reading Incognito