Dark Noon by Peter Morgan Written & Directed by Tue Biering Co-Directed & Choreographed by Nhlanhla Mahlangu St. Ann’s Warehouse June 7, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Experimental theatre can be a real risk. It can either be the best of theatre or the kind of theatre that makes you want to chew your arm off to escape the trap of sitting there having to endure another hour of watching it. Dark Noon was the very BEST of experimental theatre. This group of South African actors (one white male, one black female, and the remainder black males) created a piece that set out to tell the history of white America from the founding of the country through the end of the Gold Rush and the Wild West.
Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen a new version by Amy Herzog Directed by Sam Gold Circle in the Square Theatre June 6, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Enemy of the People was a lean, mean fighting machine of a play. This new version of the play as edited by Amy Herzog resembles her production of last season’s Doll’s House in that it is a stripped down production that gets to the heart of the story in the fewest steps needed. All of the window dressing is gone. The play uses the full theater-in-the-round experience that Circle in the Square can uniquely provide so you really feel close to the action itself. Of course, you do have the problem of the actors turning their back to you at times and the occasional chandelier that is in your line of sight, (I swear, I wanted to climb on stage and take that chandelier down, but . . . ) but this is a very small price to pay for this front row opportunity to see this drama.
Illinoise Music and lyrics by Sufjan Stevens Book by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury Directed and Choreographed by Justin Peck Ethel Barrymore Theatre June 5, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Illinois IS the perfect solution to the jukebox musical. Although Illinois is based on the popular album Illinois by Sufjan Stevens this this time the album to live production works and works MAGICALLY and PERFECTLY. The central plot follows Henry as he leaves his boyfriend to join a community of storytellers somewhere in the woods of Illinois.
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).
