tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155528062011-11-29T20:13:26.746-05:00<b>An Insightful Look at What's Happening on The New York Stage</b><p><i>THEATER TALK</i> has enlisted a group of up-and-coming, young theater professionals to see and review some of the latest stage productions in New York City.</p>New Theater Corpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11642889837181693705noreply@blogger.comBlogger9811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-48215972245544705352010-05-14T00:42:00.014-04:002010-05-14T01:23:09.649-04:00

Theater Ten Ten promises “an alluring Elizabethan/Moroccan flavored production” but delivers a greatly traditional, albeit thoroughly enjoyable, rendition of the Bard’s beloved comedy. <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face

Di Jayawickremahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02634215546867272666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-52727021374526553862010-04-29T14:00:00.006-04:002010-04-29T14:35:55.094-04:00

"Should I stay or should I go now?" the Clash so memorably asked. The answer is clear for the characters in this play: Leave and never come back.Emily tries to stall Max for some reason.Reviewed by Ryan MaxPoor Max has had a rough time of it recently: his adulterous wife left him on account of his heroin habit, and his sister Emily keeps guilt-tripping him for not visiting their late mother in

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-83263362169982509722010-04-23T23:38:00.004-04:002010-04-23T23:51:47.859-04:00

In the whiskey-swigging, boot-stomping rock musical Bloodsong of Love, Joe Iconis puts a new spin on the classic Spaghetti-Western formula. The villain plays a mean kazoo, a one-eyed bartender’s poor aim impedes a saloon shootout, and the hero roams the Wild West with a guitar on his back and a song in his heart.Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisIt begins with searing guitar chords, pulsating drums,

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-43483728696480925312010-04-16T19:13:00.005-04:002010-04-16T19:29:31.357-04:00

Nicu’s Spoon’s revival of Margaret Edson’s 1999 Pulitzer Prize winning play is certainly full of wit—but better than that, it’s hilarious, heartrending, and profoundly haunting. You feel its impact long after you leave the theater. Reviewed by Di Jayawickrema“I don’t want to give away the plot…but I think I die at the end,” comes the inflexibly dry announcement of Vivian Bearing, bald, clad in a

Di Jayawickremahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02634215546867272666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-45051890886928356252010-03-31T22:07:00.006-04:002010-03-31T22:53:34.949-04:00

Photo by Melynda Woodward Reviewed by Di Jayawickrema <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman;

Di Jayawickremahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02634215546867272666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-22103922710855217982010-03-23T15:08:00.004-04:002010-03-23T15:11:49.058-04:00

The seven maladjusted middle-aged men of Matthew Freeman’s Glee Club all like to sing, but that’s about all they agree on. Will their agonizing pain and off-color humor drive them apart, or bring them together?Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisThe heroes of Matthew Freeman’s Glee Club may be singing barbershop music, but as the dark comedy quickly establishes, they’re far from in perfect harmony. These

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-85685840055362162012010-03-18T18:15:00.004-04:002010-03-19T07:23:07.022-04:00

T. Schreiber Studio produces a new revival of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, adapted by Carol Rocamora. Though by no means terrible, the production lacks strong acting. Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeRevivals are tricky business for lazy actors. Audiences—especially those at T. Schreiber Studio—are likely to have seen some version of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard before (though perhaps not

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-44042502498528530432010-03-06T15:42:00.001-05:002010-03-06T15:50:36.926-05:00

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Di Jayawickremahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02634215546867272666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-29139709464302683712010-03-05T22:38:00.003-05:002010-03-08T14:08:10.073-05:00

Photo by Rebecca Chiappone Reviewed by Amanda Halkiotis Writer/performer Penny Pollak plays two young girls with a flair for the dramatic in No Traveler. The first attempts to validate her existence in her recently-remarried father’s life by pretending to end it, only to wind up in purgatory. She has the chance to rejoin the living, but only if she can talk another suicidal girl out of making

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-14809870694184077692010-03-05T22:31:00.004-05:002010-03-05T22:42:46.634-05:00

Photo by Craig Ruttle Reviewed by Amanda Halkiotis Growing up with an alcoholic father, an evangelical Christian mother and an ailing older sister, Leslie Goshko has many the family anecdote. In her one-woman show Vodka Shoes, she shares a great deal of them with earnest, high-spirited energy. She doesn’t skimp on the details here, and nothing is off-limits. A sheepish grin spreads over her

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-72797622402960488362010-02-23T17:52:00.003-05:002010-02-23T17:59:58.525-05:00

Marc Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock originally premiered in 1936, when America was in a devastating economic decline, arguing with overseas investors over the value of domestic goods, and facing pressure from labor unions over the cost of manufacturing those commodities. In this riveting, riotous revival, Theater Ten Ten keeps Blitzstein’s spirit alive with a shrewd yet vivid production,

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-55336126854394788292010-02-23T17:43:00.008-05:002010-03-17T12:15:09.649-04:00

Investment banking and basketball usually don’t mix together as the foundation of a one-man show, but for Brandt Johnson, it’s just one of many life experiences he’s willing to share in his semi-autobiographical piece Give and Go: Learning from Losing to the Harlem Globetrotters. Brandt Johnson/photo by Debby Goldman Reviewed by Amanda Halkiotis Most people with lifelong obsessions remember

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-31257985061417081942010-02-17T18:56:00.006-05:002010-02-17T21:19:45.531-05:00

Park Slope's Gallery Players pick the perfect time to revive Tony Kushner's show about the pain of change and progress.Photo by Bella Muccari.Reviewed by Ryan MaxCaroline, or Change is a musical about the Civil Rights Movement that isn't really about the Civil Rights Movement. True, it is set in 1963 Louisiana and centers on a white family's miserable black maid. But Caroline lacks the obvious

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-60947428693251574662010-02-07T12:15:00.004-05:002010-02-07T12:26:04.941-05:00

Writer and actor Dan Via raises new questions about age disparity in homosexual relationships in Daddy. The play is simple, yet leaves a lasting impact. The audience will be left questioning what they know and arguing about it for days after.l-r: Gerald McCullough and Dan ViaPhoto: Eduardo PlacerReviewed by Nicole C. Lee“[Greek] stories never end well,” says Stew (Dan Via). It’s true that the

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-37808123581194245552010-01-30T22:31:00.003-05:002010-01-30T22:35:59.432-05:00

Anthony Castellano writes, directs and produces a flawed production of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House.” Although this modern adaptation is promising, it suffers from poor writing and direction, failing to leave the kind of impact Castellano intends. Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeA modern adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House sounds like a good idea. Anthony Castellano sets his in a 1958 New

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-51810838212645887522010-01-29T15:40:00.002-05:002010-01-29T15:46:25.644-05:00

Shawn Nacol’s new play Rough Sketch takes place in a cartoon studio over Christmas break where two coworkers strive to complete segments for an overdue, over-budget film. Shocked to find the other had the same idea to forgo holiday celebrations and come into the office instead, the characters alternate between ignoring each other, guarding their assignments to prevent plagiarism, and reaching out

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-67484428430947439642010-01-29T15:32:00.002-05:002010-01-29T15:38:57.696-05:00

The year is 1941 and weekly radio suspense detective narratives have their listeners hooked. Written in classic style with schlocky, self-aware flair, Tanya O’Debra’s Radio Star is a thrilling throwback that lets modern audiences see a one-woman radio show.Reviewed by Amanda Halkiotis Though Tanya O’Debra merely sits on a barstool placed center stage, she winningly brings all the characters of

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-80246077777010290582010-01-19T14:22:00.005-05:002010-01-19T14:25:32.909-05:00

The World Financial Center Winter Garden has been invaded with volunteers interconnected by handmade rope from secondhand fabric. This Fable is Intended for You: A Work-Energy Principle, a conceptual movement piece by the mixed-media artist MK Guth, strives to depict the relationship between exertion and productivity in New York City. Not unlike hard work itself, the intention has been lost in

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-12187385758774754342010-01-18T10:44:00.004-05:002010-01-18T11:01:42.300-05:00

Buried family secrets and revelations bubble to the surface in this inter generational family drama. Reviewed by Ilana NovickLittle Gem is the story of three generations of women in the Neville family in Dublin, Ireland, each at a different turning point in their lives—Amber, a suddenly pregnant 19-year-old; Amber’s mother, Lorraine, who is trying to cope with being left by her husband (eight

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-33219213129936334882009-12-28T14:31:00.010-05:002010-02-17T21:22:43.558-05:00

As part of the Brits Off Broadway Festival at 59E59 Theaters, a beautifully produced play shines a harsh light on how effortlessly modern politics can wreck the lives of those that it finds inconvenient.Reviewed by Ryan MaxThe great irony of international politics is how effortlessly it can destroy the people it is, in theory anyway, intended to protect. Lives are wrecked between all those press

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-82286031781009519652009-12-23T17:22:00.007-05:002009-12-23T18:49:14.574-05:00

The recession has affected everyone differently, and each outcome gives way to a story to be shared. Almost ironically, the Flea Theater has seized this as an opportunity to commission six playwrights to write short plays about the recession so far. Running from surreal and silly to schlocky and safe, the evening is half successful, with only three playwrights taking a big enough risk.Ronald

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-8785072640542438722009-12-23T16:27:00.006-05:002009-12-23T18:42:48.730-05:00

‘Tis the season for cheery performances but if you are looking for something different these holidays, She Like Girls is about as far from The Rockettes as you can get. Inspired by a true story, Chisa Hutchinson’s play about a teenage girl and her first… girlfriend is honest, emotional, and – quite simply – well written. Reviewed by Amanda Cooper <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false

Amanda Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03704908516954885367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-23179041360378676142009-12-23T03:11:00.005-05:002009-12-23T03:22:16.415-05:00

With Seven in One Blow, Axis Theater Company has rewritten a classic Brothers Grimm tale (of a boy who kills seven flies in one swat and goes on to perform fearless feats) for a modern, child-friendly audience. In doing so, however, they’ve traded satire and irony for a watered-down, happy-go-lucky version.Jim Sterling, Lynn Mancinelli, Brian Barnhart in Seven in One Blow / Photo by Dixie

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-14807741599349399762009-12-17T10:14:00.003-05:002009-12-17T10:21:07.365-05:00

Snow White is a dance-theater show, part of Company XIV’s Apple Trilogy. A baroque-infused mix of opera, dance, and theater, adults and children alike will be delighted with this interpretation of a classic fairytale. Director and choreographer Austin McCormack presents this stunning production, which showcases the talent of Company XIV’s repertory performers.Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeWe often

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-33495589864323092892009-11-26T08:40:00.006-05:002009-11-30T11:10:16.517-05:00

Turtle Shell Theater’s revival of No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre is a refreshing take on a classic existential piece. Maintaining the play’s core essence with a period setting, director Robert Haufrecht nevertheless captivates a modern audience by establishing blood-curdling conflict between characters. The resulting effect is a haunting portrayal of how our thoughts and actions have the potential

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-72825215191667821482009-11-24T23:41:00.005-05:002009-11-30T11:09:47.101-05:00

Does anyone ever really study in study hall? The sharp, unabashed dialogue of P. Seth Bauer’s Over the Line makes you glad they don’t, and the strong, competent cast draws a clear picture of six teenagers struggling with adolescence in the New Millennium. However, the show’s second act is a disappointing derailment: all heavy-handed political subtext.Amanda Dillard, Darren Lipari, Anwen Darcy,

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-37043804168352319912009-11-11T12:19:00.001-05:002009-11-24T12:24:28.653-05:00

Everybody takes a vacation--for the next few weeks, like the last few, posting will be exceedingly light as staff takes some time off and prepares for the upcoming months.

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-40724354090736674502009-11-10T14:16:00.000-05:002009-11-24T12:22:18.525-05:00

Allan Harris’s new musical, Cross That River, sheds new light on the old story of the Wild West.Reviewed by Ilana NovickThis isn’t your average pop-culture rendition, in which John Wayne and the Marlboro Man fight off Native Americans in the pursuit of the self-sufficient American way. But it’s also not an in-your-face rebuttal of those days; instead, it’s a gentle (perhaps too gentle)

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-82866364082028150932009-10-26T18:29:00.005-04:002009-10-26T18:43:53.080-04:00

The opening show of La Mama's 48th season, a play-within-a-play modern adaptation of Euripides' The Trojan Women by puppet savant Theodora Skipitares, makes for a visually impressive, if uneven, production. Reviewed by Ryan MaxOne by one, four enormous, gorgeous puppets rumble onto the stage. As each emerges at intervals throughout they play, she delivers a monologue detailing cruelties she has

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-24760270982482079092009-10-14T10:16:00.003-04:002009-10-14T10:35:52.924-04:00

23 Coins is a provocative and intense play about the lies blind faith allows - but the fire and brimstone themes are no easy fit for the cheery song and dance structure. Come with an open-mind, and be prepared to leave unsettled. Just don't expect to be humming any tunes on your way out.Isaac Thigpen (played by Oliver Conant) and Gin Walker (played by Rebecca Lee Lerman) practice what they’ll

Caitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-47435332435855367922009-10-09T23:56:00.003-04:002009-10-10T00:05:52.665-04:00

My Illustrious Wasteland, by Tod Kimbo, is a fantastical, thrilling escape into the future. It’s science fiction, political satire, social commentary, and more, set to full-throttle rock music. Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisTod Kimbo’s My Illustrious Wasteland welcomes us to an America only a few light years off, one where Hollywood is the new capital and the Democratic Party is a dictatorship.

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-16871854163669693152009-10-05T08:05:00.004-04:002009-10-07T13:14:00.254-04:00

Megan Riordan’s autobiographical one-woman show Luck is us a dizzying glimpse of the life of a professional blackjack player’s daughter. Using nicknames, code words, and complex mathematics, along with the occasionally sobering monologue, Riordan gives the audience the one thing that Vegas can’t: a sure thing.Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisAs the daughter of a professional gambler and raised in Las

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-43007866482250426642009-09-25T17:42:00.004-04:002009-09-29T13:26:26.546-04:00

Roger Guenveur Smith’s new play Frederick Douglass Now modernizes the slave-turned-activist’s letters and journals and adapts them for the stage. Using mixed media and passionate, rhythmic speech patterns, Smith targets many still-relevant social issues surrounding race and democracy. Smith’s ambitious, if not heavy handed, use of other additional traits linked to African America culture and

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-7198635766114763992009-09-24T17:35:00.000-04:002009-09-29T13:26:16.997-04:00

In Fathers and Sons, two men rehearsing a new play together find a way to relate to each other beyond the fabric of their work. Through introspective dialogue and heated arguments, the old, seasoned bit actor and young new talent share stories of growing up and fitting in, discussing everything from drug abuse to career decisions. Richard Hoehler’s new play gives a genuine insight into the male

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-58279926639185155102009-09-10T15:19:00.001-04:002009-09-10T15:24:11.554-04:00

Reviewed by Ilana NovickAnita Bryant has long been seen as a punchline: she’s most known for getting pied in the face by protestors who hated her anti-gay activism. But David Carl Lee wants to earnestly tell her story—Pie Face: The Adventures of Anita Bryant—and of how she affected his own identity as a gay man. His subtle use of drag allows us to mock her politics and take them seriously at the

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-26280672635720506502009-09-10T13:16:00.006-04:002009-09-10T14:28:29.905-04:00

Poppy Bulova, a lighthearted parody of a hardscrabble, down-and-out lounge singer, uses her hauteur and strange life story to charm her audience into the adoring fans she firmly believes she deserves.PoppyReviewed by Ryan MaxMs. Poppy Bulova—a performer of incredible talent, fame, and self-regard—would not have liked the scene just outside of her recent performance. As happens with the

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-32355633116664288252009-09-09T09:59:00.003-04:002009-09-09T15:34:00.593-04:00

Powerhouse ran as one of the 201 shows in the 2009 Fringe Festival; it is now being extended as part of the Fringe Encores series and runs at the Actor's Playhouse (100 Seventh Avenue South) on 9/19 @ 5, 9/20 @ 12:30 & 6, and 9/21 @ 3. Tickets are only $18, so go get 'em.Reviewed by Aaron RiccioWhy are they called Sinking Ship Productions? Their latest show, Powerhouse, is absolutely buoyant--in

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-62201528881829427392009-09-08T09:56:00.003-04:002009-09-09T15:34:10.733-04:00

Viral ran as one of the 201 shows in the 2009 Fringe Festival; it is now being extended as part of the Fringe Encores series and runs at the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street) on 9/14 @ 9, 9/20 @ 1, 9/24 @ 7, 9/26 @ 2, and 9/27 @ 6. Tickets are only $18.Reviewed by Aaron RiccioThe most addictive thing about Mac Rogers's writing is that even when his characters say the darnedest things, you never

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-62305301163237695402009-09-07T13:54:00.001-04:002009-09-07T13:56:24.465-04:00

Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeIt’s all about the actors in The BAMA Theatre Company’s production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Simplicity is the governing theme: the set design is simple; the performance space is denoted by blue masking tape laid down by the actors at the start of the show. This allows all focus to be on the performers, and the audience is not disappointed. The

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-64704908097369072372009-09-06T20:48:00.004-04:002009-09-09T10:22:29.773-04:00

BY CAIT WEISSEvery cloud has a silver lining. Just for kicks, let’s call that cloud the collapse of the modern economy. Fun game, huh? Well, if that’s the case, and the demise of the American Dream really is just another rain cloud, at least Love Money provides a mighty entertaining silver lining.A clever, quick-witted take on the post-bail-out world, Love Money, like many a now-poor Wall Street

Caitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-57761833633804000612009-09-05T19:15:00.003-04:002009-09-05T19:20:00.993-04:00

Reviewed by Cindy PierreEtch Dance Co.'s Testify is a display of athleticism and dance tricks that is high on energy, but low on tangible emotion. Artistic Director and Choreographer Elisha Clark Halpin's 30-minute, contemporary dance presentation is supposed to embrace what lurks in women's hearts, but the execution is frenetic instead of heartfelt, and overwrought when it could have been

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-48782898708013469932009-09-04T15:23:00.000-04:002009-09-09T09:55:19.451-04:00

Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeDo you know the Muffin Man? Lyla sure does – and she loves more than the muffins he brings. Muffin Man follows her adventures as a new barista who, on her first day of work, falls all over again for her childhood crush, Justin (the “Muffin Man”). Camille Harris writes and directs this sweet, light-hearted musical, combining the addictive nature of a good cup of java with

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-88571216611400084102009-09-03T19:01:00.000-04:002009-09-09T09:54:53.261-04:00

Reviewed by Cindy PierreDespite the title Face the Music...and Dance!, there isn't a lot of confronting going on in this collection of mostly excerpts of choreography designed to tackle everyday struggles. There may be some strong choreography and beautiful lines from the dancers, but only one piece earns the title. As a result, the uneven, 75- minute show zigs and zags from pieces with gravitas

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-74376052001438835532009-09-02T12:52:00.000-04:002009-09-09T09:56:38.652-04:00

Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisBaby Wants Candy uncannily lends uncompromising musical flair to improv comedy. Its seven-person ensemble takes the basic sketch-comedy framework and puts an even geekier, kitschier twist on it. What makes them stand out is their musical backup, a tightly-orchestrated, talented, toe-tapping four-piece group known as the Yes Band. But what makes this touring company

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-60867582274233458242009-09-01T18:19:00.004-04:002009-09-09T10:22:22.270-04:00

BY CAIT WEISSTim Watt's The Adventures of Alvin Sputnick Deep Sea Explorer is unexpectedly engrossing. Far deeper than its title implies, its inventive presentation is magical and sincere. There's animation (line drawings done via laptop and projected onto a large, circular white screen center-stage), puppetry (emotionally-evocative creations that completely transform any previous conception of

Caitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-73667688924070743412009-09-01T17:25:00.003-04:002009-09-01T17:28:31.968-04:00

Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeWhat do you get when you take a classic Shakespearean tale, Romeo and Juliet, and mix it with Japanese interpretive dance and…a toilet? We’re never exactly sure in this 60-minute performance entitled Romeo and Toilet, presented by Kaimaku Pennant race. Written and directed by Yu Murai, six male actors engage in intense, physical actions that never seem to compliment or

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-43034396886065173332009-09-01T13:10:00.002-04:002009-09-09T10:14:12.459-04:00

Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisWritten and performed by honest-to-God teenagers who aren’t shy about looking (or acting) their age, Girl Power combines monologue, spoken word, montage, and soliloquy as a platform for their fears, desires, dreams, and doubts, all based on real interviews, emotions, and experiences. Addressing topics spanning reality TV, social networking, gossip, high school

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-69931910970702487792009-08-31T14:22:00.007-04:002009-08-31T22:51:04.728-04:00

Image Courtesy of George and Laura Bush perform...Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeIn George and Laura Bush perform…Our Favorite Sitcom Episodes, writer Ryan Gajewski unsuccessfully attempts to mock the former President in a new way. The show begins with a re-enactment of a favorite “I Love Lucy” episode, featuring President Bush as Ricky Riccardo – using a stereotypical Cuban accent – and Laura Bush

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-15776129374133954222009-08-31T14:03:00.005-04:002009-08-31T14:10:21.497-04:00

Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisAre you feeling guilty about secretly wanting to become a wife? Dreading the eventual ownership of it, unsure of how it will work on personal terms? Coping with your parents’ reaction, or finding that you have to discard your former identity to attain it? Erin Judge and Ailin Conant's The Meaning of Wife wants to resolve all these concerns and more, mixing variety-show

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-41675610969199700772009-08-30T13:04:00.001-04:002009-08-31T13:58:40.608-04:00

Reviewed by Cindy PierreBlack Moon Theatre Company's production of Dante's Divina Commedia-Inferno is an innovative, visually stunning and audibly moving take on the Italian poet's masterpiece. Unfortunately, it's also entirely in Italian—wait, what? Presented as a one-man show with English title cards that are like bad Cliffs Notes to the text, this crash course through the nine circles of Hell

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-49330174265568830302009-08-29T12:32:00.000-04:002009-08-31T13:58:07.038-04:00

Reviewed by Cindy PierreWhat would you do if you lived in an apartment cluttered with books, but there still weren't enough stories to escape into? What would you do if you were filled with rage, but the illustrations weren't enough to stifle the beast within? If you're Mark O'Connor (Scott David Nogi) in The Books, you'd hire a pro Domme named Mistress Chimera (Aadya Bedi) to fill you with

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-1428815920246361652009-08-28T14:25:00.000-04:002009-08-31T13:57:55.930-04:00

Reviewed by Ilana NovickWatch out! It’s Jews Gone Wild! In Melanie Zoey Weinstein’s Sex and the Holy Land, Lili (Weinstein) travels to Israel with her two best friends, hoping for adventure, knowledge, a connection with Jewish History, and and—hopefully, —and orgasm. She’s hounded—in her head, at least—by a chorus of Jewish mothers (pitch-perfect Yiddish accents from Susan Slatin, Michelle Slonim

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-70121935460608347212009-08-27T08:52:00.005-04:002009-09-09T10:22:37.876-04:00

Reviewed by CAIT WEISSEver been to a Six Flags theme park? Ever see one of those awesome, over-amped stage shows? Well, if you’re one of the few who escaped Monster Mash Bash, don’t fret. Thanks to Diamond Dead, you can still experience some high-energy, dance-happy zombie musical theater.Diamond Dead is the story of a failed rock band that comes to life only after its members are blown to

Caitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-28003008082617086592009-08-26T22:22:00.004-04:002009-08-31T13:59:37.885-04:00

Rob Benson in BorderlineReviewed by Cindy PierreTalking about mental health is a taboo amongst men. Admitting to having mental health problems is even worse. In Borderline, Rob Benson draws from the experiences of his friends to openly discuss the nature of mental illness from the obvious to the obscure. Unlike the title, the show is not limited to borderline personality disorder. Rather,

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-47806628429017610442009-08-26T10:31:00.003-04:002009-08-31T13:59:59.335-04:00

BY ELLEN WERNECKEIt’s hard to say whether Hollywood assistant Chad (Ian Scott McGregor) is having the worst day of his life, or as Homer Simpson would put it, the worst day of his life so far: When his agent boss Alan (Scott Aiello) goes off the radar, Chad is forced to babysit his bratty tween daughter (Sarah Grover) at his beach house -- and what should wash up but Shane (Chad Lindsey), the

Ellen Werneckehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619158107811694186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-84000644378745089982009-08-25T22:17:00.004-04:002009-08-31T14:00:28.694-04:00

Reviewed by Ilana NovickWriter/performer Anthony Fascious Martinez is a rapper, not a storyteller. That’s why he tries to fill his one-man show, Penumbra—about growing up with a single mother in the Bronx (his father is “working,” that is, in jail)—with audio and video supplements (recordings of family members, his personal drawings).What he needs to do, however, is slow down: he jumps too

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-38739705284126754212009-08-24T13:29:00.002-04:002009-09-09T10:22:46.205-04:00

BY ELLEN WERNECKEWhat’s it really like being a mobster? Turns out it’s a whole lot of waiting, according to Gregg Greenberg’s “Clemenza and Tessio Are Dead,” a self-aware show returning to New York for the Fringe after having its world premiere last fall at the Broadway Comedy Club. Constantly invoking “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” the play (which Greenberg directed as well as wrote)

Ellen Werneckehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619158107811694186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-23152129676506844762009-08-23T21:46:00.012-04:002009-09-09T10:16:41.210-04:00

Dan Domingues, Peter Goldfarb, Michael Busillo in His GreatnessReviewed by Cindy PierreDaniel MacIvor's His Greatness is a very entertaining play about the last two days of Tennessee Williams' life. Loosely based on facts, the play is mostly fiction, but it's as a good a theory as any about what may have happened to the Pulitzer-winning playwright before he died. The show takes place entirely in

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-23625717266895142342009-08-23T21:46:00.011-04:002009-09-01T22:10:25.167-04:00

Reviewed by Cindy PierreAs the old saying goes, “You only get one chance at true love.” Some people laugh that off. Not Brian Golden, whose 6 Seconds in Charlack follows that theory to its bitter end. Bard (Andy Wagner), a young lawyer-to-be, is torn between a wholesome, by-the-books nurse named Penny (Allison Walton) and the memories of a carefree, sexy dreamer named Candy (Christena Dogrell).

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-14928041086284440032009-08-22T00:29:00.003-04:002009-08-22T00:34:30.155-04:00

Reviewed by Ilana NovickIn Jean Genet’s Deathwatch (translated by David Ruskin), a Lord of the Flies in a French prison play, Maurice (Stephanie Smith) and LeFranc (Katherine MacDonald), are forced to share a prison cell with Green Eyes (Carissa Cordes), a notorious killer. They are not so much scared of him, as they are self-conscious that their own crimes pale in comparison. On a bare stage,

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-45236804087726382802009-08-20T01:13:00.001-04:002009-09-09T10:17:27.629-04:00

Reviewed by Aaron RiccioIt is better, thinks sixteen-year-old Skeeta (Sarah Lord), to get lost among the understandable bits of nature, like Venus flytraps, than to spend time at home with Mom (Birgit Huppuch) and the men she drags home with her. Better to use the family's knack for storytelling (an art older than religion, we're reminded) to "shape the darkness." She flitters through her

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-39543220156717814772009-08-19T23:58:00.007-04:002009-09-09T10:16:54.526-04:00

Reviewed by Cindy PierreWhat do you do when you're tired of your middle-class lifestyle and middle of the road experiences? If you're Jessica Manuel, you sign up for a job in Antarctica where there's no sunlight. In The Antarctic Chronicles, Manuel takes you through her comedic, strength-building journey to finding out what she's made of by going all the way to the bottom of the Earth. This

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-40324724191080519452009-08-16T23:32:00.007-04:002009-09-09T10:17:13.006-04:00

Reviewed by Cindy PierreRick Merino's Inferno: The New Rock Musical sets the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy to a rocking, well-executed soundtrack. But don’t let Carol Wlazlowski’s Halloween costumes confuse you; this is a themed concert, not a musical. There’s no book, just a succession of edgy, appropriately dark songs, each covering part of Dante (Rick Merino) and Virgil's (Sean Jans)

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-37293980473434623992009-08-16T23:17:00.006-04:002009-09-09T10:17:58.685-04:00

Reviewed by Cindy PierreDo you think you’re obsessed with—ahem, “adoring of”—a band? Think again. Barri Tsavaris's ode to Bono and U2, I Will Follow (the title track from U2's 1980 album), will make you seem like a shallow fan. Based on a true story, this fun, well-crafted and well-executed production is a homage to “Bono-god”(yes, he's a deity here) that showcases the cast's penchant for comedy.

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-27020738663942540832009-08-11T09:54:00.006-04:002009-08-11T10:37:01.103-04:00

First man's first wife meets her nemesis.Reviewed by Ilana Novick Johannes Galli’s Eve and Lilith is a modern retelling of an ancient love triangle between Adam, Eve, and Adam's first wife, Lilith, whom he left due to lack of obedience. The play opens with Lilith (Tricia Patrick) getting ready for a night out. She wears a revealing red dress, sitting in a bordello-like bedroom covered in

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-1801975527310653782009-08-10T15:11:00.006-04:002009-08-31T14:28:03.975-04:00

Family Symmetry has a promising premise, but a predictable plot.Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeFamily Symmetry focuses on Allen, a man who was once hospitalized for his obsessive compulsive disorder and is now learning to readjust to life with his wife. Leo Goodman delivers a standout performance: his obsessive mannerisms and deliberate, repetitive behavior feel real and natural. The show, however,

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-52571430880520071792009-08-06T17:26:00.001-04:002009-09-09T10:19:03.325-04:00

Woody Allen meets postmodern feminism in this rousing tale of a feuding couple who can’t communicate and the hired therapist who lets his personal emotions get in the way of a professional diagnosis.Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisCarey Lovelace tries to keep the setting of Couples Counseling as anonymous and universal as possible, but the snarky dialogue and sharp body language leave no doubt that

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-54804200270157357282009-08-03T17:21:00.005-04:002009-08-31T14:28:32.206-04:00

Kate Gersten confronts America’s obsession with the lives of celebrities in “EXPOSED! The Curious Case of Shiloh and Zahara.”Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeDid you know that German scientists are conducting experiments to determine what fills the heart of the average American? At least, they are in Kate Gersten’s comedy, EXPOSED! The Curious Case of Shiloh and Zahara. By setting the play in 2029, she’s

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-21885111189071411072009-07-30T17:23:00.010-04:002009-08-06T12:56:41.429-04:00

The subject of quite a few episodes of Oprah gets a more courageous portrayal. Anna and her mother say "cheese."Photo Courtesy JMTCReviewed by Ryan MaxBenny, a new play written by Suzanne Bachner, is a familiar story, told in fragments: a child decides to search for her biological parents against the protests of her loving adopted parents. But the similarities to any tear-jerking identity quests

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-89366979655671171682009-07-29T16:03:00.003-04:002009-09-09T10:18:15.858-04:00

Jenny Contuzzi’s new play, Body Language strives to explore a relationship dynamic where one party is completely satisfied while the other craves something more. While her writing falls flat, the two leads provide the believable chemistry to keep the production bearable, and at times even gripping. The cast does such a superb job that Contuzzi’s one-dimensional writing can’t keep up; the Body

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-12169218676074923182009-07-29T14:28:00.004-04:002009-08-31T14:28:49.401-04:00

Talia Gonzalez and Bisanne Masoud confront society’s growing reliance and obsession with social networking websites in FaceSpace. This clever and comedic play posits the question: what if the conniving creator of your social networking website could give you bad advice?Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeWhen the Internet first became available to the average Jane and Joe, the “it” thing was to get an email

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-76435663049615757012009-07-27T13:57:00.006-04:002009-07-29T15:40:32.871-04:00

A short play filled with witty dialogue takes a turn at picking apart the pretensions and cruelty of the upper class.Reviewed by Ryan MaxFrom the first glimpse of the all-girls prep-school dorm room set, to the first word out of these quick-witted Brits, it’s pretty clear that Numbers isn’t about how righteous and generous the upper class is. The all-female cast hashes out this tale of class

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-57366227997886521552009-07-20T11:09:00.003-04:002009-07-20T11:13:56.700-04:00

Reviewed by Aaron RiccioThere are no multimedia screens, no experimental dance breaks, no tricky narrative surprises; compared to most new American plays, Daniel Roberts's Haunted House is positively "analog." Or at least, that's the word that Lucy (Diana Cherkas), a tech reporter, uses to describe the Dunn family--Cy (Jordan Charney), Peter (Jason Altman), and Wendy (Meghan Miller)--though in

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-21356068213516170652009-07-08T10:07:00.001-04:002009-07-09T11:25:48.252-04:00

Neal Bell's terrific adaptation of Émile Zola's 1867 novel Thérèse Raquin puts a stake through the heart of dry naturalism, using Ibsen's modernism and Jim Petosa's romantic direction to cleverly mix morbidity with dashes of sweetness: ravenous passion, indeed. The cast excels--haunted not just by ghosts, but by genuine emotions, and the show justifies every bit of its poetry. Photo/Stan Barouh

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-17215039293857942432009-06-26T07:55:00.007-04:002009-09-09T10:20:25.088-04:00

Richard Hymes Esposito uses This Isn’t Paradise to focus on the uphill crawl toward success in the real estate business. Set at a boutique midtown agency, twentysomething male brokers log fourteen-hour days as they sign new clients and argue with landlords. But just as they can’t sell their twelve-plus percent fees to their clients, neither can the show sell itself to the audience.Elizabeth

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-61962525879842500322009-06-19T17:07:00.008-04:002009-06-25T17:07:08.134-04:00

A play about a teenage Latina prostitute confronting her dead pimp’s wife is a flawed yet surprisingly tense and moving study of love and power, despite what the synopsis makes it seem.Reviewed by Ryan MaxA 14-year-old, HIV positive, brassy Latina prostitute confronting her dead pimp's wife is either the premise for the year's edgiest comedy or most melodramatic tear-jerker. Luckily, in the able

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-90708730807722127712009-06-18T18:00:00.006-04:002009-06-25T17:06:47.678-04:00

Lanford Wilson’s Fifth of July has no shortage of laughs and dramatic revelations of secrets and personal turmoil. Despite the 1970s setting, featuring sex, love, drugs, and anti-Vietnam War sentiments, director Peter Jensen’s revival presents a wonderful, soap opera-like glimpse into the life of an ostensibly normal Missouri family that is relevant even today.Image: Courtesy of T. Schreiber

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-8370386877739245132009-06-12T13:18:00.005-04:002009-06-21T13:08:06.523-04:00

Punkplay, the first of three plays in the “summerworks” festival at the Ohio Theatre, is an exciting, ferocious new play by Gregory Moss, transcending its subjects of punk, the 80s, and adolescence to form a kind of intense and meaningful fever dream, an ode to individuality and, for all adults struggling to make sense of their youth, a nostalgic and insightful look back. (Zegen and Anfanger,

Max Rosenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01926454714680042966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-85074577970979219112009-06-11T20:26:00.005-04:002009-06-12T17:26:55.841-04:00

Anyone who decides to write a play about or take on the role of the Modernist poet Ezra Pound, a clandestine homosexual who openly made anti-Semitic and anti-American comments, certainly has his work cut out for him. William Roetzheim’s one-man show Pound and lead actor Jeff Berg takes on this complicated literary figure at one of the most complicated times of his life. With the help of his

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-23900587473891027802009-06-10T20:40:00.003-04:002009-06-12T17:26:27.606-04:00

What if the Cold War had ended in the 1950s due to a robot invasion which demolished the entire North American continent? In Samuel and Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War, a grim group of radio hosts residing in post-apocalyptic Russia run a weekly show rooted in retro Americana idealism, complete with live soda-shop ballads and pop-culture quizzes. And yes, the binary themes and

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-87080634920022250402009-06-05T22:35:00.003-04:002009-06-07T22:39:54.994-04:00

The worst thing Into the Hazard has to worry about is a surfeit of riches. The presentation--particularly from the actors--is more than enough to balance out the stray haphazard modernization, or over-the-top flourish. Jessica Bauman has succeeded in making one of Shakespeare's slower histories, Henry V, into a dynamic show for today.Photo/Lisa DozierReviewed by Aaron RiccioJessica Bauman's

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-2452161253384829252009-06-04T13:44:00.008-04:002009-06-04T15:16:11.919-04:00

Photo/Kristen VaughnTeddy, a young former soldier, has a grudge against America. Since he can't punish an entire country, his anger finds a target in an unsuspecting diner. The crowd comes in for eggs, but ends up caught in a hostage crisis, casualties both of Teddy's dissapointment, and the society that created it.Reviewed by Ilana NovickSteven, aka Red (Ben Schnickle), can’t seem to relax

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-45775629184190421112009-06-03T10:04:00.001-04:002009-06-07T22:41:12.131-04:00

The Success of Failure (or, The Failure of Success) is an aesthetically pleasing production, and as always, Hopkins’s music is intriguing and singular. Her creations are strange beasts, integrating her off-kilter musical compositions within a movement-oriented multimedia theater extravaganza. This time around, though, the story line feels outwardly hokey and slap-dashed together: it’s one long

Amanda Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03704908516954885367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-56100664841247289312009-05-29T22:55:00.006-04:002009-05-31T17:13:06.497-04:00

Would you sacrifice your virginity to a smarmy dignitary if it meant freeing your brother from execution? Set in Vienna at a time of judicial reckoning, Shakespeare’s comedy Measure for Measure is a delicious mixture of sex, religion, and politics. When set in a garden and produced by The New York Neo Classical Ensemble, such a twisted premise gets a delightful new slant, giving way to clever

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-8346476499266705302009-05-28T13:23:00.006-04:002009-05-28T23:45:46.334-04:00

Last year, Company XIV's The Judgment of Paris gave us a "dramatic entertainment." This year, bringing their epic burlesque to the Adam and Eve story in Le Serpent Rouge!, the show is a "titillating tragedy." In both cases, Austin McCormick has expanded far beyond the subject material, looking now at the plight of Woman when God listens to James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World." The

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-87830170155164700922009-05-26T04:17:00.001-04:002009-05-28T13:22:41.390-04:00

In the Metropolitan Theater’s revival of It Pays to Advertise, two reunited college buddies go into business despite the fact they lack any experience, office space, or even a product to sell. Instead of merchandise they decide to sell an irresistible campaign slogan, creating a hilarious mixture of business and pleasure delightfully combines rapid dialogue, multiple façades, and bumbling

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-66188943034291595042009-05-25T18:46:00.000-04:002009-05-28T13:22:10.132-04:00

David McGee’s Mare Cognitum, an ostensible story about three idealists who decide to fly to the moon, considers the notion of change. Each of the characters represents an ideology that is presented and then juxtaposed to the audience. Despite the silliness of the premise, Mare Cognitum successfully inspires thought about the best way to effect change in society. Reviewed by Nicole C. LeeSet in a

Nicole C Leenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-35913431388739033232009-05-22T10:39:00.001-04:002009-10-26T18:44:16.530-04:00

Seeing The Geographical History of America is a lot like diving into the ocean: excitement and anticipation quickly give way to dread and possible drowning.Reviewed by Ryan MaxThe Geographical History of America, adapted from a dizzyingly dense Gertrude Stein novel, starts out with the giddy anticipation of the climb up to the diving board: the bar where the audience has been corralled buzzes as

Ryan Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405932508031396889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-61377642462567495922009-05-21T08:02:00.003-04:002009-05-26T16:21:16.231-04:00

In The Dishwashers, a novice college dropout joins a hardworking team of lifers in the most unpleasant aspect of the restaurant business. Together they clear leftovers off plates and blast away encrusted creams and sauces with industrial-strength streams of hot water, all under the invasive supervision of a seasoned ringleader. Their conflicting approaches to the mindless and routine work is at

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-84578216153787156602009-05-20T16:15:00.005-04:002009-05-22T13:40:43.532-04:00

Murgatroyd’s Hospital for Mental Rehabilitation presents Ruddigore, or, The Witch’s Curse is energetic and funny, but its lack of emotional sincerity, unrealized framing device, and confusing plot will put off audience members unfamiliar with the source (a mediocre Gilbert and Sullivan operetta).Reviewed by Max RosenMurgatroyd’s Hospital for Mental Rehabilitation presents Ruddigore, or the Witch’

Max Rosenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01926454714680042966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-84019195506212854452009-05-16T20:18:00.006-04:002009-05-26T16:21:30.969-04:00

A family vacation in Asia becomes the backdrop for revealing long hidden secrets, in Martin Dockery's solo show. Photo/Matthew BresslerReviewed by Ilana NovickDefying recent cultural trends toward oversharing and openness, Martin Dockery's family hides their feelings. They don’t reveal big changes in their personal or romantic lives: they play "emotional chicken" instead, where the loser is the

Ilana Novickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083670663901536281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-3371631123036339352009-05-13T23:37:00.004-04:002009-05-26T16:21:44.336-04:00

Liars, a collection of eight short plays, is a brutally honest glimpse at the business of deceit. Whether working too hard to convince a first date of your sexual prowess, inflating one’s college status in an online chatroom, or fabricating the contents of your lunchbox to keep a coworker jealous, Liars doesn’t give any of its characters the benefit of the doubt. Instead, they get stuck in their

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-14769955511276776822009-05-11T14:56:00.004-04:002009-07-29T15:39:33.372-04:00

In Way to Heaven, Juan Mayorga decides to trust the audience, and doesn't fill his Holocaust play with atrocities or monstrous Nazis. Instead, he fills it with theater, dramatizing the drama that Jews were forced to enact at the Theresienstadt concentration camp. He knows that we will see view the fey Commandant's behavior with the horror of hindsight, and not--like the Red Cross--with the bliss

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-15730512383086680882009-05-08T14:19:00.004-04:002009-05-11T14:49:39.020-04:00

Adam Szymkowicz's latest play is hauntingly endearing, putting a bunch of antiheroes together to examine the emotional thefts--predominantly the loss of innocence--that, despite taking things away, also sometimes give us more. Photo/Isaiah TanenbaumReviewed by Aaron RiccioIn the broad scheme of things, everything is stolen from us: our beauty, our senses, our minds. The far more specific now of

Aaron Riccionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-47907750153812136652009-05-06T22:01:00.005-04:002009-05-07T22:18:29.874-04:00

One of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, As You Like It takes a lighthearted look on several serious issues: banishment, inheritance, social status, etc. Though this production relies too heavily on the cheap jokes to balance the surface romance with the underlying drama, the pastoral set design and warm, spring-like lighting even out the main story. Frog and Peach Theater Company invites you

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-41670336260738085542009-05-03T22:48:00.004-04:002009-05-09T23:50:42.305-04:00

A traveling preacher gets entangled in the tense relationship between two Southern sisters while trying to maintain his morals during the Great Depression. With great performances, writing, and execution, The Oath: a southern gothic tale is an outstanding drama worth pledging your allegiance to. Louise Flory (Cebe), Dianna Martin (Deck), Sarah Chaney (Ofah), and Maureen O'Boyle (Lady), in MTWorks

Cindy Pierrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-87898345948023710112009-04-30T04:55:00.000-04:002009-04-30T04:55:01.034-04:00

A promising surgeon and nearly newlywed doesn’t so much confront her limitations as spend the night with them at 3LD.BY ELLEN WERNECKEUnbound Collective’s newest production In Security, doesn’t just leave the audience feeling vulnerable: Anna Gutto, as Dr. Lona Waverton, performs alone on a set whose details have been painted to resemble the products of line drawings, against a series of videos

Ellen Werneckehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12619158107811694186noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-48969383138197448172009-04-24T07:35:00.003-04:002009-04-24T07:49:14.284-04:00

In Tibet Does Not Exist, an exiled Tibetan monk takes refuge for a few days at the home of a Yale University economics professor. In between lectures and cocktail parties, he tries to bridge cultural gaps between his country and ours. Unfortunately, his theoretical infrastructure combined with his early 90s footwear choice of all-white high-tops makes the whole thing less than believable.

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-77945969159037446332009-04-17T15:58:00.003-04:002009-04-17T16:17:35.236-04:00

Within the tight parameters, Godlight Theatre Company’s Joe Tantalo has managed to create a show that is technically tight, atmospherically compelling, and requisitely creepy. Only the extreme brevity of Alan Lyddiard’s adapted script leaves Orwell’s masterpiece short-changed.Reviewed by Lyssa MandelIt is an ambitious enough endeavor to adapt a novel as enormous in scope and depth as the classic

Lyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04891649183267012970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15552806.post-15882479203310395702009-04-13T12:01:00.003-04:002009-04-13T14:04:37.180-04:00

Waiting tables is tough. Waiting tables in Manhattan? Even tougher. While Brunch: the Musical gives you a humorous glimpse of this occupational endeavor, it lacks the sincerity to truly inspire any of us to empathize with our hungover servers or tip them twenty percent.Photo/Peter James Zielinkski Reviewed by Amanda HalkiotisThe tag line for Brunch: The Musical says “there are 60,000 waiters in

Amanda Halkiotishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668757579445524634noreply@blogger.com0