A reimagined, refreshed "Les Miserables" at Dallas Theater Center

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
7/20/14, 10:17 AM "Les Misersables" @DallasTheater is a fresh, reinvigorated, modern and exciting take on the sung-through adaptation of the Hugo novel that yields the most emotionally resonant version I have seen.  Finely and fluidly directed by Liesl Tommy and expertly sung by its terrific cast, this is the first version of the musical I have seen that moved, rather than bored, me.

Movie Recommendation: Richard Linklater's Stunning "Boyhood"

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

7/12/14, 9:36 PM Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" is a groundbreaking film and a stunning cinematic achievement about all of the little moments that add up to create a life.   It explores life, love, loss, family, adolescence and aging in subtle but wise ways.  Shot over 12 years during which the its central protagonist ages from 6 to 18, it is unlike anything I have ever seen in a non-documentary feature.  What results is one of the best films not just of the year, but ever.

Fountain Theatre Scores With "The Brothers Size"

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) 7/6/14, 6:21 PM Great acting fuses with outstanding writing in Tarrell Alvin McCraney "The Brothers Size" @fountaintheatre, which is one third of the epic "Brother/Sister Plays" trilogy.  Among the fine cast, worthy of particular note is actor Matthew Hancock whose performance as one of the titled brothers is simply transcendent.  The Fountain has now staged two of this trilogy's plays; I hope to see the third there soon.

Margulies' "The Country House" Is Worth A Visit

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)

6/15/14, 10:21 PM Chekhov inspired "The Country House" @GeffenPlayhouse is another terrific Donald Margulies play centered on a family, this one having acting pedigrees and temperaments.    The cast is outstanding across the board, with Blythe Danner giving an especially noteworthy performance. The elegant, graceful and fluid direction by Daniel Sullivan confirms his status among the finest directors currently working in the theater.  Here, his direction makes Margulies' fine words sing.

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"The Who & The What"- Another Winner at LCT3

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
6/8/14, 5:11 PM @ayadakhtar 's "The Who & The What" @LCTheater LCT3 theater is a thought provoking and moving exploration of faith and family, with a great cast & direction.  I had a few character quibbles, but the play deftly pulls the audience into the family dysfunctions depicted on stage.

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A lackluster "Much Ado"

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
6/8/14, 1:50 PM "Much Ado About Nothing" @PublicTheaterNY #shakespeareinthepark is a rather leaden, unevenly cast production. After several near flawless seasons of the Public's summer duos in Central Park, this one misses the mark.  Director Jack O'Brien flubs a Shakespeare production yet again.

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A Meta "Octoroon"

	KenderTheater (@KenderTheater)
6/8/14, 1:44 PM "An Octoroon" @sohorep is meta-theater at it best- incisive, funny and smartly tweaking theatrical conventions.  Branden Jacobs-Jenkins in this show and "The Appropriate" confirms his status as a leading young playwright, whose next play I eagerly await.

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"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.