TransMasculine Cabaret by Vulva Va-Voom NYC Theatre Fringe Festival at 14th Street Y April 13, 2024 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
This second slice of Fringe Theatre for the trip certainly worked better than the first. To begin, the artist actually cared and invested in their message and how it was being shared. The story told was of a performer dressed as a female preparing for a cabaret performance that slowly transforms into a performance as a “drag king”. Along the way the performer- they/them shares the journey that they have experienced as a trans performer and how they have been received both off and on stage. The play is wild and offensive, gross and caustic – all good things you expect from a fringe piece.
A Drag is Born Creator, Producer, & Performer Edu Diaz Directed by Rachel Resnik New York City Fringe – 14th Street Y April 13, 2024 Production website ☠ out of 5.
This was one of the WORST nights in the theatre that I have experienced in years! I realize there is an entirely different metric to be used in judging and enjoying fringe pieces – and I do love seeing fringe pieces and supporting new artists – but nothing can excuse this shit! The “story” that was only “attempted” was about a middle-aged man letting go of his masculinity and its trappings and letting his freak flag fly was a suitable story line for a fringe piece but nothing worked here.
Patriots by Peter Morgan Directed by Rupert Goold Ethel Barrymore Theatre April 12, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Simply brilliant! Patriots is everything a play should be: a smart play that gives causes you to think and feel – excites your imagination – is fun and clever – dangerous and radical – challenges your view of history – and causes you to think about your future! All that in 2 glorious hours. Set in 1991 as the Soviet Union is morphing into the new Russia, oligarchs are taking over the government and billionaire Boris Berezovsky (brilliantly, brilliantly played by Michael Stuhlbarg) looks to an unknown deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin (equally brilliantly played by Will Keen) to serve as the eventual successor to President Boris Yeltsin – Putin seems to be the perfect puppet to serve this king-maker – – or is he?
Titanique book by Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements by Nicholas Connell Directed by Tye Blue Daryl Roth Theatre April 9, 2024 Production website 💉 out of 5.
This piece was a TRUE let down! I came to the piece with high expectations and a handful of excellent recommendations from theatre friends and critics. Basically, Titanique is a spoof of the James Cameron movie in which Celine Dion re-writes the story with her as a participant and she sets out to poke fun at all of the classic scenes from the movie. It really could have been a workable premise for a fun evening but . . .
Messy White Gays a staged reading by Drew Droege The Fabulous Invalid Productions at the Soho Playhouse April 8, 2024 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
Tonight I saw a staged reading of Messy White Gays. I came into the piece with relatively low expectations knowing that I was going to see a lot of gay silliness on stage and hoping not to be to bothered by all the cliches and worn out stereotypes. But I was surprised. Messy White Gays provided a rather fresh take on a gay situation comedy and introduced some new themes of race awareness and polyamory in an engaging fashion. The story launches off quickly as an upscale gay couple are offing their mutual boyfriend for really nothing more then just being a bit of a bore.
