Saw the Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw Written by Zoe Ann Jordon Music and Lyrics by Patrick Spencer & Anthony De Angelis Directed by Stephanie Rosenberg AMT Theatre September 17, 2023 Production website NO 💉 out of 5. ☠ TOTAL POISON
This was, without question, THE VERY WORST PLAY/MUSICAL that I have EVER seen in NYC. It was a torture unlike any torture that the Saw movie franchise could have ever devised. Here are just 10 of the reasons sitting in this musical made me want to “saw” my arm off and run to the streets of NYC shouting, “Free at last! Thank God; Free at last.”
20 Seconds – a play with music Written and Performed by Thomas Sweater Directed and Developed by Jeremy Scott Blaustein The Pershing Square Signature Center September 14, 2023 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
This is a really tough play to review because the heart of the play is so true, so heartfelt and so important but the stage mechanics of it were so clunky. Clearly this work of love, resilience, and the undeniable “power of music to make real change in a persons’ life” belongs on the stage, but it could have used some better dramaturgy. Tomas Sweater’s autobiographical work leads us from his trouble childhood where music provided companionship to a career as a music therapist.
The Book of Mormon (seeing it a second time) Book Music and Lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone Choreography by Casey Nicholaw Directed by Casey Nicholas and Trey Parker Eugene O’Neill Theatre September 12, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
This was my second time seeing this show – – but this time almost a decade separated my first time seeing the show and my recent visit. As I recall, the first visit, this musical was so naughty, edgy, and avant guard. My how times have changed. Now, some ten years later, it has joined the ranks of other “tourist shows” with its tables of “merch” sold in the lobby. It’s “nastiness” now is handled with no more than a small reminder on the ticketing site that it does contact some adult language. What I noticed with this recent version is how much the production has missed Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells.
The Cottage (seeing it a second time) Written by Sandy Rustin Directed by Jason Alexander The Helen Hayes Theater September 10, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
When I first saw The Cottage, is was an incredible overflowing farce with joy in every moment. This time through the light was a bit dimmer. I am not sure if it was because it was my second time through or if it was more to do with the show. My guess is that after a few dozen performances between my two showings – – they worked out all of their funny moments and knew which ones work without effort and which ones they have to work more.
The Half-God of Rainfall Written by Inua Ellams Movement Direction by Orlando Pabotoy Directed by Taibi Nagar New York Theatre Workshop July 15, 2023 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
The Half God of Rain was a mighty interesting show to see. It is not often you get to see a story about the Greek gods’ intervention in the life of a Nigerian basketball player . . . I was lucky to see it on only its second preview performance, so the cast was discovering things right along with the audience. I did have a couple of observations of the show. To begin the play was set in a stage filled with small black gravel. I thought this was a terrific idea as soon as the cast came out at the beginning and started to walk out in unison you could hear the crunch of the gravel beneath them. It was wonderful sound effect. I only wish that they had used this gravel more often during the show it was such a spectacular possibility for the show I just wanted them to exploit it further.
