Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Written by Taylor Mac
Directed by George C. Wolfe
Booth Theatre
June 12, 2019
Production website
💉💉💉 out of 5.

I love this short gross, over-the-top mess of a play.  The idea of tacking on a coda to Titus Andronicus, one of Shakespeare’s bloodiest plays is really novel and compelling.  When the curtain comes up and you see a pile of life-size puppet bodies piled up to the top of the proscenium arch, you know that you are not going to be in for a subtle evening at the theatre!  

Granted the story isn’t much – and the effort to make Gary into a modern tale of morality and draw connections to a Trump-like world fall flat and seem inserted after the fact – but who cares!  This play is more of a masterclass in comedy and for this it wins.  The fun they have with oversize phalluses, farts, blood, and goo more then make the 90 minutes worth it.  The combination of Julie White, Nathan Lane and Kristine Nielsen are truly brilliant.  They can take you down the cheapest, tawdry, sophomoric humor with great art.  They make fart jokes work and work and work again.  If you are willing to accept cheap comedy you will find it served by master chefs.  

Who could object to a chorus line of Roman soldiers working a kick line while their giant sown-on penises are flopping into the air.    Does theatre always have to be high brow?  Really?  I think not!