Patriots by Peter Morgan Directed by Rupert Goold Ethel Barrymore Theatre April 12, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Simply brilliant! Patriots is everything a play should be: a smart play that gives causes you to think and feel – excites your imagination – is fun and clever – dangerous and radical – challenges your view of history – and causes you to think about your future! All that in 2 glorious hours. Set in 1991 as the Soviet Union is morphing into the new Russia, oligarchs are taking over the government and billionaire Boris Berezovsky (brilliantly, brilliantly played by Michael Stuhlbarg) looks to an unknown deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin (equally brilliantly played by Will Keen) to serve as the eventual successor to President Boris Yeltsin – Putin seems to be the perfect puppet to serve this king-maker – – or is he?
Titanique book by Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements by Nicholas Connell Directed by Tye Blue Daryl Roth Theatre April 9, 2024 Production website 💉 out of 5.
This piece was a TRUE let down! I came to the piece with high expectations and a handful of excellent recommendations from theatre friends and critics. Basically, Titanique is a spoof of the James Cameron movie in which Celine Dion re-writes the story with her as a participant and she sets out to poke fun at all of the classic scenes from the movie. It really could have been a workable premise for a fun evening but . . .
Messy White Gays a staged reading by Drew Droege The Fabulous Invalid Productions at the Soho Playhouse April 8, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
Tonight I saw a staged reading of Messy White Gays. I came into the piece with relatively low expectations knowing that I was going to see a lot of gay silliness on stage and hoping not to be to bothered by all the cliches and worn out stereotypes. But I was surprised. Messy White Gays provided a rather fresh take on a gay situation comedy and introduced some new themes of race awareness and polyamory in an engaging fashion. The story launches off quickly as an upscale gay couple are offing their mutual boyfriend for really nothing more then just being a bit of a bore.
Created by 600 Highwaymen for Talking Band Featuring Ellen Maddox & Paul Zimit Perelman Performing Arts Center February 16, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
The Following Evening was a piece of theatre history and theatre magic. Theatre legends were working alongside the cutting edge of theatre present. The production was created by 600 Highwaymen – one of perhaps the most exciting experimental theatre companies in the world stage today. Highwaymen (Abigail Browde & Michael Silverstone) have been making performances since 2009. Their work – which blends theater, dance, contemporary performance, and civic encounters – illuminates the magic and potential of people coming together.
Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Directed by Lila Neugebauer 2nd Stage Theatre at Helen Hayes Theater February 15, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
Appropriate was a very difficult play to sit through- particularly the first act. I cannot remember the last play that I have seen in which there was so much yelling and non-stop, unrelenting anger. From the first moment to the Act 1 curtain, every single character was raging about something. And the problem when everything is yelled out – nothing is angry – and where do you go from there. We, the audience, take yelling as the norm so when you really DO want to yell or highlight and attack we don’t even notice it – you have already used that ammunition. Granted, Sara Paulson is a truly gifted actress and a powerhouse on stage. She has a charisma on stage that is very rare – but even she became a leader in the anger campaign and spent Act 1, and, unfortunately, most of Act 2 angry and yelling away.
