Kenneth Lonergan's excelent new film "MANCHESTER BY THE SEA" is a moving, contemplative & thoughtful portrait of finely drawn characters dealing with pain & loss. Casey Affleck gives an astounding performance in the lead role, and is finely supported by Lucas Hedges who play his nephew in the film. Cautionary note- don't see this film if/when you are feeling emotionally brittle as this film lands solid emotional punches.
New musical RIDE THE CYCLONE @mcctheater is an awkward misfire that struggles and fails to maintain a consistent, coherent tone. Thankfully, it is short but nevertheless feels much longer than its 90 minute running time.
THE BABYLON LINE @LCTheater is an engaging, well written, finely acted, and smartly directed play that interestingly explores the intersection of life and art of writing. It feels simultaneously fresh and familiar, and I mean that in a good way. This is playwright Richard Greenberg's best new play in years.
Nicky Silver's "THIS DAY FORWARD" @vineyardtheatre offers little that is new or original for this playwright, focusing once again on the bitter disappointment of unlikeable characters arising from the choices they have made in life. The production is solid, and the show is breezes on by, but I yearn for new territory to be explored by this writer.
Sutton Foster is THE reason to see @TheNewGroupNYC peppy revival of the musical "Sweet Charity". Ms. Foster's goofy charm and great voice are sublime perfection, allowing one to look past the flaws in the show and some of the staging.
 | KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
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Lynn Nottage's working class focused new play "Sweat" @PublicTheaterNY is powerful & timely; it packs solid punches and sends a strong message of the need for solidarity rather than division and resentment. This production features fine acting, with standout performances by Johanna Day and Khris Davis.
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| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
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The Off-Broadway stage production of "Dead Poets Society" @classicstage features fine acting in support of this solid, if uninspired, adaptation of the film.
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| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
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Broadway mounting of "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" is terrifically entertaining, with stunning staging and design elements in an entirely transformed Imperial Theater. The show is greatly improved over prior Off-Broadway incarnations of the show. The underlying work borders on mediocre, but is greatly enhanced by the outstanding physical production elements. Josh Groban is surprisingly good in his Broadway debut, although his powerful singing is more notable than his somewhat limited acting range.
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| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
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An astoundingly great performance by Leon Addison Brown elevates @SignatureTheatr fine revival of Atol Fugard's apartheid era South African play "Master Harold & The Boys."
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