Mary Jane by Amy Herzog Directed by Anne Kauffman Manhattan Theatre Club June 4, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
I think I way be developing a cold, cold heart. After watching The Notebook and feeling less then moved at the conclusion and now leaving the theatre of Mary Jane with the same blank feeling I am worried. The play Mary Jane tells the story of Mary Jane as she struggles through the mundane and unimaginable struggles of a mother caring for her chronically ill son, Alex. Along the way she is helped by a community of women from many walks of life including her building superintendent, visiting nurse, attending physical, fellow grieving patient – and even a music therapist.
Sally and Tom by Suzan-Lori Parks Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III Public Theatre June 2, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
Sally and Tom
This play was a slow burn for me. It took me a good long time to see the value of the play and to start to care about the characters but thankfully, near the end of the first act I was hooked in. The story of Sally and Tom focuses on a group of actors playing members of Good Company, a ragtag theatre company putting on a show called The Pursuit of Happiness, written by Luce, who also plays Sally (the 14 year old slave owned and impregnated several times by President Jefferson), and directed by her white romantic and creative partner Mike. He is playing the man they refer to as TJ (President Thomas Jefferson).
Water for Elephants Book by Rick Elise Music and Lyrics by Pigpen Theatre Company Based on the novel by Sara Gruen Directed by Jessica Stone Imperial Theatre June 1, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
This show began with one of the most magical, energetic physical first acts that I can remember. The circus truly sprung into life. I learned more about the circus and had more fun in the theater than I have had in a while. Every transition, every movement of a piece of scenery or a prop, every curtain that had to move, became a wondrous physical event. I can’t remember the last time I saw the stage spectacle so alive.
Breaking the Story by Alexis Scheer Directed by Jo Bonney 2nd Stage at Tony Kiser Theater May 31, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Breaking the Story follows the character Marina, a war correspondent, about to receive a lifetime achievement award for her work shedding light on the darkest parts of humanity. She is playing with the idea of leaving her job for good to settle down with her former colleague-turned-lover — but she must reckon with the hold that war and her profession still have on her.
What Became of Us by Shayan Lotfi Directed by Jennifer Chang Atlantic Theatre May 30, 2024 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
What Became of Us was a very nice play. I wish that it had been more than just a nice play, but it really was just a nice play. The play told the story of two siblings, one born in their native country and one born in the US) as they each navigated their ties to both their birthplace, the United States and their relationships to their parents.
