The Stakeout Written by Martin Dockery Directed by Vanessa Quesnelle Fringe Encore Series Soho Playhouse December 23, 2022 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
I adore Fringe Festivals. No matter the city or the country they pop-up in, they are always the best and worst of theatre – often in the same evening. The Stakeout was really sharp. I was worried at the beginning with the cliche “actors sitting on the stage already in character before we arrive but that can be overlooked. The play was a most clever blending of Waiting for Godot and a family drama about an estranged father and son.
A Christmas Carol From Charles Dickens Adapted by Jefferson Mays, Susan Lyons, and Michael Arden Directed by Michael Arden Nederlander Theatre December 23, 2022 Production website 💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
There is no better prep for the holidays than a good ‘ol go with Christmas Carol – and this is the best you will see in a good long time. Jefferson Mays rules the stage as the only actor for this 90 minute tour de forte. It is no wonder that he can hold the story and all of its moments and all of its characters. He proved that previously in his Tony awarded I Am My Own Wife. What was great here was to see Jefferson’s ability to snap and slide into all of the characters – – often holding conversations with himself – – each with a different vocal and physical choice.
I Wanna F*ck Like Romeo and Juliet Written by Andrew Rincon Directed by Jesse Joe Jamie Lloyd Company at A New Light Theatre Project 59E59 Theatre October 22, 2022 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
Okay the “F” word, especially spelled out in asterisks, caught my attention and even encouraged me to buy tickets just to see something “bad” – because sometimes a show can be so bad that it is irresistible – granted sometimes you are doing more laughing “at it” rather than “with it”. And the show did start off quite badly. It was way too campy and played way too “bigly” for the very small theatre. Cliches of Cupid and St. Valentine were neither believable or funny.
KPOP Book by Jason Kim Music and Lyrics by Helen Park and Max Vernon Choreography by Jennifer Weber Directed by Teddy Bergman Circle in the Square Theatre October 21, 2022 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
I really did like this musical. You really had to appreciate all of the earnest commitment from everyone on stage. It did feel a bit that they were a bit nervous about their audience- – doubting a long run for this show – and were going to give it their all until the doors are closed. KPOP is truly a wonderful, fun, sexy dance style that energizes the audience like few other dance styles. The show had some incredible dance sets. I wished, in fact, that they had just stuck to the dances and not tried so hard to make it a piece of musical theatre with a “book” behind it.
Cyrano de Bergerac Written by Edmond Rostand in a new version by Martin Crimp Directed by Jamie Lloyd Jamie Lloyd Company at Brooklyn Academy of Music April 5, 2022 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
This was a rough night in the theatre. I knew coming from London and play at BAM meant it was going to be experimental and an unorthodox treatment of Cyrano, but I had no idea how bad it would go. The set was a simple beige box – top, bottom and sides – nothing else. There were five orange classroom chairs and a few corded mics. That was it. The costumes were coveralls, jeans and other clothing you might see on the street. Minimalist – I get it – No problem. The beauty was going to be in the language – nice choice . . .I thought.
