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
💉💉💉 out of 5.
I have seen this play now for the third and, hopefully, the very last time.The only fun left for me in this production was the joy of taking 16 young students who had never experienced the story.I almost wished that my seat had faced them and not the stage.I am sure that would been a worthy show.
I have little to say about the play that I haven’t said before:
Once you see a farce this many times it comes down to the mechanics and not to the joy.Please do see it.It is a brilliant play – but I am going to have to say “no” – been there and seen that.
The Ferryman
Written by Jez Butterworth
Directed by Sam Mendes
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
June 9, 2019 Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.
Ferryman
I love Irish theatre.I love the grit and passion they bring to the story.I love good ghost stories and the Irish know some pretty amazing ghost stories.I love how so many of these Irish tales are about trying to make amends for an often unimaginable harm done in the past or an intense interest in passing family history on to the next generation.This is what makes Irish literature such fun in the theatre. Continue reading The Ferryman→
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
💉💉💉 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!Here in Bees, the music was just breathtaking.You had great music, great lyrics sung by some of the best vocalists theatre has working right now.It was so moving to listen to. Continue reading The Secret Life of Bees→
The Prom
Book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin
Music by Matthew Sklar
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Longacre Theatre
June 8, 2019 Production website
💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
This show is “enough” is the best possible way.It has enough humor, enough dance, enough music, enough laughs, and enough of a message.It is the best time I have had watching a good ol’ musical comedy in years.It is damm near perfect.If felt like the writer of the book and director watched this show very carefully and made sure that everything was in the right portion.I was worried that since it is about “show people” it was all going to be uncomfortably over the top – but, again it was just perfect.The silliness and making fun of itself was just right. Continue reading The Prom→
Hillary and Clinton
Written by Lucas Hnath
Directed by Joe Mantello
Golden Theatre
June 8, 2019 Production website
💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Laurie Metcalf rules Broadway in the summer.One year Three Tall Women, one year Doll’s House Part 2, this year Lucas Hnath’s Hillary and Clinton – and a possible next summer with a Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf.And each one just keeps getting better and better.In way of thinking what makes Laurie Metcalf so wonderful on stage is the great ease she brings to her work.You sense no effort on her part.She is not obviously working.She is simply talking, reading and being with her partner – there is no artifice here.
The Play That Goes Wrong
