The Boys in the Band
Written by Mart Crowley
Directed by Joe Mantello
BoothTheatre
August 1, 2018
Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.

I have always had a morbid fascination with cutters.  Who in their right mind would pick up a sharp object and stab themself in the arm or leg over and over?  Crazy.  I mean seriously crazy.  As best I can tell the cutter wants to FEEL something and to be the one in charge as to why and when it will be felt.  The ORIGINAL Boys in the Band that I saw decades ago felt like that.  Why would gay men put themself in such places of self-hatred and why would they continue to remind themselves how ugly and unloved they are- – – or at least were in this revival of the classic from the gay theatre of the 1970’s. Continue reading The Boys in the Band →

Mean Girls
Book by Tina Fey
Music by Jeff Richmond
Lyrics by Neil Benjamin
Directed and Choreographed by Case Nicholaw
August Wilson Theatre
June 14, 2018
Production website
💉💉 out of 5.

Mean Girls was a very loud show.  That is my professional opinion.  Done.  I  mean seriously folks  how loud do you have to mic a belt? This is going way beyond trying to balance the singer with the orchestra.  This is bringing the concert experience into the very small, intimate world of the theatre.  I thought it might be my age showing, but even the teenagers I was with claimed it was getting a bit painful. Continue reading Mean Girls →

Carousel
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Choreographed by Justin Peck
Directed by Jack O’Brien
Imperial Theatre
June 13, 2018
Production website
💉💉💉💉 out of 5.

Carousel is such a wonderful,  full meal of a musical.  What is wonderful about this production is that it both works to explore and embrace the darker side of this bad-boy-learning-his-lesson musical.  The director, Jack O’Brien is not afraid to go down a bit of a dangerous road with this musical.  Choreographer, Justin Peck fresh from the New York City Ballet, is truly remarkable – he creates a a blending of classical ballet and harsh, sharp masculine dancing. Continue reading Carousel →

Travesties
Written by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Patrick Marber
Roundabout: American Airlines Theatre
June 13, 2018
Production website
💉💉💉💉 out of 5.

You are going to get an awful lot when you attend an Wednesday evening seeing Travesties (especially when you see it as your second show of the day).  You are going to see a history lesson, farce, educational seminar, musical mixed with some highbrow intellectualism and some lowbrow silly fun and games.  It really does become a bit overwhelming.  l wished there was a remote on this show, and that I could pause and rewind many moments to figure out exactly what is happening and how exactly I am to feel about it – but forget that!  It is more like a roller coaster that, once out of the gate, stops for no one. Continue reading Travesties →

Once on This Island
Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Choreographed by Camille A. Brown
Directed by Michael Arden
Circle in the Square
June 11, 2018
Production website
💉💉💉💉 out of 5.

Romeo and Juliet lands on a tropical island complete with sand and water, roosters and trucks, trees and a diapered goat.  It was a lush and sensual evening in the theatre  – one has almost gotten their ticket’s worth of entertainment before the show starts – – its like being invited to a living set that breathes and trickles, bubbles and lives!  Continue reading Once on This Island →