"Fly By Night" Soars at Playwrights Horizons

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

5/26/14, 6:34 AM "Fly By Night" is a witty, inventive, tuneful and moving new musical that made me laugh, toe-tap, cry and ultimately stand and cheer.  I loved this show at the Dallas Theater Center last year, and since that time the show has become tighter, more focused and even better.  Superior, by far, to any of the new musicals that opened this past season on Broadway, the creators of "Fly By Night" have a great future in store for them if this show is any indication.  Thank you once again to Playwrights Horizons for this excellent end to a fine season of exciting new works for the stage.

"The Cripple of Inishmaan" is a Rollicking Success

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
5/25/14, 10:29 AM "The Cripple of Inishmaan" in its Broadway debut is a great production of a terrific, funny, moving and intelligent Martin McDonagh play.  Michael Grandage's elegant direction melds with a pitch perfect cast that includes Daniel Radcliffe giving the finest stage performance I have seen from him to date.  This is the best dramatic play currently playing on Broadway.

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"The City of Conversation" Lacks Credibility

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
5/25/14, 10:25 AM "The City of Conversation" @LCTheater is a so-so political domestic drama, despite some script flaws that strain credibility and limit its potential.  Jan Maxwell is excellent in the lead role, but the rest of the cast has limited success in their roles.

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"Here Lies Love" Scores Again

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
5/23/14, 11:57 PM Another visit to @HereLiesLoveNYC @PublicTheaterNY confirms that it is the best new musical and score in years.  Repeated viewings add to the depth of the experience.  This is a unique and special show that provides the most entertaining and engaging time to be currently had on a New York stage.

"All The Way" Lacks Subtlety

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
5/24/14, 12:00 AM Broadway political drama "All The Way"is an okay, not great, new play.  Notably, I found Bryan Cranston's LBJ lacked the subtlety and nuance needed to properly depict the complex former  President.

"Cabaret" Is Not Better The Second Time Around

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

5/22/14, 11:50 PM Roundabout Theater's remounting of Sam Mendes' production of "Cabaret" once again at Studio 54 feels redundant and lacking in the originality it had 16 years ago. I enjoyed Alan Cumming's less manic and more mature take on the Emcee, but everyone else pales in comparison to their predecessors (except Danny Burstein).  Michelle Williams as Sally Bowles is inconsistent, unable to tackle a believable British accent, and at times seems lost at sea.

Casa Valentina's Great Cast & Direction Cannot Hide Its Flaws

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
5/21/14, 10:14 PM Harvey Fierstein's new play "Casa Valentina" is acted and directed flawlessly, and keeps its viewer engaged.  However, its take on identity and intolerance is too unwieldy and diffuse to fully succeed.

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Audra as Billie Holiday in "Lady Day" Rises Above Earthbound Play

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
5/21/14, 6:05 PM Audra McDonald astonishes as Billie Holiday in Broadway's "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill," but the play she is in is too obvious and melodramatic to move me deeply.  But the show is worth seeing for Audra's eerie performance in which she submerges herself and becomes one with her character.

A poignant "different words"

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

5/16/14, 11:21 PM "different words for the same thing" is given a top notch world premiere production at @CTGLA Kirk Douglas Theater.  It is a fine and moving exploration of loss, love and community, as well as a welcome introduction to terrific young playwright Kimber Lee.  Fluid and sensitive direction by Neel Keller successfully weaves together the play's various character and themes.   Certain character motivations could be delineated a bit more, but Ms. Lee is a talented writer with great promise.  Note to Center Theatre Group: with respect to presenting original new works, "more please."

Visuals Enchant in "The Man in a Case"

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
5/4/14, 9:12 PM I was entranced and engaged by the visual artistry brought to two Chekhov short stories by Baryshnikov and AnnIe-B Parsons' #BigDanceTheater in "The Man In a Case" @TheBroadStage.  The elliptical style is not for everyone, but it worked for me.